Alternate Paths to GC: A Case Study

On September 27, 2020

The classic path to GC is to start at an Am Law firm in corporate securities, then go in-house to a capital markets team (being sure to pick up SEC, M&A, employee benefits, IR support, and other adjacent practice groups). The person would climb the corporate ladder internally or join a smaller company as the […]

Career Management, Career Tips, GC

Classic Path to GC (& What to Do if You Are Not On it!)

On February 9, 2020

The classic path to getting the general counsel spot is to attend a top 20 school, train 5+ years in corporate securities at a leading law firm, and then go in-house. Early responsibilities should include SEC, M&A, and equity plans. Responsibilities should broaden over time to include commercial, compliance, and HR. Additionally, candidates should have […]

Career Management, Career Tips, GC, Inhouse

5 Ways to Get that Top GC Job!

On April 21, 2019

The Recorder sat down with top Bay Area GCs to find out how they landed that #1 job. A distillation below: Impress your clients. Airbus Silicon Valley Robert Keele got the job after serving as outside counsel. (In my opinion, joining a client is the easiest way to go in-house. You know the company, and […]

Career Management, GC, Job Search

5 Ways to Learn of a Job before it Goes Public

On April 17, 2016

Employers often have a candidate in mind before they even post their opening. Who gets to be that lucky person? Prospective employers often consult their own connections (the whisper network) first. To be an in-demand candidate, get to know these 5 sources: Senior management of companies. Executives and board members often ask their peers whom […]

Career Management, GC, Inhouse

Path to GC

On February 28, 2016

If your goal is to be a general counsel, make sure you: Get experience with SEC and M&A work. Not all but most GCs come from a corporate/securities background. If you don’t have one, make sure you get relevant corporate work. Public companies contend with filings, and private ones need to think about exit strategies. Get […]

Career Management, GC, Inhouse

How Do You Get the Top Legal Job?

On July 26, 2015

I listened to four GCs recently share their best tips on how they got to the top: Evaluate where you want to go, and work backwards. Brian Cabrera of NVIDIA says to ask yourself what skills are you missing for that top job, and then go get them. Always take on new opportunities, even if […]

Client, GC, Presentation

How to Advise GCs

On July 12, 2015

At a recent forum, four general counsels (from Varian, AOptix, NVIDIA, and AdRoll) talked how about how they want to be counseled by firm lawyers. The advice below clearly applies to in-house lawyers as well when communicating with their own top lawyer or business team: Make your advice practical. Brian Cabrera of NVIDIA noted he can Google black letter […]

Career Management, GC, Inhouse

4 Things GCs Say You Need to Do to Build Your Career

On July 5, 2015

I recently heard four GCs describe their path to the top: John Kuo of Varian Medical Systems, Jan Kang of AOptix, Brian Cabrera of NVIDIA, and Stephanie King of AdRoll. Despite having diverse backgrounds and working at companies in different industries stages, they gave consistent advice to lawyers aspiring to be GCs: Get your foundation. […]

GC, Inhouse, Startup

What Startups Are Looking for in a GC

On June 7, 2015

Entrepreneurial lawyers often ask me how to become the GC of a startup. I like TechCrunch’s article on what private companies are looking for in lawyers: Legal knowledge to both enable growth of the business and manage risk. Excellent value. The benefit of hiring a GC must exceed the cost, and the GC is expected to know what legal services […]

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