In-house legal teams

Today's complex business problems span departments, disciplines and geographies. Savvy in-house lawyers know that collaboration across organizational silos and with external organizations is critically important. But how?

By mastering Smart Collaboration, general counsels and their in-house legal teams can generate maximum value and achieve better business and legal outcomes. Our research defines four 'vectors' of collaboration that in-house legal teams must optimize: (1) within the legal group, including with other specialists such as data scientists or legal ops experts, (2) across other corporate departments such as finance, risk, or HR, (3) with their business counterparts in the board, executive team and front line, and (4) beyond the corporation, including external counsel, regulators, suppliers, and more.

Through case studies, quantitative analysis, and hundreds of interviews and surveys, we dive into the specific challenges, opportunities, and how-to points for each vector.

Publications
PUBLICATION TITLE / Collaborating with Gen-AI: Heineken Legal Department's Use of the 'PowerBot' (Case Study)

This case study illustrates how Heineken's legal department uses generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to boost the collaborative process that underpins their strong performance. Emerging outcomes include increased efficiency, enhanced quality of debate, and the disruption of dysfunctional team norms. The case study also provides 'how-to's' for leaders attempting to shift workplace culture and practices by effectively integrating and using GenAI – based on Heineken's experience to date.

Source: Gardner & Co.

Year: July 2024

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Collaborating with Gen-AI: Heineken Legal Department
PUBLICATION TITLE / General Counsel – How to Gain and Use a Seat at the Corporate Strategy Table

Gardner & Co.’s new research-packed white paper 'General Counsel: How to Gain and Use a Seat at the Corporate Strategy Table—with Help from your External Lawyers' offers fresh insights and practical advice from interviews with over 100 corporate General Counsel around the world.

We explore how GCs often lack early-enough input on crucial strategic issues, preventing them from engaging in smarter collaboration. This hurts them and the company: they can't reap all the benefits that smarter collaboration delivers, including:

  • Higher-quality, less risk-calibrated solutions
  • Innovative outcomes
  • Better talent attraction and retention
  • Enhanced diversity and inclusion

Source: Gardner & Co.

Year: February 2024

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General Counsel – How to Gain and Use a Seat at the Corporate Strategy Table
PUBLICATION TITLE / Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work

In the July 2023 issue of The American Lawyer's 'The Month,' Dr. Heidi K. Gardner explores how general counsel (GCs) can optimize their performance as a strategic thought partner across their entity. She looks at:

  • What should be on the GC's radar for 2023 and beyond
  • The key collaborative actions the GC should take as the leader
  • The biggest pitfalls in-house and outside counsel make when trying to create a collaborative relationship

The article is on page seven.

Source: The American Lawyer's 'The Month' 

Year: July 2023

Link: https://www.gardnerandco.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Lessons-beyond-legal.pdf

Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work
PUBLICATION TITLE / Smart Collaboration for In-house Legal Teams

This Special Report, with input from hundreds of General Counsels, in-house lawyers, CEOs and board members, shows why and how legal teams work across silos – what we call 'Smart Collaboration.’

Source: The Centre for Legal Leadership

Year: 2020

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1787423506/ref=dp_olp_new_mbc_mma?ie=UTF8&condition=new

Smart Collaboration for In-house Legal Teams
PUBLICATION TITLE / Harvard White Paper: Harness the Power of Smart Collaboration for In-house Lawyers

In-house legal teams face increasing pressure to deliver more value to the business, which hinges on harnessing expertise across departments, divisions and geographies.  This foundational report outlines some of the strategies to foster Smart Collaboration to reap the business and legal benefits.

Source: Harvard Law School, Center on the Legal Profession

Year: 2017

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Harvard White Paper: Harness the Power of Smart Collaboration for In-house Lawyers
PUBLICATION TITLE / Beyond Boundaries

The article examines how in-house lawyers can overcome organizational and cultural barriers to reap the benefits of Smart Collaboration, including they better business outcomes and the potential to attract and retain the highest-caliber talent.

Source: The In-House Lawyer

Year: 2017

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Beyond Boundaries
PUBLICATION TITLE / Podcast: GC (Re)Defined: Why 'Team' is Critical to GC's Impact

Summary: In the 5-minute podcast Dr. Gardner outlines how smarter collaboration within a legal team can make a difference in the impact that a general counsel can have within their organization. Investing in collaboration, building and working in teams are elements paving the road to success for GCs and any aspiring business leaders.

Event: Global Leader in Law and Morrison & Foerster

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVlhtlpyMg

Year: July 2019

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Podcast: GC (Re)Defined: Why
PUBLICATION TITLE / Podcast: GC (Re)Defined: Is 'Agility' Just a Buzzword?

In the 5-minute podcast Dr. Gardner outlines the opportunities for general counsel to develop as executive business leaders. In that capacity, they serve not just spot risks and solve problems but to think proactively about how the legal knowledge adds to the business in terms of upside opportunities, as well as mitigating the downside'. GCs also have the opportunity to strategically shape and lead agile legal departments that are structurally able to pursue and create quick and untraditional solutions.

Event: Global Leader in Law and Morrison & Foerster

Year: July 2019

Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rIgwd51rY4k

Podcast: GC (Re)Defined: Is