TL: If you ever went back to being outside counsel, what would you do differently?
Holmes: I know, if I was working with corporate clients, I would be much more proactive in understanding the business issues. I would want to know the "business owners' " view of the situation and what potential outcomes the business owners believed existed. I would take all of the information and prepare a plan AND budget to make sure we all were on the same page in addressing the issue at hand.
TL: What's some good advice for how general counsel can see the bigger picture of a company's business, and not just legal issues?
Holmes: Go spend some time with the people that drive the success (or potential failure) of the business! Understand the business! Think of ways you can improve the business after you have a better understanding of all of its facets.
This article originally appeared in Texas Lawyer.
