Nathalia Rigo Olausson: The 10 Most Impactful People in Legal Services, 2025 | CIO Views Magazine

Leaders Defining Integrity in a Shifting World

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Ineverygeneration,therearepeoplewithasignificantinfluenceextending beyond the courtroom, while transforming the very fabric of society with the work of those engaged in legal services. These individuals help redefine impact with discussion of justice that is not only delivered but accessible, equitable and with a focus on future thinking. Their practices range from implementing reforms and promoting diversity to deliberately trying out innovations that change the workings of the legal system.What stands out is their ability to create a balance between tradition and innovatingideas,protectingtheprinciplesoflawwhilebeingresponsiveto the modern world. They are mentors, advocates and visionaries, inspiring thecommunitytohaveconfidenceintheirinstitutionsandtrustthatjustice is equitable. Their leadership establishes that law is not timeless but a dynamic process that changes with the betterment of humanity. Their advocacy of integrity and accountability provides the highest standard for serviceinlawpractice.

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At CIO Views, we honor these empowering leaders by dedicating this issue titled “The 10 Most Impactful People in Legal Services, 2025” to them. Featuring as the cover story, we have covered the successful & motivating journey of Nathalia Rigo Olausson, Senior Lawyer at Montis Advisors. We have also included the inspiring stories of Samantha-Anne Nadolny, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Select Water Solutions; MordecaiAdejo, Managing Partner of Mishai & Mordecai LP; Somphob Rodboon, Managing Partner of ILAWASIA CO.; Radha Stirling, Founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai; Rajesh Begur, Founder and Managing Partner of BEGUR & PARTNERS; Natalie Foster, CEO of Inspire Legal Group; Bernie Lawrence, Attorney and The Principal at B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates; Nitin Pal, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of PatentManiac; and Christopher Lombardo, Partner at Woodward,Pires&Lombardo.

CIOViewsisabusinessmagazinethatmainlyfocusesonbusinessleaders, their journey, views on current economic states, and all other relevant subjects that refer to the business world. Our goal is to be a leading source of information dedicated to providing our readers with detailed perspectives and views of successful business leaders who are transforming the business outlook and redefining their goals. With exclusive editions on various industries like software, education, healthcare,technology,realestate,andmanymore,CIOViewsisdrivento promoteexcellenceintheworldofbusiness.

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Somphob

NATHALIA RIGO OLAUSSON

BLENDING LEGAL MASTERY WITH COMPASSION

ACROSS BORDERS

Leadership in law has long been measured by expertise and endurance. But in an era that values connection as much as competence, women leaders are reshaping the definition of success. Few embody this evolution more powerfully than Nathalia Rigo Olausson, a seasoned lawyer, consul, and advocate whose work transcends borders and disciplines.

Agraduate of the University of the Balearic Islands and a member of the Balearic BarAssociation since 1993, Nathalia has spent more than three decades mastering the intricate landscape of real estate law. Yet her work extends beyond the courtroom.As the Swedish Consul in Palma de Mallorca since 2003, she bridges nations and cultures, reflecting the same diplomacy and clarity that define her legal practice.

Fluent in six languages including Spanish, Catalan, English, Swedish, French, and German, Nathalia is more than a legal mind; she is a communicator across worlds.And when the day's challenges quiet, she finds renewal at sea, in travel, and through the simple art of cooking, a balance that mirrors her belief that great leadership begins with equilibrium.

The Power of Law to Transform Lives

Nathalia's journey into the legal profession began with a simple yet profound fascination, how law could transform lives. She saw it as more than a set of rules or an arena for argument; it was a force capable of resolving conflict, protecting the vulnerable, and driving fairness. That early realization became her compass. Today, as Senior Lawyer and Partner at MontisAdvisors, Nathalia continues to be guided by that same conviction. The blend of intellectual challenge and human impact fuels her every day, whether she's leading a department, advising clients, or setting the strategic course for the firm.

AWorldview Forged by Many Cultures

Nathalia's understanding of law is deeply influenced by her international upbringing. With a Swedish mother

and a Spanish father, her childhood was a blend of Scandinavian balance and Mediterranean warmth. She grew up navigating languages, traditions, and perspectives that shaped her open and curious mind. Educated in a British school, she developed a strong sense of adaptability and respect for cultural nuance.

Fluent in more than six languages, Nathalia has built her career around the ability to connect authentically across borders. She believes that understanding cultural context is as vital as understanding the law itself. This sensitivity enables her to create solutions that are not only legally robust but also aligned with each client's values, goals, and cultural realities. Her story is proof that diversity, when embraced fully, can be a professional superpower.

ALegacy of Excellence and Family Leadership

More than four decades ago, MontisAdvisors was founded by Manuel Montis and his brother Jaime, who shared a vision of creating a firm grounded in integrity, expertise, and dedication to clients. Today, Manuel continues to lead the firm's legal department, ensuring that its founding values remain at the heart of every decision.

Over the years, MontisAdvisors has grown into one of the most respected law firms in Mallorca and the Balearic Islands, renowned for delivering bespoke legal solutions to both domestic and international clients. Nathalia joined the firm over 32 years ago and now serves as CEO and Head of the Real Estate and TransactionalAdvisory Department, guiding its strategic growth and ensuring every client receives exceptional service.

"TRUE IMPACT IN LEGAL SERVICES IS MEASURED NOT ONLY IN SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTIONS, BUT IN THE TRUST AND PEACE OF MIND WE INSPIRE IN OUR CLIENTS.”

In 2025, the firm's long-standing reputation for quality and innovation was recognized by La Razón, one of Spain's leading newspapers, which named MontisAdvisors the “Best Multidisciplinary Law Firm.” This honor underscores the firm's continued excellence and its ability to provide comprehensive legal and investment advisory services across a wide spectrum of practice areas.

Innovation, Integrity, and a Multidisciplinary Edge

Nathalia's leadership is defined by her belief that great legal service must be both professional and personal. Every piece of advice at Montis Advisors is tailored to the client's individual circumstances, grounded in trust, transparency, and a deep understanding of their goals. This relationship-driven philosophy has become the foundation of the firm's success.

Committed to innovation, MontisAdvisors continuously embraces technological advancements to ensure its solutions remain effective in an ever-evolving business landscape. The firm's multidisciplinary structure allows it to provide clients with holistic guidance, offering clarity and confidence in even the most complex property transactions.

The firm's legal department is complemented by a highly regarded tax division led by Alonso Ramallo Montis, whose

expertise at both national and international levels enables MontisAdvisors to deliver specialized fiscal strategies tailored to each client's needs. This seamless integration between legal and tax services allows the firm to handle every aspect of a client's affairs comprehensively, ensuring optimal outcomes and peace of mind in every transaction.

Values That Define Her Practice

At the heart of Nathalia's work lies a simple foundation: integrity, diligence, and empathy. These are not just guiding words but the DNAof her practice. Under her leadership, MontisAdvisors has built a reputation for delivering honest and transparent advice, always mindful of the human "EMBRACE INNOVATION AND DIVERSITY BY BLENDING EXPERTISE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES, WE OPEN DOORS TO SOLUTIONS THAT EMPOWER AND UPLIFT EVERY CLIENT.”

stories behind every case. Nathalia believes that great lawyering isn't just about precision, it's about trust. Her commitment to ethical, client-centered practice ensures that every client feels heard, respected, and wellguided.

Lessons from Complexity

Among the many cases she has handled, one stands out as a defining moment, a complex international property acquisition entangled in conflicting regulations and cultural expectations. The path to resolution required more than legal expertise; it demanded creativity, diplomacy, and the ability to see the bigger picture. Nathalia navigated the challenges through collaboration and clear communication, ultimately turning potential setbacks into a successful outcome.

That experience reinforced what she already knew: adaptability and teamwork are essential in global legal practice. It also became a touchstone for her leadership style, measured, inclusive, and deeply solutionoriented.

Redefining Impact and Driving Change in Legal Services

When it comes to Nathalia, impact is defined not by courtroom victories or the number of transactions completed. It's reflected in the trust and peace of mind her clients feel when navigating major real estate decisions. She believes that true influence in the legal world lies in simplifying the complex, empowering clients to make informed choices, and setting new standards of transparency and efficiency across the industry.

