In 2012, Michael Phillips was hesitant to take up the role of the chief legal officer of Cleveland-based MetroHealth after spending his career as outside counsel. One of his requests was that he be able to hire a new attorney so the department would have a team of three in-house members.

He knew of Laura McBride from his time working at Calfee, Halter and Griswald. Phillips says McBride was interested in getting away from being solely a litigator and had an interest in healthcare law and so he hired her in 2014. Sonja Rajki, had been with the department since 2012 and worked under the previous general counsel. Rajki and McBride almost immediately struck up a great working relationship and helped transform the department.