The Path To General Counsel: Leading With Yes, Following Your Instincts
ALIFDO had the opportunity to interview two ground-breaking Chief Legal Advisers in the United Nations (UN), Katherine Meighan and Donata Rugarabamu, and discuss key moments from their professional lives.
Katherine (Katie) Meighan (left) is the General Counsel of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Donata Rugarabamu (right) is the Legal Counsel of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
ALIFDO: What was the main breakthrough moment in your career in the path to Chief Legal Adviser?
Donata: For me, everything flows from having had a wonderful mentor through being at the right place, at the right time, back in my university days. I had just finished my undergraduate law degree and went to discuss career opportunities with my public international law supervisor. A position as research assistant of renowned academic, ICJ practitioner and lawyer, Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, had quite literally just opened up and my supervisor suggested I should interview for it – I did, and got it. From that moment, Sir Elihu became a teacher, mentor and sponsor throughout my career. With his support and unerring eye for detail, I learned my way around the international world, built a solid backing in public international law, and the opportunity opened many other doors for me. It was because of him that I went to work at the Commonwealth Secretariat - the natural resource and international law experience that I gained there and at other intergovernmental organizations led me to consider several other opportunities, of which the most interesting was FAO, an organisation that I joined in late 2013.
Katie: My turning point occurred in 2004 when I moved to Argentina to assist in establishing IFC’s office there following the financial crisis. I was working in the Washington D.C. office when I was asked to go to Buenos Aires, assist in opening a new office and lead, from the legal side, the restructuring of IFC’s non-performing loan (NPL) portfolio. Managing the highest NPL ratio in IFC’s history was the number one issue for the institution that year. I was initially doubtful as the conventional wisdom was that an overseas move would be detrimental to your career, and I had a very young family. After much reflection, and discussions with colleagues on both the pros and cons, I decided to lead with “yes” and go. The move launched me from being a purely technical lawyer into the field of government relations, strategic corporate vision, and management, working across all divisions of IFC as well as becoming the IFC focal point with other IFIs and MDBs. As lawyers, we are often averse to risk – to that, I would say that the moment of greatest career growth occurs when we are uncomfortable and building different skillsets.
ALIFDO: How do you balance the role of Chief Legal Adviser with remaining true to your core values?
Donata: The first step is really to remember what your role is. I am the Legal Counsel, not the decision-maker, and giving honest legal advice in that capacity is critical. It is also incumbent upon a leader to demonstrate on a daily basis the values of her or his organization, which in my case are the values of the United Nations. If, for example, there is not a full alignment between all stakeholders on a particular decision to be made, the primary role of the Legal Counsel is to refer to the legal framework collectively adopted by the institution, and when necessary, clarify or interpret the rules. One can, of course, offer a personal view on a particular course of action – however, it is not the role of the Legal Counsel to make or block decisions. Ultimately, when giving guidance as Legal Counsel, my reputation and integrity guide how I take positions that I can later feel comfortable defending.
Katie: I would agree that, as a lawyer, a General Counsel’s most valuable commodity is his or her integrity, to be protected at all costs. As for the role of the General Counsel – and any lawyer – it is ultimately to protect its institution. Therefore, before applying for a position at any organization, it is essential to consider carefully whether your personal core values are aligned with those of the institution that you are seeking to serve and protect – and with those of the supervisor with whom you will work. Throughout your career, and particularly as you become more senior, a supervisor is a very important figure; ensuring that you both share the same values will make a big impact on how you succeed and grow professionally and personally.
ALIFDO: How do you manage adversities and uncomfortable situations as Chief Legal Advisers?
Donata: My role quite often involves being brought into complex situations to defuse tension and provide objectivity when, for example, there is a diplomatic impasse. In these cases, my aim is to provide added value to a constitutional or political process by taking people back to the mission and the basic legal texts, clearly separating legal and non-legal issues. As lawyers, we are trained to listen, identify the bottom line and think flexibly on our feet to find workable solutions within the framework of the rules. Building trusted connections with all stakeholders is really the key to finding consensus in these challenging moments. It also helps to accept that sometimes compromises need to be made where everyone is mutually unhappy, as that can be an outcome in itself! Another key aspect is that if I feel that it is I who has done something wrong, I prefer to put my hands up early, acknowledge the mistake and move forward. In my view, it is not a loss of face, if anything, it is a show of strength.