Her view of impact goes beyond individual success; it's about contributing to a legal environment that is fair, accessible, and accountable. Every decision, she believes, should move the profession closer to a place where law not only protects but uplifts.

Throughout her career, Nathalia has been deeply committed to improving the way legal services are delivered.At MontisAdvisors, she has led key initiatives to streamline transactions and integrate

"LASTING RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT ON TRUST, TRANSPARENCY, AND EMPATHY; THESE VALUES REMAIN THE FOUNDATION OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND GENUINE SUCCESS.”

technology into the firm's processes, ensuring that clients experience greater efficiency without sacrificing personal attention.

Her dedication extends beyond the firm's walls.As a member of the Real Estate Investment Commission of the BarAssociation, she works to address procedural challenges and enhance clarity in legal frameworks. Her role on the Board of Directors of the Spanish-Swedish Chamber of Commerce further reflects her drive to build bridges, fostering collaboration and connectivity between business communities across borders.

This combination of innovation, service, and diplomacy has positioned her as a respected voice in shaping modern legal practice.

Building Trust That Lasts Generations

Ask Nathalia what she values most in her work, and she'll tell you it's trust. To her, lasting client relationships are built not on transactions but on transparency, consistency, and care. Her philosophy is deeply family-oriented, prioritizing long-term partnerships that span generations. She takes great pride in seeing the children of her clients choose to continue working with Montis Advisors, a testament to the firm's integrity and reliability. “When trust endures across generations,” she says, “that's when you know you've truly made an impact.”

"GUIDED BY INTEGRITY AND COLLABORATION , WE TURN CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH—LEAVI NG A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE FOR CLIENTS, COLLEAGUES, AND THE COMMUNITY.”

The Lawyer's Role Beyond the Courtroom

Nathalia views the legal profession as a pillar of social responsibility. To her, the lawyer's duty extends well beyond contracts and cases. Legal professionals, she believes, play a vital role in shaping fairer systems, strengthening institutions, and contributing to societal progress.

By sharing knowledge, collaborating across disciplines, and upholding ethical standards, lawyers can help ensure that justice remains not only a principle but a lived experience for all.

Inside the Life of a Global Legal Leader

No two days are alike in Nathalia's world. Her mornings might begin with client meetings to discuss investment strategies, followed by negotiations on high-value property transactions. Leading multidisciplinary teams has become second nature to her, as she brings together experts in tax, corporate, and dispute resolution to craft comprehensive solutions.

Beyond her legal responsibilities, Nathalia wears another important hat, that of CEO. Steering Montis Advisors' strategic vision, mentoring young lawyers, and nurturing a culture of innovation all fall under her purview. She sees leadership as service, an opportunity to elevate others and ensure the firm's values are reflected in every decision and interaction.

Honors and Heart

While professional accolades have marked her career, Nathalia measures recognition differently. The highest honor, she says, is when clients express gratitude and trust her enough to recommend her to their family and friends. These personal referrals, more than any award, affirm that her work truly makes a difference.

Still, one moment stands out as a milestone in her career: receiving the Order of the Polar Star in its highest category, Commander. The award recognized over two decades of dedicated service as Consul of Sweden, symbolizing not just professional achievement but her lifelong commitment to fostering respect and cooperation between nations.

Words of Wisdom forAspiring Lawyers

One of the most rewarding aspects of Nathalia's career has been mentoring young lawyers. She sees mentorship not as an obligation, but as a legacy. Through patient guidance, she aims to cultivate technical excellence while nurturing the empathy and integrity that define great legal practitioners.

Her mentorship philosophy is simple, teach by example, encourage curiosity, and always remind aspiring lawyers that the heart of the profession lies in service.

To those at the start of their legal journey, Nathalia offers grounded and heartfelt advice: pursue mastery in your field, remain intellectually curious, and never compromise your integrity. Collaboration, humility, and ethical conduct, she insists, are the cornerstones of a meaningful career.

“Your reputation is built over years but can be lost in a moment,” she often tells young professionals. “Protect it as you would your most valuable asset.”

Vision for a Modern, Inclusive Legal Practice

As she looks ahead, Nathalia's vision remains clear and forward-thinking. She is determined to continue integrating innovation and technology into legal practice to create even greater value for clients. Her focus on advancing diversity and inclusion within her teams reflects her belief that varied perspectives strengthen both strategy and service.

Nathalia's ambition is not just to lead a department, but to leave a legacy defined by trust, empowerment, and positive transformation. She views law as more than a profession. It is a lifelong commitment to building understanding, bridging worlds, and ensuring that justice always finds a human face.

SAMANTHA-ANNE NADOLNY

Accomplished, Driven Corporate Counsel & Compliance Expert

Samantha-Anne Nadolny is a highly accomplished and driven professional, currently serving as Vice President andAssociate General Counsel at Select Water Solutions, NYSE: WTTR (formerly Select Energy Services). With a wealth of experience as a corporate lawyer, compliance professional, and business leader, Samantha-Anne has successfully navigated various industries, including construction, oil & gas, natural resources, and energy. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated excellence in organizational leadership, corporate advisory, litigation and contract management, policy and process creation and implementation, team building and motivation, and corporate training.

Samantha-Anne's expertise encompasses all aspects of corporate legal guidance, providing strategic business support, domestic and international regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation across diverse industries and sectors. She possesses a remarkable ability to adapt swiftly to evolving legislation and changes in the law, while also educating her colleagues and clients as a recognized subject matter expert.

With extensive experience working in both public and private corporations, Samantha-Anne combines her instinctive business acumen with a deep understanding

of how to protect and support a company, its mission, and its employees. Her commitment to excellence and her unwavering dedication to delivering high-quality results make her a valuable asset to any organization she serves.

Navigating Change

Samantha-Anne's move to her current position resulted from a merger and dissolution of her previous company. During that time, she guided the company through challenges, including aligning synergies with a sister entity located on the East Coast. This experience motivated Samantha-Anne to stay until the completion of the transaction, providing legal guidance throughout. Following the entity's closure, Samantha-Anne joined Select, anAmerican oilfield services company specializing in water and chemistry, attracted by its growth potential and hands-on executive role. Despite the common perception that executives only lead, Samantha-Anne recognized the need for both leadership and active involvement in a lean legal department. She saw this opportunity as a means to develop expertise in legal and industry matters, strategically supporting business operations through her legal expertise.

Vice President and Associate General Counsel

Select Water Solutions

Perspective on Personal and Professional Growth

Samantha-Anne wholeheartedly embraces the belief that challenges are not merely obstacles to overcome, but valuable opportunities for personal and professional development. She sees challenges as transformative experiences that have the power to shape and refine one's character, skills, and wisdom.

For Samantha-Anne, each challenge encountered is a chance to learn, adapt, and gain a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her. She views challenges as stepping stones on the path of self-improvement, allowing her to expand her knowledge, acquire

new perspectives, and enhance her problem-solving abilities.

Innovative and Sustainable Water Management Solutions

Select Water Solutions is a leading provider of innovative, efficient, and sustainable water management solutions for the energy industry. They specialize in managing the entire water lifecycle, including sourcing, transfer, flowback, treatment, hauling, containment, and disposal.

Empowering Others

For Samantha-Anne, the defining moment of her career was when she was invited to share her industry

experience. It was a powerful realization that her contributions were valued and respected, motivating her to extend her influence and support others. She aspired to be a mentor and a friend to individuals in similar positions, offering guidance and resources. Samantha-Anne actively speaks about her professional responsibilities, as well as the unique challenges faced by women in the legal and oil and gas sectors. Additionally, she prioritizes making time for aspiring industry professionals, paying forward the opportunities she received from exceptional leaders throughout her career. Samantha-Anne aims to be a source of support and inspiration for others, just as she was fortunate to have experienced herself.

ALeader's Greatest Recognition

For Samantha-Anne, the ultimate recognition as a leader is when an employee expresses that she is the reason they find joy in their job or the reason they remain committed to the company. While awards and accolades as an attorney are significant, nothing compares to the profound appreciation she feels when her team genuinely enjoys working with her. This recognition from her team holds a special place in her heart and surpasses any other form of acknowledgment.

Curiosity led Samantha-Anne to inquire how others would describe her, and the word that emerged most frequently was "loyal." She believes this description accurately captures her essence. Samantha-Anne's loyalty extends to her work, her passion, her friendships, her marriage, her aspirations, and her personal values. Commitment holds great significance to her, and she believes that loyalty is

a fundamental trait that influences every facet of her life.

