Anne Kerwin Payne: From Law Firms to the C-Suite and the Future of In-House Legal Leadership

In this episode of The Legal Leaders Podcast, host David Lancelot talks with Anne Kerwin Payne, Founder and Managing Director at Kerwin, about the evolution of in-house legal leadership, the state of the legal talent market, and what modern legal leaders need to succeed.

They discuss:

• How the in-house legal profession has transformed from a law-firm alternative into a core business leadership function
• The impact of market cycles, layoffs, and recovery on legal careers and hiring trends
• Why legal operations, technology fluency, and strategic vision are now essential for legal leaders

Tune in for an unfiltered conversation on the changing expectations of general counsel, the rise of legal operations and legal tech, and how legal leaders can build resilient, future-ready careers.