Company: Global Leaders in Law, Beaconsfield, United Kingdom
Company Description: Global Leaders in Law is recognized as the 'Home of Thought Leadership for General Counsel' and 'the Leading Global General Counsel forum.' Our thought leadership solutions and products, and the innovative nature of our programs are designed to create transformational change in the in the GC community.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Executive of the Year – Business Services –10 or Less Employees

Nomination Title: Meena Heath, General Counsel

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated executive since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

Unique global premier forum for chief legal officers

Lawyer and global business development strategist, Meena Heath has turned a seedling of an idea based on a casual chat with senior lawyers about the lack of international communication opportunities for General Counsel (GCs), into a hugely successfully and powerful worldwide forum.

GLL is now highly respected as the leading international forum and the home of thought leadership for GCs.

With the international integration of products, cultures and ideas, known as globalization, sweeping around the world, having a handle on global legal leadership and being able to operate across jurisdictions has become more important for chief legal officers in corporates and the public sector.

Their role of the general counsel has changed dramatically. From providing legal advice, GCs are now required to offer strategic counsel on the full range of commercial risks and activities. One of the aims of the forum is to help them develop their leadership skills to fulfill their broadened role.

Highly innovative, unique to the legal profession and exclusive, GLL has transformed the international legal sector by changing the perception of GCs as global leaders, enabling GCs to respond to the transformation of their roles, broaden their outlook through education and networking, developed new talent, and obtain true recognition for the value GCs offer international businesses.

Meena launched the GLL mini MBA leadership program for global General Counsel. The program is divided into 40 individual modules, of which nine are covered at a residential course over three days at Oxford University. Individual modules have been delivered in major cities around the world including London, Sydney, Abu Dhabi, New York and Shanghai.

Meena manages the whole operation centrally from the UK and developed all the educational programs herself. She has held 60 events in 30 cities since July 2012.

As well as managing and facilitating many of the events, Meena has formed partnerships with a number of international law firms including Freshfields, Baker & McKenzie and Baer & Karrer and over 20 other partners around the world, who sponsor many of the events and contribute to the thought leadership agenda.

Leadership And Development In-House Courses.

The latest service to be launched is a one-day leadership training programme- 'The Ultimate Legal team' for GCs that is run in-house in organizations. Four modules are delivered by the training consultants, combined with experiential exercises.

The courses, for up to 15 participants, are always fully booked and contribute towards an individual’s continuing professional development. The training course has been described as ‘life changing’, ‘an eye-opener’, ‘a great experience’ and ‘enlightening’ by delegates.

This year GLL reached its target membership of 2,500 individuals and is now set for further expansion. The MBA course is to be launched in Harvard University, USA from 2014 and there are plans to introduce other global events.

To take it to the next stage of development, Meena has now put in place a strategy to identify a partner or an investor to help develop new services, expand membership, continue to service its global membership and turn it into an even more powerful professional forum, that is a necessity for all global GCs.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated executive (up to 125 words):

Having trained as a solicitor with Slaughter and May, Meena made the decision to move into strategic business development, at a time when marketing was still a relatively new concept in the legal profession. As a General Counsel, she identified the need for leadership development in the GC community.

Meena is a confident, articulate team player, dealing at board level with strong planning and project management skills. She needs to be highly organized and capable of handling multiple assignments, in order to manage GLL single –handedly. As a strong communicator with good interpersonal skills and creative ability she now delivers training to the GC community of the benefits of effective networking and connects GCs globally.

Meena believes she has the best job in the world.