Approach to Personal and Professional Life

Samantha-Anne rejects the idea of "balance" between personal and professional life, considering it unrealistic due to the misalignment of hours and days. Instead, she values integration, intertwining personal and professional aspects within her daily routines. While time allocation may not be equal, integration allows for a harmonious blend of priorities based on available schedules.

Samantha-Anne takes pride in successfully integrating her work and personal life.Actively involved in her community and philanthropic endeavors, she maintains a vibrant social life. Being an extrovert, she draws energy in social interactions. Hence, she prioritizes personal commitments while ensuring her presence and efficiency at work, seamlessly incorporating her personal priorities into her life.

Attending galas and events, participating in local philanthropies, sharing a glass of wine with friends, or cooking dinner with her husband are among the social activities Samantha-Anne prioritizes. By taking care of her personal life and remaining dedicated to her professional responsibilities, she achieves fulfillment and efficiency through intentional integration.

ADay in the Life

Samantha-Anne longs for a typical day to share, as her job is everchanging and exciting and no two days look alike. Her mornings always start with ample coffee, although she

often gets teased for bringing two Starbucks venti coffees to lengthy morning meetings. However, that's where the similarities end.

Some days, Samantha-Anne is stationed in the office, focusing on agreements and emails. Other times, she travels to meet attorneys or handle litigation matters. There are also occasions when she immerses herself in the field, gaining insights into the company's business operations.

Regardless of her location, a significant part of Samantha-Anne's day involves collaborating with the business to address their transactional needs. This involves communication through calls, meetings, and emails, and the drafting of necessary documents. During visits to other offices, she takes the opportunity to connect with individuals from different departments, aiming to understand their needs better and enhance support.

Supporting the business is SamanthaAnne's primary role, but the diverse nature of her tasks means that no two days are alike. Each day brings unique challenges and opportunities, showcasing the dynamic nature of her work.

Defining Success

Samantha-Anne believes success is relative, with various definitions. Success, for her, involves a happy and satisfied team. Creating a positive work environment is crucial for achieving success, as happy teams are motivated and dedicated. Progress is another aspect of success, encompassing improvements in processes, efficiency, and work quality. Constantly seeking better

approaches is essential for success. Lastly, success is derived from productive partnerships with the business, where legal support is reliable and aligned with the company's goals. By supporting and safeguarding the business while satisfying clients and generating revenue, success is attained.

Vision for Select Water Solutions

Samantha-Anne envisions a promising future for Select, especially as it undergoes a significant transition into its new identity as Select Water Solutions. This rebranding process involves numerous intricate components but ultimately unifies the company as a frontrunner in water management throughout the entire lifecycle. With a strong determination to excel and establish itself as a renowned name in the services industry, Select is focused on comprehensive growth in all aspects of its operations.

For herself, Samantha-Anne's personal goals align with supporting these collective endeavors to the best of her abilities.As the company expands, it inevitably encounters challenges that legal expertise can help overcome. Having undergone several acquisitions in recent years, it is crucial for Select to step back and assess how legal support can enhance its overall business operations and better serve its objectives. By taking a holistic approach and examining the bigger picture, Samantha-Anne aims to contribute to the company's success and facilitate its ongoing development.

MORDECAI ADEJO

An Astute Business Lawyer.

As the Managing Partner at Mishai & Mordecai LP, MordecaiAdejo, possesses expert skills in Intellectual Property and Technology Law, and focuses on the Finance, Technology, Transport, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Entertainment, Energy, and Health Sectors. He is a strong business development professional.

Mishai & Mordecai LP is a Nigerian business law firm. They service individuals, corporate bodies, and government establishments throughout Nigeria, and around the world, on a broad range of legal issues. They pride themselves in their progressive and innovative approach to resolving legal issues, applying procedures, and delivering client service. Their lawyers deploy a proactive and commercial approach with relentless drive to deliver superior results. They are built to take on the tough matters, and are poised to help their respective clients make the right decisions in the most effective way, by eliminating the doubts to recommend which move to make in a complex commercial environment – and why.

Mordecai's definition of success as a business lawyer

One of the principles that have formed part of Mordecai's belief system, which he got from Zig

Ziglar's book - 'See You at the Top' is that "I can get what I want, if I help enough other people get what they want. Drawing from that, my ultimate goal in lawyering has been helping my clients achieve their goals."

As a business lawyer, MordecaiAdejo's feels successful every time by his ability to help his clients achieve their goals.And this is because he highly satisfied, not just from what he gets, but from what he can do for others.At Mishai and Mordecai they understand that result matters, and the results he is able to achieve in terms of his clients' goals are how he defines success.

The growth of Mishai & Mordecai under Mordecai Adejo's fierce leadership

Mishai & Mordecai started as an idea of a law firm where goal-oriented service is at the forefront of their entire operations, and where lawyers will have the freedom to express themselves and achieve their professional goals. Over the years, they have been able to build that culture where their approach is to relegate their individual interests in favour of their clients' business interests.

Managing Partner

Mishai & Mordecai LP

“This has improved our clientele and exposed us to a broad range of satisfied clients across different industries and across geographical territories,” states Mordecai.

Lessons Mordecai learned throughout his professional journey

Mordecai grew up in Northern Nigeria, and after becoming a lawyer he moved down to Lagos in Southern Nigeria to start his career. At the time, he had no social network in the city he chose to practice his profession. This situation posed a huge challenge for him.

However, with the help of mentors, and later the relationships he built through membership of professional associations and clubs, he was able to build the network that has today brought him so much success, and for which he is grateful.

“This experience taught me how important professional relationships are, and how they are inevitable in building a successful career in the legal profession,” Mordecai says.

The start of a successful career as a leader in the legal industry

As a law student, Mordecai started out unclear on a definite career path. But in his final year, he found his passion in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. Upon his call to the Nigerian Bar, it immediately became apparent, including to those in his circle that these areas of law were his focus and where he would leave an indelible mark. “I undertook international courses in these areas,

found mentors and made friends and professional contacts in these spaces, and a combination of these factors have contributed to the spark that ignited my career in this current path for which I am grateful,” he says.

After being called to the Nigerian Bar, he was posted to South Eastern Nigeria to undertake the compulsory National Youth Service Corps scheme, where he worked with a law firm. He also volunteered for the LegalAid Community Development Service group and later served as President of the group.

“After completing my service year, I moved to Lagos, in South West Nigeria, and worked, at different times, with law firms, where I honed my lawyering skills,” Mordecai says.

Mordecai states that the media mentions and the kind words of his team members and colleagues that have worked on projects together could be a great recognition he has received as a leader. However, he claims that the testimonials from clients who have experienced positive growth in their businesses and personal lives through the services Mishai & Mordecai offered and continues to offer, is the best and most satisfying recognition.

Responsibilities as Managing Partner at Mishai & Mordecai

As Managing Partner, Mordecai, who defines himself "an astute lawyer", states that his responsibilities entail overseeing the day to day running of the firm, serving as relationship manager for their clients, and developing growth strategy in collaboration with Partners and Consultants.

As a lawyer, he is also hugely involved in the professional services they offer.

Work-life balance and staying motivated

At Mishai & Mordecai, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they implemented a remote work policy with flexible working hours. Mordecai states that this helps him and his team in a number of ways: first - they are able to work at periods of each individual's peak performance; and secondly – due to the geographical spread of their clientele, they are able to adjust their working hours to suit their different time zones.

In order to keep himself and his team members motivated, Mordecai does not only do set internal goals, but to deliver great client services, as a company they first ensure they have clarity on their clients' goals; and from time to time, they, along with their clients' teams, have appraisals of their efforts, and re-strategize on better ways to proceed. “That way, we are always able to celebrate our small wins, and remind ourselves of our goals, and this keeps us focused,” he explains.

Mordecai's future plans for himself and for the firm.

Mordecai states that he is full of gratitude for the success he has achieved so far in his career. However, he still has a number of dreams yet to be achieved, and the desire to live those dreams is what keeps him going each day.

