Heriot Brown

28/05/2026

We’re LIVE.
This week I sit down with Selene Brett, Chief Legal, Risk & Compliance Officer at PPRO, to discuss leadership, influence and building a meaningful legal career inside fast-moving businesses.
Selene shares three key Lessons in Law:
1️⃣ Lawyers are special — but not that special
2️⃣ Make it count — use your position and influence positively
3️⃣ Gather the nuggets — every experience teaches you something valuable
We also discuss:
• Why lawyers need to earn trust internally
• How AI is changing legal culture and behaviour
• Building diverse talent pipelines into legal careers
• Why empathy can be both a strength and a risk in leadership
A brilliant episode for anyone thinking about how to operate more effectively inside modern businesses.

🎧 Listen here:

We’re LIVE now with Selene Brett, Chief Legal Risk & Compliance Officer at PPRO. One of the strongest themes from this episode: A lot of lawyers still confuse authority with influence. Selene’s view was refreshingly direct: - stop acting misunderstood - stop hiding behind legal mystique - become...

27/05/2026

What happens when lawyers stop trying to sound important — and start focusing on being useful?

In this week’s episode, Selene Brett, Chief Legal, Risk & Compliance Officer at PPRO, shares some of the most grounded and self-aware leadership lessons we’ve had on the podcast this season.

Three standout themes:
• Lawyers should earn their seat at the table — not expect it
• Trust and empathy are leadership strengths, not weaknesses
• Every role — even the difficult ones — leaves you with something valuable

Selene also reflects on:
– Moving from private practice into fintech and payments
– Building broad executive influence across legal, compliance and risk
– Why AI is changing the old “mystique” around legal advice

One of the most refreshingly honest conversations we’ve had.

Episode out tomorrow.

14/05/2026

This week on Lessons I Learned in Law, Scott speaks with Jim Shaughnessy, Chief Legal Officer at DocuSign, about what it really takes to build a successful modern in-house legal career.

Jim shares three key Lessons in Law:

1️⃣ Influence is essential — it’s not always just about the legal answer
2️⃣ Technical excellence remains the foundation of great legal work
3️⃣ Your professional identity will continue to evolve throughout your career

In this episode, we also explore:

• How to build influence with CEOs and boards
• What it means to move from lawyer to trusted counsellor
• The impact of AI on legal teams and future legal careers
• How in-house lawyers can position themselves for wider leadership opportunities

A valuable conversation for anyone looking to grow their influence, broaden their role, and lead more effectively in-house.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottjbrown_influence-excellence-and-professional-identity-ugcPost-7460645215821869056-ftA9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEKEDzYBBWZi9-24ygBWYoZMeeo__0AsBlY

In proud partnership with Wordsmith AI https://www.wordsmith.ai/

Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

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13/05/2026

Most lawyers think influence comes from being right.

Jim Shaughnessy argues it comes from being trusted in the moments that matter.

This week’s episode of Lessons I Learned in Law features Jim O’Shaughnessy, Chief Legal Officer at Docusign — one of the businesses that quietly underpins how modern companies operate.

Jim has spent more than 20 years operating at CLO level and shares a fascinating perspective on what separates senior legal leaders from excellent technical lawyers.

We get into:
• Why influence — not just legal knowledge — defines modern GCs
• How lawyers build credibility inside executive teams and boards
• Why technical legal excellence still matters more than people admit
• How AI is already reshaping legal work inside high-performing teams

A hugely practical conversation for any lawyer thinking about long-term career progression.

🎧 Episode drops Thursday.

👉 Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

12/05/2026

The best lawyers possess a deep understanding of not only the law but also of people, pressure, and the business landscape.

