Counsel to the Creative: Why you Should Love Legal!
If you know me, you know I've got a passion for innovation and pushing boundaries of marketing in weird and wonderful ways. In this post I want to share my experiences working with some truly amazing legal minds during my time at AT&T, DIRECTV, and Cricket Wireless, and how they helped shape my journey into becoming the curator of marketing innovation that I am today.
I'd also like to share the top five qualities I value in corporate counsel and express my appreciation for the all the attorneys who have been part of my journey, specifically & most recently Heather Randall my extreme gratitude for being an advisor as I launch a business that's all about bringing pushing new levels of impact through innovation.
When I was recruited into AT&T as a young Director in my late 20s, I was brought in to shake things up. I did't think or operate like everyone else, which was my biggest strength to some, but also put a target on my back amongst others. I found myself & my work being tripped up by roadblocks & technicalities - so I quickly learned the importance of understanding, and working within the rules so that I could continue to push forward.
This was especially true when Jodi Bragg and I teamed up to develop and launch AT&T's first-ever influencer program. We had to create our own guidelines, working closely with our legal partners like Rachel Morgan to navigate the ever-evolving FTC regulations.
We were making history, and we couldn't have done it without the support of our legal team. We were doing things like putting influencers to broadcast Iive on red carpets with the latest devices riding on AT&T's network - in fact we had Sam Tsui on the red carpet at a Zac Efron premier, with the first ever Samsung device that could stream YouTube live (surprisingly that content lives on).
Throughout my time at AT&T, DIRECTV, and Cricket Wireless, I had the privilege of working with many amazing attorneys, each with their own unique skills and expertise. They helped me navigate complex legal challenges, giving me the confidence to innovate and push the boundaries in marketing while still operating within the rules.
My very first attorney, and oddly also one of my last, was Paul Weisbecker who instilled a sense of caution and fear, providing me with my first honorary junior JD in advertising law - and while he said no way to Floatpia, he did say not no to breaking the Guinness World Record for Most Selfies in an Hour on the beach.
Jeff Slade, was a tax & M&A attorney that was assigned to my social & digital media team, and he was not only one of the most patient & supportive, but also one of the most reliable legal partners during my time at Cricket Wireless – even once staying up for 24 hours straight so we could break the Guinness World Record for the Longest non-tv live-streamed advertisement. Kelly-Anne Clarke was in the trenches with us on sponsorship innovation and evolution as we reimagined the ways in which to drive value from AT&T's many sponsorship & partnership assets -breaking one after another record for concurrent live audiences of our productions.
Now, as I launch Mr Nice Weird, I want to highlight the top five qualities to look for in corporate counsel:
- Adaptability: Great corporate counsel should be able to adapt to the ever-changing legal landscape and your unique needs.
- Strategic: An attorney who can think strategically and provide valuable insights that help you stay ahead of potential legal pitfalls.
- Collaborative: A good legal partner should be able to work closely with you and your team, offering guidance and support while fostering an environment of collaboration.
- Expertise in your area: Someone who understands and/or seeks to understand the ins and outs of your specific function or industry, and can offer specialized advice that keeps you & your team compliant, but creative
- Knows how to simplify: Effective communication is key to ensuring that everyone on your team understands the legal implications of their decisions and can make informed choices.
During my final role at AT&T, as we separated DIRECTV and the video assets from the AT&T business and I was leading a growing team as we rebuilt social & digital marketing - from password management to content marketing to AI enabled measurement - I had the pleasure of working with Alex Silverman, our IP attorney who was as open & adept at jumping into the innovative deep end as I was - sometimes even driving conversations that pushed us further. He was also not a supporter of erroneous process or red tape - and that is the type of person you need at the table to develop break through marketing and succeed in today's environment.
Later that year I was fortunate enough to be gifted Heather Randall as our marketing and advertising attorney. She is a rare talent 
who embodies everything a marketer & innovator wants and needs in corporate counsel: both staunch on playing by the rules, but also adamant about providing sound counsel to ensure you can flex and operate within those rules. She was also a quick study and ahead of most legal shifts happening within our world, providing quick & cohesive counsel to help me and my team navigate the continually evolving social & digital landscape.
But for Her
Under Heather's counsel, my team and I launched massive ground breaking campaigns & activations. This included efforts like our mega-successful TikTok house strategy, our always on influencer strategy, our continuously optimized and culturally relevant performance digital & social media campaigns - in addition to helping me through business negotiations as we shot for the stars (quite literally in one instance). Heather's truly an attorney who embodies all the top qualities I look/hope for in any colleague, and that's why I'm grateful to have her as an advisor as we launch Mr Nice Weird.
With her support and expertise, we've been able to develop simplified, yet sound agreements that are mutually beneficial, navigate through some complex early negotiations, and help drive confidence in our ability to continue to break the mold, while staying within the bounds of the law.
I can honestly say..."but for her"...a legal concept I may or may not have inspired her to develop due to my desire to protect one of the most valuable things I have, but one of the hardest things to defend - my ideas, concepts & connections...we would not have made anywhere near the progress we currently have to date.
As I continue my journey building and growing Mr Nice Weird, I am eternally grateful for the support and guidance of all these incredible legal professionals, including Heather, Alex, Rachel, Paul, Jeff, and Kelly-Anne and many others. Their wisdom and experience have been integral to my growth & my ability to do what I do. I'm excited to see where this path of innovation and rule-bending creativity takes me next!