At Mishai & Mordecai, they are now focused on helping foreigners take advantage of the vast business

opportunities in Nigeria,Africa's largest economy. The investment landscape in Nigeria is ripe and attractive for foreign investments. Hence they are providing foreign businesses and individuals who are considering the Nigerian market with bespoke advisory services on a broad range of legal issues. “We do not just stop at advisory, we go with them all the way from setting up their business to compliance and acquisition of all relevant licenses, negotiation of contracts with third parties, and development and implementation of relevant policies,” explains Mordecai.

As a great law firm, Mishai and Mordecai, have lawyers who have studied inAfrica, Europe, and North America, and who also speak English, French, and Italian; thus, they understand the global business terrain with their multicultural dimensions.

On a personal note, Mordecai claims to be working on a series that provokes discussions among regulators, industry players, and practitioners on the legal issues relevant in today's business landscape. He believe this will help in creating a better understanding between the players, and help propagate needed reforms.

Mordecai's message to aspiring lawyers is: to build strong belief in their abilities and in addition find exemplary mentors, join professional groups, and strive to build an extensive network.

SOMPHOB RODBOON

A Highly Notable Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer Who Deals With Corporate And Commercial Issues

Somphob Rodboon is an experienced and highly notable lawyer, whose practice focuses mainly on litigation and dispute resolution involving intellectual property, and corporate and commercial issues. He is currently a Managing Partner at ILAWASIACO., LTD. - a new-gen, full-service, Thai law firm based in central Bangkok with regional offices in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

From his years of experience as litigator in criminal case, intellectual property management, international trade transaction, as well as labour disputes and bankruptcy case, Somphob now emerges as an eminent lawyer in real-estate and construction dispute resolutions, representing high-profile clients in multimillion-dollar cases. He has also represented major local, international and multinational clients in numerous commercial transactions, intellectual property and dispute resolutions.

ILAWASIA– its growth under Somphob's leadership and guidance

Under Somphob's leadership as Managing Partner, the firm expanded the office to Yangon, Myanmar (ILAW Myanmar) in 2018; Phnom Penh, Cambodia (I.L.Asia) in 2019; and Vientiane, Laos (ILAW Laos) in 2021, which made the firm grow quickly into a medium-sized business law firm.

The teams at ILAWASIACO., LTD. are individualistically experienced in legal practice and always combine cutting-edge understanding with a unique sensitivity to international clients' business needs. They take their ethical standards seriously and are proud of the care and respect they show in all aspects of their operations. The firm is well placed to service the requirements of clients across regional and international, in all fields of laws.

Success and roadblocks go hand-in-hand

Somphob believes that in order to measure reaching success, we should be evaluated on how we ourselves reach the destination or the level that we set at the beginning of our journey; and assess this without comparing ourselves to anyone else.

As the Thai business and legislation dynamics keep changing from time to time, lawyers have to keep moving along with the current economic and political changes. This is a challenge that needs to be confronted to reach a goal and achieve a target - either to boost the firm's business or for personal career growth.

Somphob states that he always delivers their firm's service promptly and in time for their client's optimal benefits. “Every advice is based on careful reflection on current legal and business situation to provide

consultation and legal advice that keep our client on top of any business game,” he further adds.

Work life before and after becoming Managing Partner at ILAWASIA

Somphob founded his own business as 2003, establishing a company named S.S. Inter Corporation Co., Ltd. which is still in operation even today. The mission of this company is to provide a legal service focused on banking and financial institution dispute cases, where they first provide a research process for a certain level, proceed and then present it in court; asset searching, legal execution, and seizure by the court judgements. “Some of our key clients are wellknown public finance companies who

have trusted us for many years,” says Somphob, who defines himself as an extremely 'professional' person.

Somphob has been responsible as the Managing Partner of ILAWASIA, in Bangkok, Thailand and all their affiliated offices overseas since 2011. He also set up local subsidiaries which provide services in various industries such as asset management, and debt collections, associating it with his core business.

Staying motivated and maintaining a work-life balance

An interesting aspect of Somphob personal life is that he had formed a Thai alternative rock band along with is musician friends in the 90's. “I performed as a guitarist back then. I

still practice guitar nowadays which is my hobby and relax on vacation or at any time free,” he states.

With regards to providing motivation at the workplace, Somphob believes in the concept of showing appreciation and rewards of achievement by appointment of new positions and fair remuneration, because employees love to be recognized for their accomplishments. “This increases employee incentive, boosts employee morale, and empowers them to do even better the next time,” he explains.

Somphob future plans for the growth of ILAWASIA

Somphob says that he has a lot of things to do and self-motivate himself for the same. He is also in the pursuit of knowledge for personal and professional reasons.

His future plan is to expand the branch of ILAWASIAbusiness to the provincial business zone, such as Samui Island, Surat Thani province, where he envisions that most foreigners and investors require legal professional services and there is a solid potential.

Somphob's advice to the aspiring new generation of lawyers is: Be a problem solver which is one of the root skills of any attorney. Not all problems are the same, so it is a skill that requires an attorney to think creatively, research, and find solutions that are tailored made to meet a client's particular needs.

RADHA STIRLING

A Leading Human Rights Advocate Dedicated To Help Victims Of Injustice

Radha Stirling is a leading human rights advocate, crisis manager and policy consultant, focusing on the UAE and the wider Middle East. She is the founder and CEO of the United Kingdom-based organisation Detained in Dubai.

Radha founded Detained in Dubai in 2008, a civil and criminal justice organisation after her friend, Cat Le-Huy, was imprisoned in Dubai.After leading the legal and media campaign that resulted in the exoneration of her friend, she was contacted by other people in the same situation begging for help. Radha had just finished a crash course in UAE culture, law and practice and decided to help out if she could. The requests kept rolling in and she responded to them, learning more and more as she took on more cases. She trained with local lawyers, prosecutors and judges to learn as much as she could and she also learned on the job, case by case. “I became the 'go to' authority for media commentary, for lawyers requiring experts and clients in catastrophes. I took on some of the biggest multimillion dollar business disputes with corrupt government owned corporations and won,” she states.

Detained in Dubai and Radha's simultaneous growth

Radha says that this wasn't a job to her, but it rather felt like a calling, and she was the only one who specialised in this field, who had the experience and capacity to win.

She genuinely felt for each and every person who came to her for help but as the organisation attracted more and more recognition, even more cases rolled in. That's when Radha decided she needed help. She partnered with law firms and agencies and took on law interns and staff to ensure they could handle the case load and the advocacy and analysis required to continue to lobby.

Detained in Dubai had gained such a positive word of mouth reputation that they were forced to expand when clients from other Gulf nations requested help. Suddenly, they were helping people with issues in Qatar, Saudi and Bahrain which soon expanded worldwide, whether Egypt, Korea or the United States ofAmerica.

“One of our major campaigns from the very beginning has been the reform of Interpol and extradition procedures. They have been heavily abused by member states and have resulted in severe human rights violations against victims. We advocate for legal accountability and for the abolition of diplomatic protections that are currently in place in most countries. Without accountability, countries are able to practice state harassment without consequence and this kind of abuse is all too tempting,” says Radha.

As Detained in Dubai grew, so has Radha's experience in working with foreign governments, senators, MP's and diplomats who are grateful for her guidance in navigating

Founder and CEO

Detained in Dubai

the Gulf terrain. She has been a regular speaker at think tanks and policy groups and vows to continue to promote fair and just treatment and the accountability of states, corporations and institutions.

The beginning of Radha's career in the legal industry

As a young girl, Radha was fascinated by injustice and she intended to pursue a career in law. She started out at Pilgrim Geddes, a commercial law firm inAustralia when she decided pursuing a traditional legal career as a barrister was not her calling. “I didn't want to spend half of my life in chambers or in court following rules, protocols and restrictions. I wanted freedom,” she states.

After she moved to London at 18, Radha started a digital media company and worked with Endemol on a number of television shows and Formula 1's grand scale website.At the time, she employed around twenty staff members, collaborating with the onsite Endemol internal team which included Cat Le-Huy. The moment he was arrested, her innate desire for justice kicked in. She worked all day and late through the night to ensure his safe return. “I didn't know this would be the catalyst to a career change. I certainly wouldn't say that was the beginning of my career though. I had studied and learned everything I could about business management, marketing and public relations from a very young age but Detained in Dubai encompassed every aspect of my knowledge. It allowed me to apply everything from staff management and business operations to law to media. Every day felt like a true blessing and an accomplishment. I had found a career to match my childhood ideals,” she exclaims.

