In-House Counsels Should be More Engaged with the Business They Represent

Dan Rhodes, Senior International Counsel, Pitney Bowes, United Kingdom

I recently attended a seminar organised by the Commerce & Industry London Group called Enhance your Influence. I truly enjoyed it and thoroughly recommend it to any in-house counsel as it sets out to educate in-house counsels about how they can influence the way in which their own business perceives them. Even if at times it may sound obvious, it will serve as a reminder that they are duty bound to educate their businesses that the function of the in-house counsel is not only as a draftsperson, but also to fulfil a business critical need. This is a strong message to take to any business.

Dan Rhodes is a Solicitor with significant international experience in IP, IT and commercial law. At Pitney Bowes he routinely advises on matters such as licensing with emphasis on maximizing revenue for the business, which involves engagement with the sales force at an early stage of the sale cycle. Prior to joining Pitney Bowes he served as the Legal and Business Affairs Manager of Spark Networks Inc which runs some of the leading social networks in the world where he was responsible for all legal affairs as well as having principal administrative and strategic responsibility for its international offices. He received his LL.M (IP) from University College London and is the author of numerous articles that were published with leading publications.

Pitney Bowes is a $6.3 billion global technology leader whose products, services and solutions deliver value within the mailstream and beyond. Founded in 1920, our company's 35,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. For more information about Pitney Bowes, its products, services and solutions, visit www.pb.com.