Katie: As I mentioned, the main function of the General Counsel is ultimately to protect its institution – and, at the same time, we also play the role of honest broker, both internally and externally. To develop this reputation with stakeholders, it is important to spend time to build strong relationships of trust within the organization and with member countries; if a difficult political, institutional or other situation arises, those different stakeholders should feel comfortable in seeking impartial guidance on the relevant legal frameworks and interpretation of relevant rules from the General Counsel. I am an advocate of the preventative law approach and always seek early discussion and action on issues before they escalate. In my view, it shows maturity and judgment to take a step back, frankly admit any mistakes or misunderstandings, and try to understand where the other side is coming from. In seeking to manage conflict, it can be invaluable to meet with counterparts in person (if possible given current circumstances!), listen to their perspective and try to identify areas of consensus so as to help forge a pragmatic solution.
ALIFDO: What three qualities guide your work as Chief Legal Advisers?
Donata: The three qualities that I consider are most important and seek to guide my work by are:
Katie: Taking legal excellence as a baseline, the main qualities that I strive for as General Counsel include being:
ALIFDO: What is the one piece of advice you would give to your younger self at the outset of your career?
Donata: “Stand by your instincts – even if you are not choosing what everyone else is doing”. Most of my peers at university were taking the traditional corporate route into the City of London, whilst I was going into academia. Throughout my life, I have learned that if I feel comfortable with something, then it is worth taking that chance, which may not be right for others, but is right for me. I would also say that moving institutions is invaluable for learning how to quickly adapt and be exposed to different ways of thinking.
Katie: “Don’t expect your career path to be linear; be open to growth opportunities”. I would advise younger lawyers to “lead with yes”. By this, I mean being willing to ask for (and be open to) new and different opportunities. This is true even if these entail potentially moving out of law for some time, going on secondment to a client or, to echo Donata, moving institutions. Real growth in order to become a holistic, stronger lawyer and leader occurs when you are uncomfortable and you are taking risk!
ALIFDO: Finally, what did you tell yourselves on your first day as Chief Legal Advisers?
Donata: “Focus on what you can bring to this role”. I felt some trepidation as I was taking over from the previous Legal Counsel who had been at FAO for more than 40 years. Although I was selected competitively from within the institution, I have of course worked in many different fields of international law – from war compensation to environmental law to chemical weapons! So, my first thought was that I should not try to compete with the previous Legal Counsel’s knowledge of FAO, but rather focus on the different experience and knowledge I could bring to the role - namely new approaches and ways of doing things. And I still tell myself this every day!
Katie: “You only have one chance to make a first impression”. I prepared a lot for my first day. Two meetings in particular were key: my inaugural meetings with IFAD’s President, Gilbert F. Houngbo, and with the legal department. I really wanted to understand from the President his vision for IFAD and for the legal team, as well as his views on the key challenges and priorities ahead. With the legal division, I thought they may be wondering ‘who is this outsider coming to lead us?’! So, I wanted to introduce myself early and convey my support and vision for a diverse and inclusive team environment supporting IFAD’s compelling mission. It was also very important to me to understand each lawyer’s plans for their personal and professional growth, so I made sure to schedule one-on-one discussions with each of them in my first weeks. Ultimately, both meetings provided a good opportunity to ensure alignment of my core values with those of the team and President as we embarked on a very exciting chapter in IFAD’s history!
ALIFDO: Thank you both so much for your time, Katie and Donata, and for sharing your experiences as leading lawyers in international development.
Interview conducted by Joan Grogan, IFAD.
August 2020.
ALIFDO had the opportunity to interview two ground-breaking Chief Legal Advisers in the United Nations (UN), Katherine Meighan and Donata Rugarabamu, and discuss key moments from their professional lives.
Katherine (Katie) Meighan (left) is the General Counsel of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Donata Rugarabamu (right) is the Legal Counsel of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
ALIFDO: What was the main breakthrough moment in your career in the path to Chief Legal Adviser?