Radha feels equally satisfied when she helps someone in private than when she is standing in front of Parliament, the United Nations, or announcing a successful outcome to the media. She claims that her biggest accomplishments come from the lives she feels she directly impacts on a regular basis, the friendships and relationships she's cultivated with clients, colleagues, family and friends.

Core Responsibilities as CEO of Detained in Dubai

Radha is responsible for the execution of strategies that deliver successful results for clients. This could be winning a civil lawsuit, defending against an extradition request, negotiating or mediating with a foreign government or opposition law firm, implementing a plan to protect individuals in detention from abuse and torture, ensuring diplomatic and governmental intervention in cases of legal abuse and promoting long term reform in their own as well as the foreign governments who are responsible for these abuses.

“I am “committed” to this goal and have founded sister organisations Due Process International, IPEX Reform and the Gulf in Justice Podcast to further promote these endeavours,” says Radha, who describes herself as an “inventive” individual.

Being successful varies at an individual level

The feeling of success and worth for Radha comes from problem solving. She prides herself on it. She states that there is nothing more satisfying than picking up the phone and hearing “Your client has been deleted from the Interpol database” or “The prosecution dropped the case, I'm free to go”.

“Having that direct impact on someone's life and those of their families is enormously satisfying,” she exclaims.

“Being in crisis management, some of the calls I receive are from people who are going through extremely painful and unjust situations. They are desperate for help and a solution” and Radha claims to be equally desperate to apply her problem solving skills and get solutions for them. Every single time she helps someone to freedom, She is reminded that freedom is one of the most significant human needs. “I am reminded to appreciate my own freedom and to never take it for granted,” she says.

There is no single way to describe success. For Radha, it's the combination of her own freedom combined with the satisfying content she feels by contributing to positive reform at governmental and legislative levels, and saving people from injustice, abuse of power and human rights violations. “If I did not feel my work was extremely valuable, I wouldn't feel successful” she states.

Challenges make you stronger and wiser

Going up against a state is inevitably going to bring immense challenges, especially when dealing with gulf states notorious for lawlessness and human rights violations. From the moment her friend had been wrongfully arrested, Radha had to learn the inner workings of a foreign country with a judicial system with seemingly no rules, where bribery and corruption were rife and where there was zero accountability for wrongdoing.

In 2008 when she publicly chastised the UAE on major international media

platforms, she became a threat to the regime and a target herself. The UAE was marketing itself as a luxury tourist destination and a great tax free place to do business. They had not been subject to scrutiny over legal and human rights abuses until Radha's friend was detained. The country was investing millions into marketing and advertising in Western nations and it was a time when journalists and politicians were sceptical that their gulf ally would commit such atrocities against expats and visitors.

To ensure cases of abuse were thoroughly investigated, Radha needed to have significant evidence and testimony, not just one example. She stepped up to the challenge and as a result, had directly influenced significant legal reform in the Emirates which she hopes one day, will become a safe and fair place for foreign nationals to live and visit.

Since then, the organisation has had to deal with bomb threats, hacking attempts and slander from the UAE. Most of these challenges arose after she brought the case of Princess Latifa to the international media following her abduction from a US flagged yacht in international waters. Her father, the ruler of Dubai, had thwarted her escape attempt and was desperate to stop talk of the incident. The government of Dubai tried to stop their campaign to free her, deceiving media and even sending professional hecklers to their press conference.

But it wasn't just Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh SaudAl Qassimi was on the other end of one of Radha's client's lawsuits when an Israeli spy company was sent after her. “When battling foreign countries the challenges are endless but that only makes winning more satisfying. Whether I am

defending attacks or overcoming bureaucracy to motivate diplomats and governments to help, challenges always make me stronger,” she states.

If you enjoy your profession, you don't need to balance it

“I love what I do.Although I am professional, I don't see it as my working life. I think that's the recipe for success and determination,” says Radha.

As part of some of their media campaigns, Radha will have to work in multiple time zones, do a TV or radio interview late at night or at an ungodly hour of the morning.As a crisis manager, when a crisis hits, she has no choice. She's made some lifelong friends through work as a result of the bond created when dealing with these situations and has somehow merged work with pleasure which she does not believe to be a cardinal sin.

Radha's daughters, 23 and 17, are wholly supportive and have grown up in the midst of the action. Not only does she discuss the details of cases with them but they have been involved in press conferences, client meetings and learning about the fine details of what she does. They accompany her on trips to Washington DC and abroad to take in as much as they can. “Their involvement and keenness has made it much easier to balance the personal and professional. We try to get to the gym during the day, tennis, horse riding, out on a hike or some other outdoor adventure. I make sure to go out with close friends as much as possible and always try to turn work travel into a little break.Again though, I love meeting my clients, journalists, lawyers and politicians. This, to me, is my personal life,” she explains.

Radha's staff have been with her for years, one of them going on eight. They are amazingly self motivated and get satisfaction from being able to help shape the organisation. Radha states that she appreciates each and every one of them and regularly involves them in decisions as well as giving them freedom and flexibility. She relies on them, respects their knowledge and values them immensely. “I am very lucky. I would not have achieved half of what I have without the contribution of my trustworthy and dedicated dream team,” she proudly states.

Plans for the future of Detained in Dubai

Radha says that she has not achieved everything she ever dreamed of because she never stops dreaming. “Almost every morning, I come up with new ideas and goals.As I knock each achievement off the list, I will replace it with another, probably bigger goal. There is no point in my life where I will ever say “job done”,” she further states.

She is currently working on a number of large projects, litigations, class actions and exposés that she expects will cause serious reform in a number of key areas that they have identified as the primary causes of abuse. Radha's goal is to make changes at a higher level that will prevent and protect individuals from falling prey to a flawed system, rather than having to save them on an individual basis.

Radha's advice to aspiring lawyers is: Choose a field and a path that you love, that doesn't feel like work at all, then go after it without hesitation and without creating a hundred boxes you feel need to be ticked before doing so.

RAJESH BEGUR

An Experienced & Prominent Leading Corporate Lawyer in India's Legal Arena

Rajesh Begur, the founder and managing partner of BEGUR & PARTNERS, is one of India's leading corporate lawyers whose career spans over three decades of practice experience. Rajesh provides counsel and representation to a broad base of domestic and international clients on a range of corporate areas encompassing Mergers &Acquisitions, Private Equity, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Capital Markets, Banking and Finance and Telecom Media and Technology.

Known for his breadth of experience, Rajesh has the insight and perseverance required to handle complex and challenging legal, regulatory and business transactions. He is recognized as one of the prominent lawyers in the legal arena for his Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practice. He has been acclaimed and is well known for his acumen, knowledge and experience on mutual fund regulations.

BEGUR & PARTNERS – Its services and growth under Rajesh's distinguished leadership

BEGUR & PARTNERS, formerly known asARA LAW, has grown exponentially over the last two and half decades since 1996! “The privilege of serving marquee clients, be it Fortune 500 companies or transnational companies. Our reputation for quality work and negotiation skills has given us repeat clients,” says Rajesh.

BEGUR & PARTNERS have offices in Bengaluru, which caters to southern India. They have moved to a new office in Mumbai and Rajesh states they are looking forward to open more international offices. The quality of training, mentoring, and exposure their lawyers have gained with the firm is unimaginable. Today, many of their former colleagues are successful entrepreneurs themselves.

Success can be categorized monetarily and by work satisfaction

Rajesh's career started as an article clerk with Rs. 300 with MKAand Rs. 1600 withAmarchand Mangaldas. “Today when I look back, I can only say that other than hard work, there is deep gratitude to my god to whom I owe my success! Solving my client's problems over the last three decades is the absolute satisfaction and reason for success,” he says.

Every challenge is a chance to grow

Like anybody else, Rajesh too has encountered and dealt with multiple challenges in his journey. For example, when he started in 1996, he was too young compared to the senior professionals and brands. Convincing foreign clients and demonstrating their legal skills and acumen was more straightforward compared to Indian clients.

Founder and managing partner BEGUR & PARTNERS

Today, challenges are different and competition can vary from set off consultancies and advisories to big law firms who compete with you on all types of transactions. On the other hand, there are the big six accounting firms, that do almost all legal work. Likewise, many CharteredAccountants and Company Secretaries do legal work, not to mention the legal tech. In this circus, the constant challenge is to differentiate from the crowd and add value to the client who continues to be demanding, and rightfully so! “The availability of skilled talent and retention of skills you have nurtured over time remains a crucial challenge,” states Rajesh.

