Toronto lawyer Yonida Koukio works at Oziel Law helping startups from idea to exit. She blends corporate, tech, and IP work with hands-on legal innovation. In this episode, Yonida shares her path from Athens to Toronto, how she carved a hybrid role as a corporate tech lawyer and innovation lead, and what founders really need from counsel beyond templates. We talk about fixed fees, productized services, automation that actually helps clients, and how to scale legal support as a startup grows. Yonida also explains common cross-border gaps she sees when civil law founders enter the Canadian market, and why young lawyers should master core corporate work before picking a niche.

In this episode, Billy Rusteen, a former Microsoft, GitHub, and Databricks lawyer, shares how he transitioned from litigation to in-house and built My In-House Coach to help others do the same. Billy explains what hiring managers really look for, how to write resumes that stand out, and how to make your first 90 days as an in-house counsel count.

We discuss in-house legal strategy, career pivots, tech industry growth, and practical tips for lawyers moving from law firms to corporate teams.

What you will learn:

• How to move from firm to in-house successfully

• Resume tips that attract real interviews

• Product counsel and commercial contract insights

• Why curiosity and learning agility matter more than pedigree

• First 90 days: what to focus on for early wins

• Building credibility in tech and global companies

• Career advice for new and mid-level lawyers

Keywords for search:
in house lawyer, product counsel, tech law, Microsoft legal, GitHub legal, Databricks legal, legal career transitions, legal resume, in house playbook, law students, legal mentorship, how to go in house, My In-House Coach, Billy Rusteen, legal careers podcast

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and early career lessons
06:40 From litigation to in-house
14:10 Resume mistakes and how to fix them
22:00 The 90-day in-house roadmap
34:00 Lessons from Microsoft, GitHub, and Databricks
42:00 Coaching lawyers to succeed
50:00 Building authentic visibility online

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World, host Claudio Klaus speaks with Carlos Romero, University of Chicago Law LLM graduate and international arbitration fellow at White & Case in Washington, D.C.

Carlos explains how international lawyers can use an LLM to build real professional experience in the United States. He shares his story from Mexico to UChicago, the process of joining White & Case, and his return to Chihuahua to grow new ventures.

Topics covered:

• LLM scholarships and application strategies

• Fellowship and foreign associate programs at U.S. law firms

• Networking during the LLM year

• Legal writing for arbitration practice

• Building a professional network on LinkedIn

• OPT, H-1B, and TN visa pathways (general overview only)

Keywords: LLM, University of Chicago Law, White & Case, international arbitration, legal networking, foreign associate program, Latin America law, legal writing, cross-border law careers, business development for lawyers, OPT visa, H-1B visa, TN visa, Mexico lawyers, U.S. legal careers, international lawyer podcast.

Guest: Carlos Romero, LLM (University of Chicago Law), International Arbitration Fellow at White & Case LLP, Washington, D.C.

Subscribe to Studying Law Around the World for more conversations with lawyers shaping global careers. Listen to past episodes and learn from professionals building cross-border legal paths. ISSN 2819-733X