Donata: For me, everything flows from having had a wonderful mentor through being at the right place, at the right time, back in my university days. I had just finished my undergraduate law degree and went to discuss career opportunities with my public international law supervisor. A position as research assistant of renowned academic, ICJ practitioner and lawyer, Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, had quite literally just opened up and my supervisor suggested I should interview for it – I did, and got it. From that moment, Sir Elihu became a teacher, mentor and sponsor throughout my career. With his support and unerring eye for detail, I learned my way around the international world, built a solid backing in public international law, and the opportunity opened many other doors for me. It was because of him that I went to work at the Commonwealth Secretariat - the natural resource and international law experience that I gained there and at other intergovernmental organizations led me to consider several other opportunities, of which the most interesting was FAO, an organisation that I joined in late 2013.
Katie: My turning point occurred in 2004 when I moved to Argentina to assist in establishing IFC’s office there following the financial crisis. I was working in the Washington D.C. office when I was asked to go to Buenos Aires, assist in opening a new office and lead, from the legal side, the restructuring of IFC’s non-performing loan (NPL) portfolio. Managing the highest NPL ratio in IFC’s history was the number one issue for the institution that year. I was initially doubtful as the conventional wisdom was that an overseas move would be detrimental to your career, and I had a very young family. After much reflection, and discussions with colleagues on both the pros and cons, I decided to lead with “yes” and go. The move launched me from being a purely technical lawyer into the field of government relations, strategic corporate vision, and management, working across all divisions of IFC as well as becoming the IFC focal point with other IFIs and MDBs. As lawyers, we are often averse to risk – to that, I would say that the moment of greatest career growth occurs when we are uncomfortable and building different skillsets.
ALIFDO: How do you balance the role of Chief Legal Adviser with remaining true to your core values?
Donata: The first step is really to remember what your role is. I am the Legal Counsel, not the decision-maker, and giving honest legal advice in that capacity is critical. It is also incumbent upon a leader to demonstrate on a daily basis the values of her or his organization, which in my case are the values of the United Nations. If, for example, there is not a full alignment between all stakeholders on a particular decision to be made, the primary role of the Legal Counsel is to refer to the legal framework collectively adopted by the institution, and when necessary, clarify or interpret the rules. One can, of course, offer a personal view on a particular course of action – however, it is not the role of the Legal Counsel to make or block decisions. Ultimately, when giving guidance as Legal Counsel, my reputation and integrity guide how I take positions that I can later feel comfortable defending.
Katie: I would agree that, as a lawyer, a General Counsel’s most valuable commodity is his or her integrity, to be protected at all costs. As for the role of the General Counsel – and any lawyer – it is ultimately to protect its institution. Therefore, before applying for a position at any organization, it is essential to consider carefully whether your personal core values are aligned with those of the institution that you are seeking to serve and protect – and with those of the supervisor with whom you will work. Throughout your career, and particularly as you become more senior, a supervisor is a very important figure; ensuring that you both share the same values will make a big impact on how you succeed and grow professionally and personally.
ALIFDO: How do you manage adversities and uncomfortable situations as Chief Legal Advisers?
Donata: My role quite often involves being brought into complex situations to defuse tension and provide objectivity when, for example, there is a diplomatic impasse. In these cases, my aim is to provide added value to a constitutional or political process by taking people back to the mission and the basic legal texts, clearly separating legal and non-legal issues. As lawyers, we are trained to listen, identify the bottom line and think flexibly on our feet to find workable solutions within the framework of the rules. Building trusted connections with all stakeholders is really the key to finding consensus in these challenging moments. It also helps to accept that sometimes compromises need to be made where everyone is mutually unhappy, as that can be an outcome in itself! Another key aspect is that if I feel that it is I who has done something wrong, I prefer to put my hands up early, acknowledge the mistake and move forward. In my view, it is not a loss of face, if anything, it is a show of strength.
Katie: As I mentioned, the main function of the General Counsel is ultimately to protect its institution – and, at the same time, we also play the role of honest broker, both internally and externally. To develop this reputation with stakeholders, it is important to spend time to build strong relationships of trust within the organization and with member countries; if a difficult political, institutional or other situation arises, those different stakeholders should feel comfortable in seeking impartial guidance on the relevant legal frameworks and interpretation of relevant rules from the General Counsel. I am an advocate of the preventative law approach and always seek early discussion and action on issues before they escalate. In my view, it shows maturity and judgment to take a step back, frankly admit any mistakes or misunderstandings, and try to understand where the other side is coming from. In seeking to manage conflict, it can be invaluable to meet with counterparts in person (if possible given current circumstances!), listen to their perspective and try to identify areas of consensus so as to help forge a pragmatic solution.