Rajesh's professional life before and after BEGUR & PARTNERS

Rajesh's career began in 1988 when he commenced his articles with a law firm, Manilal KherAmbalal & Co. The litigation exposure he got there was humongous, and his exposure to diverse matters was invaluable.

“The best recognition as a leader was when time and again, marquee clients reposed their faith and entrusted highvalue and complex transactions to me instead of a large law firm. That, to me, was a huge statement,” he exclaims.

Rajesh claims that his primary responsibility for BEGUR & PARTNERS is ensuring they live up to their values. Mentoring young lawyers and other than that, client generation are his passion. Before entering the legal profession, he was in the family business. “Typical family business with my father and others from a young age, so responsibilities have been part of my growing up,” he explains.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

“While work-life imbalance was not that much of an issue during our days today, it is,” states Rajesh.

He further notes that at BEGUR & PARTNERS they have maintained a healthy schedule and a 5-day week for ages. Unless something urgent or an essential assignment needs to be achieved, they do not bother their colleagues on weekends. They have consciously built a fair amount of fun activities over the years, including off-site, etc.

Plans for the future of BEGUR & PARTNERS

“Frankly, in retrospect, god has been kind and achieved much more than I even thought of, leave alone dreaming about it,” Rajesh proudly states.

BEGUR & PARTNERS plans an international foray soon. They want to be a top-tier go-to firm in their core practice areas of M&A, PE&VC, B&F, IF, and Real Estate. There is no substitute for hard work and knowledge management has always been their key to success.

It is true that large firms can never replicate the experience and exposure one gets in boutique firms like BEGUR & PARTNERS. Rajesh believes that during a fresher's formative years, a general view of a range of practice areas is good but focused, and a specialist approach is a must gains more experience.

NATALIE FOSTER

Leading Innovation in the Legal Sector by Founding

Advance Virtual Law Firm

Co- Founder of Inspire Legal Group, Natalie Foster is a former business manager at Barclays Bank who transitioned into the legal industry to work in business development. The Group includes Inspire LegalAcademy, which will give lawyers and other legal professionals the skills they need to benefit from the world of blockchain, smart contracts, and legal engineering, as well as Inspire Crypto, a company that will help develop products that enable property transactions to proceed via blockchain, are other ventures she has established. She says, It's our intention to inspire lawyers to see that there are many different things they can do in practise and to find new ways of delivering legal services. We are a group of colleagues where everyone has a stake in the success of the business."

Inspire Legal Group

The innovative virtual law firm from Inspire Legal Group, formerly Foster Clay, aims to give lawyers the tools they need to start their own practises and related businesses, such as technology solutions.

Inspire Legal Group currently employs 23 lawyers as consultants who are building their practises with complete back-office assistance. They aim to double the number of consultants by the end of 2022. They work with paralegals, licenced conveyancers, solicitors, and legal entrepreneurs who require a

support network to develop their own tech products, and are enouraging other lawyers, at all levels to “join the movement” [one of the Group's taglines] . 11 people are currently employed by Inspire in Scarborough to help the lawyers.

Early Background

Natalie comes from a business, finance, and lending background. She started a law degree when she had her children, and she is still pursuing her SQE and LLM because being a solicitor would be sacrilege to her. She sees herself as a business leader who develops a team and garners support to bring about change. She works in the legal industry and is aware of the significant obstacles that must be removed before law and procedure can be applied to technology.Although the Law Commission is doing fantastic work in this area, a comprehensive solution is required. Inspire Legal Group and Vleppo (a Danish Blockchain Technology company) have forged a new alliance. She says, "We have the means to do what others are only consulting on at this stage. Being asked by Vleppo to work with them over other larger firms has been an honour and I cannot wait to let the public know what it is we have planned."

Leading Legal Group

In the first lockdown, Inspire Legal Group was created.

CEO Inspire Legal Group

After hearing Boris on the TV say that the public were not permitted anywhere, Natalie sat in her bedroom with her laptop and felt a sudden wave of freedom being taken away from her. She knew that many lawyers lawyers would find it difficult to function alone at home. She had resigned from her previous partnership position in order to start a

business that would "survive the times then flourish." The objective was to establish a business that supported Web 3 and was entirely operationally digital. Regulatory compliance, lawyers' education in terms of understanding and buy-in, and the ultimate consumer client's need to be aware of the advantages of blockchain in the legal sector, such as

security and speed, are just a few of the difficulties Natalie mentions.

Consultants who are in their own right entrepreneurial and have project ideas of their own can join the firm to have the support of reserved legal activity insurance when they require it. Under the firm'sABS (alternative business structure), they can offer niche services to their clients, retaining the majority of their fees. She asserts, "We've created personal brand workshops, lead gen support, and back office administration to support them. But what we're doing goes beyond being part of a “firm”, it's being part of a community. I don't want to be in competition with highstreet firms, we are not. I want to offer a different way of functioning in the sector by removing the issues many artists face when transferring property and support the legal sector in the journey to using block chain technology. This is what Inspire Legal Groupis doing. "

Responsibilities at Inspire Legal Group

As CEO, Natalie is responsible for the strategy, progress, and implementation of all projects within the group and ensures the relevant leaders have all the tools they need to undertake the roles the firm expects them to work with.

Moreover, hers job is to build the brand of the group and ensure people know she is here to listen to new ideas and be non-conformist. She states, "Not anarchy, this is a different thing. People think that disruption is an uncomfortable place to be. It isn't if you have the education, support, and direction of leaders. That's what I do."

Sharing the Significance of Challenges

Natalie quotes Hamilton, "Talk less, smile more." She finds that this saying, although simple, encapsulates the changes she has made to develop and bounce back after trusting in the wrong things and learning from failure. She asserts, "We all fail. We are all allowed one mess up. If we learn from it, it has not been a waste of time and energy."

Natalie states that one should partner with people that share his or her values and ethics. She adds, "Distance, background, sector, and all kinds of things can be a little obstacle in this digital age, but a gap in ethics or integrity can mess with the balance of a team. When implementing change, there are constant dynamics and relationship changes. These need to be managed and respected, and if one party isn't working as hard as the rest, it causes upset in the ranks." She has learnt from this and selects her partners based on attitude and conduct over anything these days. She thanks the challenges she has faced for allowing her to realise her value to others at darker times, and suggests that you always have something to offer.

In and Out of Work

Natalie fits her work in “a little and often” around the needs of her two small children. Her hobbies are supporting her daughter in her dancing and she is often sat at the back of a hall or theatre emailing the HQ team.

Natalie shares that Inspire Legal Group has great respect for family. It has to be this way. Her team misss nothing. She says, "If we support

employees' personal journeys as well as their professional ones, the loyalty you receive and buy-in is unparalleled. The perception by some is that this is a weakness, it isn't."

Achieving all the Dreams

Natalie admits that while she feels content with what she has accomplished so far, she is unsure of her plans for the next 40 years. She thinks, "We are all working through life in chapters. We do not need pigeonholing, and so what I do now might be different from what I do in 10 years, but whatever it is, I will always love being in business, providing opportunities for others to develop and building success from the ground up." She further adds, "Hard work doesn't have to be a painful slog. If you have an amazing team and good, smart processes, you can do anything. For me, the process has been everything. I'm lucky to have a strong board who does not allow me to veer off. Energy is not enough, you need strategy and reasoning."

Why are you doing this? is something Natalie asks herself regularly. She finds dreams are subjective. She initially started simply wanting to be able to take a holiday, knowing the team and business were sustainable. She asserts, "Trust gets you there, and now I want to see that the projects we have are successful and we deliver the change the legal sector so desperately needs. Ask me again next year!"

Key to Success

Natalie has not experienced conventional or even convenient success. If anything, it has disrupted the market more than anything else because she entered the market with a critically constructive perspective.

She initially intended to go to law school, become licenced as a solicitor, and eventually join a partnership. This changed when she observed the extraordinary operational challenges that partners and lawyers in general face, which prevent them from working on future strategy but, more importantly, fire fight daily with outdated views of how people should handle requests and restrict their opportunities for access to justice.

