Ever been pulled into a project at the last minute—just to say “no”? If you’re part of an in-house legal team, you know the drill. The product’s built, the launch is live, and now you’re expected to clean up the risk. But when it comes to in-house legal innovation, timing changes everything.
Legal professionals aren’t here to slow things down. The best in-house counsel don’t just protect the business—they help build it. And one of the most powerful ways to make that shift is by joining the conversation earlier.
This perspective was shared by Lourdes Slater, CEO of Karta Legal, in a recent conversation about how legal teams can become strategic partners in innovation. Drawing from her extensive experience in legal operations and technology, she emphasized that legal departments should function as business accelerators, not roadblocks. By integrating legal strategy into decision-making early, companies can move fast while staying compliant.
Watch the full conversation with Lourdes Slater here:
In-House Legal Innovation Starts Early
Innovation happens when ideas meet execution—and that’s exactly where legal should be. For in-house legal professionals, being at the table from day one transforms the legal role from reactive to strategic.
Imagine a new AI-driven hiring platform. If legal is brought in late, the answer might be a hard stop. But if in-house counsel is there early, they can help shape the design to meet both business goals and legal requirements.
This kind of in-house legal innovation unlocks smarter, faster, and more collaborative decision-making.
From Fixer to Innovation Partner
Too often, legal is brought in when the cake is already baked—when there’s no room to change ingredients. That’s when the answer has to be “no.” But what if legal had helped write the recipe in the first place?
When in-house counsel becomes part of the design process, risk management stops being reactive and becomes proactive. You’re not just fixing problems—you’re preventing them. That shift doesn’t just protect the company. It accelerates it.
This mindset—moving from last-minute fixer to business architect—is what Lourdes calls the key to transformation. And she’s right. Strategic legal teams don’t wait to be asked. They show up early, ask better questions, and help shape the roadmap.
Building Trust Through Collaboration
Let’s be honest: legal doesn’t always get the warmest welcome. But when legal is seen as a trusted partner, not a roadblock, everything changes.
Business teams start reaching out earlier. Compliance becomes a shared goal, not a bottleneck. And in-house legal professionals become part of the solution, not just the safety net.
That kind of trust is key—not just for smoother execution, but for real legal career development and influence.
Legal Innovation Is a Cultural Shift
This is where real transformation happens. In-house legal innovation is about more than process—it’s about mindset.
When legal teams ask open-ended questions, offer creative paths forward, and collaborate with curiosity, innovation thrives. Legal becomes a launch partner, not a launch delay.
And in fast-moving, tech-forward industries, that culture is what separates legal teams that are merely responsive from those that are truly strategic.
Dive into the next topic: Legal Teams Drive Innovation: Empowering Business Growth
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