Marking the fifth year of our special content partnership with Thomson Reuters, we are excited to bring you our 2025 Legal Leaders webinar series.
This is the third of four virtual webinars, each focusing on a theme relevant to the career journey and inner workings of an in-house legal team.
Most in-house careers follow the well-trodden path of learning the 'lawyer' role in private practice before changing track and moving into a very different arena, where your legal expertise can be only a small fraction of your role.
PQE is no longer the sole indicator of your knowledge and technical ability, many in your company won't even know (or care) what this means. You are a cost centre and can be looked upon as a hurdle to avoid or only engage with when the 'tick box' requires it!
So how do you demonstrate your worth? This session explores how to do exactly that, building trust and inclusion and ultimately showing the real value in-house legal brings coupled with how to 'measure this worth' in a language your company understands.
Join two special guest speakers who will share their tips and tricks gained over in-house careers in this key area.
Huma Allana van Reesch
Huma Allana van Reesch is General Counsel, EMEA at Starbucks. She leads a high performing legal team covering 42 markets and in 2024, finalists at The Lawyer Awards, FT Innovative Legal Awards and the British Legal Awards for In-House Commerce and Industry Team of the year.
Huma has broad global business experience and diverse knowledge of strategic priorities across retail, consumer goods and health sectors, having worked with large brands including Coca-Cola and Reckitt Benckiser. She is particularly passionate about leading people in an authentic environment which promotes a culture of inclusion and diversity. She is laser focused on delivering results by integrating into the business, creating strong cross functional collaboration, and ensuring a competitive edge in market.
Huma and her husband, Paul, have 3 children, a labrador and 2 cats – they all keep her (very!) busy in her spare time.
Sheronda Rochelle Blackburn
Sheronda Rochelle Blackburn is a seasoned legal executive with over 20 years of experience guiding Fortune 50 companies. Most recently, as Assistant General Counsel at Microsoft, she led legal teams supporting Data, Platform & Growth, the Global eXperiences Platform, and the India Development Center, as well as global development center strategy.
Previously, she spent 12 years at JPMorgan Chase as Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel, heading technology legal for Asset & Wealth Management. An Executive Leadership Council Fellow, Sheronda holds degrees from Bryant University, Brooklyn Law School, and Albertus Magnus College, and is currently authoring her first book.