"Success to me now is to influence and construct positive change wherever possible using the gifts and control you have at your disposal," says Natalie. For her, this is a strong network of partners who support her vision for a web3 solution for the legal industry. That is client-focused, justice-focused, and complaintdriven, and it gives lawyers and the regulator confidence to proceed without fear.

Future of Inspire Legal Group

Natalie's goals for the future include expansion, senior leadership, and a focus on the areas where clients currently lack access to justice.Also included are litigation, business, and corporate, as well as crypto asset tracking. She says, "Anyone who isn't getting where they need to be in the corporate pyramid and knows they have a value, talk to us. We set lawyers up to practise in their own way with their own clients and educate them in tech so they remain relevant, supportive of their clients' needs, and multi-skilled in an everchanging landscape."

BERNIE LAWRENCE

A Renowned Entertainment Attorney of B. Lawrence

Watkins & Associates

Bernie Lawrence is a seasoned transactional attorney and the principal of B. Lawrence Watkins &Associates, PC, a legal practice specializing in entertainment, copyrights and trademarks, new media, and corporate law. Throughout her career, she has been able to carve out a niche for herself by representing multi-platinum selling music producers who have composed hits for notable hip-hop artists such as Lil' Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ludacris, 50 Cent, and P. Diddy, as well as R&B and pop artists such as Usher, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Beyoncé, and Rihanna, to name a few. Music business executives, music production firms, independent record labels, musicians, managers, songwriters, film and television production companies, screenwriters, video game developers, and apparel designers are among her clientele. Ms. Lawrence is a frequent guest speaker and panelist at entertainment seminars and conferences around the country.

Bernie began her legal career in 1996 as a paralegal at Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton LLP, formerly known as Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, and then worked as a contract attorney in the Commercial Real Estate department. She left the major firm setting in 1999 to work for the City ofAtlanta as a Legal Specialist in the Office of Contract Compliance, while continuing to practice law part-time on the side. She was a legal liaison to the Law Department in the City, oversaw certification experts for the Equal Business

Opportunity and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, and established Equal Employment Opportunity and First Source Jobs program processes.

Bernie left the City ofAtlanta in late 2002 to run her legal practice full-time and incorporated her company. Ms. Lawrence also worked as a lobbyist for eight years, representing the City ofAtlanta as well as Hartsfield Jackson InternationalAirport on federal funding initiatives.

Ms. Lawrence earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Howard University and her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is the proud mother of two sons.

B. Lawrence Watkins &Associates

B. Lawrence Watkins &Associates, P.C. is a transactional legal practice that focuses on Entertainment, Intellectual Property, and Business Law. The firm specializes in music, film and television, copyright, trademarks, and business transactions. The company has over twenty years of expertise creating and negotiating complex agreements for entertainment and business brands ranging from recording, music publishing, licensing, employment, corporate transactions, to product endorsement and influencer collaborations.

Attorney and the principal

B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates

Bernie is continuously on the lookout for new attorneys that are enthusiastic about the entertainment business. She is also aiming to form strategic alliances in order to open offices in key cities around the country. She further adds that if anyone doesn't believe in the firm's mission, then the firm is not the right match for him or her.

As per Bernie, the firm's mission is to further the professional and personal goals of its clients through the use of education, experience in the entertainment industry, and relationships the team fosters. She shares, "We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest level of integrity in our legal practice."

Motivation behind Joining Sector

Bernie has a love for the arts and is very passionate about helping creative people. She doesn't like seeing people being treated unfairly. When she was a teenager, she thought she would become a performer/entertainer. She recalls, "One of my brothers became an artist while we were in college. He signed a bad deal, and then ended up getting dropped by the label." Bernie saw how it affected him. She then made a commitment to herself to go to law school, and become an entertainment lawyer to help people like him get out of bad deals and be an advocate for those who wanted to pursue a career in entertainment to get them the best deals possible.

She asserts, "My belief is that all things are possible. If you can see it, you can achieve it. The step of faith starts with believing in yourself that you can achieve the goals you set out to accomplish. If I never tested my faith, I would not have a testimony to share with others."

Purpose, Life and Success

"God gives us only what we can handle. The challenges we face in life are our testimony of faith and our ability to overcome," says Bernie. She believes that with challenges comes growth and opportunity. She opines, "We are able to learn things about ourselves and change what we don't like. Without challenges, we are not able to properly identify our strengths and weaknesses. We all have them. We have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It causes us to think and to be open to the possibilities that anything can happen."

For Bernie, success is "creating a life you've always wanted to live while engaging a community that is moved, touched, and inspired by your actions, which motivates you to give back." She adds, "When you've been blessed with an opportunity, you should share your blessings with those who are in need of assistance. We should always be looking for ways to help move, touch, and inspire others to fulfill their purpose."

Recognition for Exemplary Work

Bernie represented multiple music producers whose albums went multiplatinum in the early 2000s. Her producer was nominated for a Grammy, and she was invited to the ceremony. Her name began to spread in the music world, particularly among music producers, allowing her to establish a niche practice working with music producers and songwriters.

Bernie has been able to pull some of her clients out of less favorable contracts and negotiate multi-million dollar deals for others over the years. People are aware of her strong support for client ownership of intellectual property rights. She has succeeded in creating a brand that encourages customers to seek out the firm's services. Bernie states, "Most people in the entertainment industry know me as my motto, 'Bernie Gets You Paid'."

TheAttorney/Principal of B. Lawrence Watkins &Associates

Bernie's responsibilities as CEO and PrincipalAttorney are substantial. Her roles include, but are not limited to the following: managing the employees, contractors, and interns that work for the firm and overseeing

their assignments; managing the dayto-day operations of the firm as well as the client-intake process and engaging in business development.

Bernie opines, "Over the years, I was blessed with the opportunity to be honored by many organizations, receive several awards, and appear in several magazines. It's hard to say which has been the best recognition." She feels humbled to be recognized and appreciates the recognition as an industry leader.

As per Bernie, every day varies. She starts her day at 6 am with meditation and an early morning exercise. Thereafter she is checking emails from the day prior and responding before 9 am. Between 10 am and 1 pm, she reviews assignments prior to them being sent out to opposing counsel. Between 1 pm and 6 pm, she will participate in zoom calls or inperson meetings with clients. She says, "We sometimes meet clients at the office and others at a restaurant or their place of work, which could be the recording studio, movie set, or video shoot." Bernie enjoys yoga, jogging outdoors, and strength training as forms of exercise. The management and staff make an effort to meet on a weekly basis to discuss their duties. Bernie is also very transparent with the team while sharing ideas on how to perform the duties appropriately. "We also go out to lunch periodically as a group, to change the scenery," says Bernie.

Future

of B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates

Bernie's goals for B. Lawrence Watkins &Associates include becoming a nationwide brand renowned in all major cities with a strong entertainment presence, hiring

additional attorneys interested in practicing in the entertainment field, and establishing a sports branch to represent athletes. In addition, Bernie is actively involved in a few other business initiatives. One is a music distribution and technology platform that will be a game changer in the entertainment business, as we know it. Bernie also intends to write and publish a book this year.

Trust the Process and Learn from Every Experience

When Bernie first started her practice, she remembers having difficulty getting attorneys to return her calls or respond to her emails. She was a new lawyer on the scene who needed to gain the respect of industry professionals. She states, "I learned early that you are only as strong as your brand. If people don't know you, they won't respect you and will be quick to dismiss you."

Her advice to all emerging female leaders: "Don't get caught up in the end result. Enjoy the ride of all the possibilities you can and will encounter along the way and embrace them. Those experiences may also help to move, touch, and inspire someone through their journey someday.”

NITIN PAL

An Ambitious & Hardworking Lawyer Growing In Intellectual Property Within The Legal Industry

Mr. Nitin Pal is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at PatentManiac which is a Law Firms & Legal Services company with estimated 34 employees. The company was founded in 2010 and has a C-Level management level.

Bringing in more than 13+ years of experience in Intellectual Property Research andAnalytics, at PatentManiac, Nitin is currently responsible for handling the patent related matters for the company. Additionally, he oversees the company's geographic expansion and key business development initiatives. Nitin has led continued growth of the company's business since inception, and has been responsible for steering PatentManiac's strategic plans. In addition to providing prosecution support to global high-tech firms resulting in more than 200 patent applications, he has advised several patent brokerage, monetization and licensing firms in successfully commercializing technology portfolios.