ALIFDO: What three qualities guide your work as Chief Legal Advisers?
Donata: The three qualities that I consider are most important and seek to guide my work by are:
- Responsiveness. It is crucial to understand that your colleagues want to know that they have been heard and that you are working to address their issues. Being responsive and doing so in a timely manner is key and it helps to build that trust we have been talking about.
- Adaptability. Laws and organizations do not operate in a vacuum. To be a lawyer that is useful to its institution, one needs to be flexible and open to change and innovation. For example, at FAO, we are undergoing a digital revolution and, of course, the legal department is also having to drive and adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- High quality. Producing high quality work is critical to being taken seriously as a lawyer and as a legal department. As a manager, I also feel it is important to lead by example and ensure that the presentation of our work is of the same excellence as our legal research and analysis.
Katie: Taking legal excellence as a baseline, the main qualities that I strive for as General Counsel include being:
- A trusted leader. This means repeatedly demonstrating integrity every day, empowering other people, building partnerships internally and externally to support the institution’s vision, and having a vision for your team as well as for each of its members. It takes time and consistent behaviour to build trust.
- A strategic thinker. General Counsels work in very fast-paced environments (often members of the executive management body), advising the institution across all aspects. Legal divisions have unique visibility into all aspects of the institution’s activities, and it is important for lawyers to quickly connect issues across the house. General Counsels are increasingly seen as strategic partners helping the business drive for, in IFAD’s case, development impact, while simultaneously safeguarding the institution.
- A strong communicator. A General Counsel needs to quickly process and understand large volumes of information, and identify and explain key issues in a succinct and non-legalese manner. In building relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, it is also important to bear in mind the human element – it really helps to truly listen to, and proactively seek to understand, the other person’s perspective.
ALIFDO: What is the one piece of advice you would give to your younger self at the outset of your career?
Donata: “Stand by your instincts – even if you are not choosing what everyone else is doing”. Most of my peers at university were taking the traditional corporate route into the City of London, whilst I was going into academia. Throughout my life, I have learned that if I feel comfortable with something, then it is worth taking that chance, which may not be right for others, but is right for me. I would also say that moving institutions is invaluable for learning how to quickly adapt and be exposed to different ways of thinking.
Katie: “Don’t expect your career path to be linear; be open to growth opportunities”. I would advise younger lawyers to “lead with yes”. By this, I mean being willing to ask for (and be open to) new and different opportunities. This is true even if these entail potentially moving out of law for some time, going on secondment to a client or, to echo Donata, moving institutions. Real growth in order to become a holistic, stronger lawyer and leader occurs when you are uncomfortable and you are taking risk!
ALIFDO: Finally, what did you tell yourselves on your first day as Chief Legal Advisers?
Donata: “Focus on what you can bring to this role”. I felt some trepidation as I was taking over from the previous Legal Counsel who had been at FAO for more than 40 years. Although I was selected competitively from within the institution, I have of course worked in many different fields of international law – from war compensation to environmental law to chemical weapons! So, my first thought was that I should not try to compete with the previous Legal Counsel’s knowledge of FAO, but rather focus on the different experience and knowledge I could bring to the role - namely new approaches and ways of doing things. And I still tell myself this every day!
Katie: “You only have one chance to make a first impression”. I prepared a lot for my first day. Two meetings in particular were key: my inaugural meetings with IFAD’s President, Gilbert F. Houngbo, and with the legal department. I really wanted to understand from the President his vision for IFAD and for the legal team, as well as his views on the key challenges and priorities ahead. With the legal division, I thought they may be wondering ‘who is this outsider coming to lead us?’! So, I wanted to introduce myself early and convey my support and vision for a diverse and inclusive team environment supporting IFAD’s compelling mission. It was also very important to me to understand each lawyer’s plans for their personal and professional growth, so I made sure to schedule one-on-one discussions with each of them in my first weeks. Ultimately, both meetings provided a good opportunity to ensure alignment of my core values with those of the team and President as we embarked on a very exciting chapter in IFAD’s history!
ALIFDO: Thank you both so much for your time, Katie and Donata, and for sharing your experiences as leading lawyers in international development.
Interview conducted by Joan Grogan, IFAD.
August 2020.