In this episode, James Ryan, CLO & CBO at BioNTech SE, shares three defining lessons:
1. Stay curious
2. Stay objective under pressure
3. Never forget the human side of leadership

Having transitioned from a scientist to a member of the management board at BioNTech, James offers a unique perspective on how careers can evolve through a commitment to learning and growth.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottjbrown_james-ryan-chief-legal-officer-chief-business-activity-7458108538423304192-0viW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEKEDzYBBWZi9-24ygBWYoZMeeo__0AsBlY

12/05/2026

The best lawyers possess a deep understanding of not only the law but also of people, pressure, and the business landscape.

In this episode, James Ryan, CLO & CBO at BioNTech SE, shares three defining lessons:
1. Stay curious
2. Stay objective under pressure
3. Never forget the human side of leadership

Having transitioned from a scientist to a member of the management board at BioNTech, James offers a unique perspective on how careers can evolve through a commitment to learning and growth.

06/05/2026

What happens when a lawyer stops thinking purely like a lawyer?

In this week’s episode, James Ryan, CLO & CBO at BioNTech SE, shares insights on how curiosity, objectivity, and human relationships have influenced his journey from scientist to lawyer to executive board member.

Three standout themes include:
• The best lawyers stay relentlessly curious.
• Legal advice only works when it’s grounded in business reality.
• Relationships, not just technical expertise, drive long-term success.

James also reflects on:
- Transitioning from legal leadership into broader business strategy.
- The importance of having interests and perspectives outside of work.

Episode out tomorrow!

30/04/2026

Lessons I Learned in Law is LIVE! This week Scott Brown sits down with Lucy Tyrrell, General Counsel at Wordsmith AI, to explore what legal looks like at the centre of an AI-driven business.

Her three Lessons in Law:
1️⃣ Think like the business — legal advice without context has limited value
2️⃣ Build and use your network — it will shape your career more than you expect
3️⃣ Stay curious — especially when it comes to new technology

We also discuss:
• What a legal engineer actually does
• How AI is already reshaping legal workflows
• Why perfection is less important than iteration in modern legal teams

🎧 Listen here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottjbrown_were-live-now-lucy-tyrrell-general-counsel-ugcPost-7455571846105616384-RSbV?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEKEDzYBBWZi9-24ygBWYoZMeeo__0AsBlY

In proud partnership with Wordsmith AI https://www.wordsmith.ai/

👉 Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

23/04/2026

Lessons I Learned in Law is LIVE!

This week Scott Brown sits down with Jonathan Wiseman, General Counsel & Chief People Officer at Ocado Retail, in a conversation about judgement, leadership and operating beyond the traditional legal remit.

His three Lessons in Law:

1️⃣ Don’t stay in your swim lane — the best lawyers operate across legal, commercial and strategic risk
2️⃣ Take the opportunity — even when it doesn’t perfectly fit your career plan
3️⃣ The “best” legal position isn’t always the right deal — long-term relationships matter more than winning every point

They also discuss earning a seat at the table, leading across multiple functions, and why falling out over deals is often where value is lost.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottjbrown_jonathan-wiseman-general-counsel-chief-ugcPost-7453035065216978944-pUqd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEKEDzYBBWZi9-24ygBWYoZMeeo__0AsBlY

In proud partnership with Wordsmith AI https://www.wordsmith.ai/

👉 Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

👉 Give us a follow

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/

22/04/2026

What actually makes an in-house lawyer valuable?

In this week’s episode, Jonathan Wiseman, GC & Chief People Officer at Ocado Retail, challenges a common mindset in the profession.

Three standout themes:
• Legal advice is rarely “yes or no” — the real value sits in the grey
• Lawyers don’t automatically deserve a seat at the table — they earn it through impact
• Career-defining opportunities often don’t look like the plan you had

Jonathan also reflects on stepping into a dual GC/CPO role, building influence at exec level, and how legal leaders contribute beyond technical advice.

Episode out tomorrow.

In proud partnership with Wordsmith AI https://www.wordsmith.ai/

👉 Connect with Heriot Brown https://heriotbrown.com/

👉 Give us a follow:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/