My last message focused on the challenges and opportunities involved in incorporating legal operations into the legal function. An aspect of bringing legal operations into your organization often includes introducing new technologies, which can present its own set of challenges.

It has truly been an honor to serve on the board of an organization that has meant so much to me during my career as in-house counsel, and an organization which itself serves so well its 45,000+ members in more than 85 countries around the globe.

As lawyers, mitigating and managing risk is as much a part of our daily routines as getting a cup of tea or coffee in the morning — that is to say, it’s automatic. It’s what the lawyer in the room is expected to do. And of course we take it a step further, not only using our analysis to let our executives and board members know when a business move may give rise to material risks — but also applying our “solutions-focus” lens to help them figure out how to advance business objectives in a way that matches the organization’s risk appetite.

As the seasons change, it’s hard to ignore the environmental challenges our society faces. And nowadays, this is especially hard for in-house counsel — with a regulatory environment that is constantly in flux. To that end, this Docket issue offers guidance for navigating these challenges, including articles focused on clean energy and what board members need to know about the company’s impact on climate change.