Contract Heroes

Navigating Legal Operations with Richard Robinson

Episode Summary

In this episode of Contract Heroes, we're joined by Richard Robinson, the Director of Legal Operations and Litigation Support at Toyota North America. Richard shares his extensive experience in the legal tech industry, discussing his journey, the challenges of transitioning to remote work during COVID-19, and the importance of integrating technology with a strategic approach. He also delves into the core competencies of CLOC, the significance of stakeholder engagement, and the vital role of emotional intelligence in legal operations.

Episode Notes

Key Points:

1. Introduction to Richard Robinson:
   • Background in legal tech and litigation support.
   • Career journey from law firms to corporate in-house roles, including JC Penney and Toyota.
2. Transition to Toyota:
   • Inherited a mature legal operations team at Toyota.
   • Initial challenges and the impact of COVID-19 on operations.
3. Core Competencies of CLOC:
   • Discussion on the 12 core principles of CLOC.
   • Emphasis on technology and business intelligence.
4. Strategic Approach to Technology:
   • Importance of aligning technology with business strategy.
   • People, process, and technology as the three pillars of legal operations.
5. Stakeholder Engagement:
   • Identifying and involving the right stakeholders.
   • Importance of communication and emotional intelligence in managing change.
6. Power Skills in Legal Operations:
   • Collaboration, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, communication, and leadership.
   • Listening and understanding root causes before implementing solutions.
7. Mentorship and Industry Engagement:
   • Richard's commitment to mentorship and building up others in the industry.
   • Encouragement to connect on LinkedIn for further conversations.