“My vision for PatentManiac is to be recognized as the premier service provider in the IP consulting space, and leverage latest technology to optimize processes across the patent lifecycle, thereby facilitating a spurt in innovation,” states Nitin, who define himself as an 'Adaptive' person.

The beginning of Nitin's legal career

Nitin started his career in a top-notch KPO firm in Gurgaon, India way back in 2008. He worked there for a while after which he joined a Start-up dealing in the same line of services. “It's true to say that you learn everything in a start-up,” he states. Nitin understood every aspect of IP lifecycle, interacted with variety of clients and their different IP needs. He believes that this exposure grooms you well for a longer run and that is what happened to him.

Once PatentManiac was established, Nitin already had 3-4 years of IP experience but with diversified clients. This helped him a lot in catering different client needs. “I, along with my co-founder have been awarded various IP excellence awards but the most precious one is the first one by Questel IP, as it was the first recognition. Recently, we have also been awarded a U.S. patent that we are looking for licensing,” says Nitin. Currently, there are many other patents in the pipeline.

Challenges make you stronger and adaptable

Hard times come up without a prior notice and we should be prepared that challenges will come. If there are no challenges, learning and growth always suffer.

Co-founder and Managing Partner

This makes task repetitive and no one comes up with innovative ideas. Subsequently, team members feel stagnant in their learning and look for opportunities that hit an organization on a longer run. The service provider needs to ensure that quality of work delivered is cost –effective and better than the competitors.

“Working on an hour-based model was challenging as it took more

manual efforts and the ticket outcome was low. This is a major deterrent for new players,” says Nitin.

Additionally, the business development model should be very nicely placed as majority of work is on low-ticket model. Hence, while developing and strengthen the team a healthy pipeline is requires in place, which further requires strong business development model. PatentManiac

has invested largely on client engagement models and development of business development team is overseas and India.

The growth of PatentManiac under Nitin's leadership

PatentManiac has grown tremendously over the years, both in terms of client portfolio and adapting to state-of-the-art tools deployed to provides best IP services to their client's globally. “I would not refrain to mention that we have been getting really good response from US, European andAsian markets and the demand of cost-effective and quality IP services has made us set up a benchmark in this field,” says Nitin. As a law firm, they have been awarded various accolades from renowned organizations for providing qualitative and decisive IP services. Nitin states that this has motivated them to perform much better.

PatentManiac has shown an average growth of more than 20% for past 5 years. Moreover, they have seen a consistent increase in headcount of IP experts. They plan to double the team side from 40+ team members to 80+ members in the next 1-2 years. They are expanding in every vertical within the IP space. They support 1000+ active clients across the globe.

Recently PatentManiac has collaborated with San Diego based law firms to manage their patent work.Additionally, they have opened their offices in South Carolina as well. They are also trying to pitch in and work along with their associated partners in the United States to support Fortune 500+ Companies, Individual Inventors, and Universities etc. “We have recently

been awarded with IP Excellence Award by Questel, India,” Nitin states proudly.

Staying motivated and having a work-life balance are key factors for success

Personally, Nitin maintains a distance between personal and professional life. It's NO working on weekends. However, he has limited hours available after office as they mostly cater to US clients. However, he ensures that they strictly follow “No-interaction” policy on weekends or after office hours. “We have increased our team strength over time to ensure we have plenty of resources available for expedited project deliverables. We also make sure we equally compensate all employees if they are employed on a non-working day, but is only under extreme circumstances,” Nitin explains.

Nitin considers himself to be fortunate to have a team of motivated IP professionals who enjoy their work. They have a limited iteration rate as they keep all team members indulged in various official and interactive activities, so that no one feels left alone. They also put in a lot of efforts to train their team members through various in-house and outsourced training organizations to ensure they are officially well informed on their technical knowledge. “This makes them confident as well as keeps them motivated,” he says.

Future plan for success and growth

t PatentManiac, they forsee a bright future and their main focus is to geographically expand in various regions including Europe,Asia and

Africa. They have been trying to open offices in these regions and are in the process of getting authorization soon. Once that is done, plan to begin expanding in these regions and appointing teams to handle IP services in these markets. They also plan to increase their operation team in India but they are awaiting a response from these markets.

Nitin is optimistic because they have seen company grow organically over the years, maintaining a clientele from different fields requiring IP/Patent services ranging from startup to medium size organizations. “We have more than 90% retention rate and have been advising on IP needs for years now. We have seen companies making right use of IP that we developed. Moreover, we have been conducting awareness seminars to make product/technical innovators and inventors aware on the use of

safeguarding their inventions,” he explains.

Nitin's personal goal is to set-up an innovation team within PatentManiac and file at least 5-6 patents on a yearly basis. Moreover, he is planning to set up a licensing arm of PatentManiac that license their patents with potential buyers as well. They have already started and have filed 3-4 patent applications last year. Additionally, they just got approved with their first patent in USAas well.

His message to upcoming IP lawyers is: Make yourself informative on patent/IP matters so that you are well informed practically rather than theoretically.

CHRISTOPHER LOMBARDO

A Certified Financial Litigator Enhancing the Family Law

Community Through Advanced Financial Education

J. Christopher Lombardo, Partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. has almost four decades of experience practicing law in the state of Florida. Chris received his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law. He serves clients in marital and family matters in Collier County; He also provides legal services in civil litigation. He is a Certified Financial Litigator and Founding Member of theAmericanAcademy for Certified Financial Litigators. Chris also holds theAV Preeminent Peer Review rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

In addition to his legal practice, Christopher Lombardo has served on the Board of Fire Commissioners of the North Collier Fire Control & Rescue District since 1999 and is the current Vice Chairman.Active in the community, he is on the Board of Directors of Shy Wolf Sanctuary and Golisano Children's' Museum of Naples.

Chris believes that success is helping others and enjoying what you do, and at the same time building a successful business to the benefit of your employees and your clients. He feels success is the knowledge you have of accomplishing and achieving the best possible result for those individual circumstances - small or large.

WPLand its growth under Chris' leadership

In 1971,Arthur V.Woodward, Esq. founded the first law firm on Marco Island, Florida which emphasized the importance of superior work ethic, collegiality and respect among their peers, and a special conscience that commands participation in opportunities for the good of the public. These guiding principles formed the tradition of excellence that the attorneys and staff at WPL work hard to uphold today.

Today, WPL is proudly celebrating 50 years of providing legal services with offices in Marco Island and Naples. The attorneys at WPL provide an array of legal services to individuals, businesses and local and state government agencies throughout Florida.

As leader of the Family Law & Litigation Services group at WPL, Chris states that they are proud of the law practice they have built and their network of colleagues in Collier County as a result of a great reputation and their extensive legal services.

Overcoming challenges professionally

Chris recognizes that everyone will always have challenges and obstacles in life. He defines himself as an innovative person and believes that it is how we

Partner Woodward, Pires & Lombardo

creatively manoeuvre around those obstacles that teach us something. “It also helps to keep the obstacles in perspective, and to recognize the resiliency we didn't realize we had,” he explains.

Achievements as a legal professional

Chris claims that he has achieved almost everything that he has ever dreamed of, but he also says that there is always more to achieve and he aspires to do so.

While Chris recognizes that he has sanely led hundreds of divorce clients away from their pre-existing tumultuous relationship to help start the next chapter of their life, he feels his greatest accomplishment as a leader was safely delivering 23 teenage girls over the rugged 10,000'

elevation of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico for 10 days without incident, at least not a major one!

Maintaining a work-life balance and staying motivated

Chris states that he has many hobbies such as creative welding, reading, kayaking and ranching. He enjoys exploring off the beaten path new places and discoveries. In his personal time, he tends to his ranch and cattle. Chris previously enjoyed being a scoutmaster as well.

He keeps himself and the staff motivated by the quality cases they receive which he claims are very interesting. “We work as a team effort and celebrate our successes together and recognize our legal talent,” he states.

At WPL, they recently expanded their space with new offices so they continue to grow and change with the times. In their new space, they have installed a state-of-the-art “Zoom Room” for video hearings, trials, meetings and depositions.

Chris' message for aspiring lawyers is: Tend to your clients and employees earnestly and be sure to also tend to marketing and business development of their practice along the way.