Building the Legal Function from the Ground Up

Startups move fast—and when you're the first legal hire, you're expected to move even faster. This program offers practical guidance for attorneys building or managing the legal function in a startup environment, whether in-house or as external counsel.

Drawing from firsthand experience as a General Counsel navigating the challenges of a resource-constrained, high-growth startup, the session explores what it takes to develop a legal function from scratch. Attendees will gain insight into:

• What to expect as the first or sole legal counsel
• How to assess legal risks and identify urgent gaps
• Prioritizing needs while balancing risk tolerance
• Creating scalable legal processes and documentation
• Building a compliance mindset into company culture
• Managing business pressures with limited legal infrastructure

Ideal for attorneys transitioning into startup roles or advising early-stage companies, this program distills real-world lessons into actionable strategies for success.

Speakers

Laurie Coles, JD, MBA, Calero Software, LLC

Alexandra (Sasha) Field, Esq., Potomac Law Group, PLLC