Education: 1999: J.D., Georgetown University Law Center; 1996: B.A., Georgetown University.

Career in Brief: 2004–present: Pfizer Inc. (2012–present: Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel — Chief Litigation Counsel; 2009–2012: Vice President, Primary Care Business Unit Chief Counsel); 1999–2004: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Associate in the Health Industry Practice.

Location of Company HQ: New York, NY.

Primary Industry Sector: Biopharmaceutical.

Revenues in the Last Financial Year: $59 billion.

Number of Employees Worldwide: 78,300.

Law Department Locations: We have lawyers in multiple locations, with core functions based in New York.

What is the total number of attorneys in the company worldwide, and how many focus on litigation? We have several hundred lawyers, with about 20 dedicated full-time to litigation.

Where does litigation fall within the organizational structure? Litigation is a stand-alone group within the Legal Division, reporting directly to the General Counsel.

How typical or unique is the scope of responsibilities for the company's litigation attorneys? The scope is fairly typical, although we also handle intellectual property enforcement (IP litigation) worldwide.

What is keeping your department's attorneys the busiest at the moment? We are especially active in the securities and antitrust areas, as well as in civil fraud actions relating to our business practices. We also are involved in numerous product liability matters, among other things.

Have any recent legal developments changed the way your department operates? We are always looking at trends in the environment and modifying our approach. We have seen changes in certain plaintiff-created theories of potential liability that have required a reaffirmation of our risk tolerance in handling these matters. For example, to respond to novel theories such as "innovator liability," in which plaintiffs are trying to hold brand companies liable for injuries allegedly caused by generic drugs, we have accelerated our thinking on appellate issues and baked these ideas even earlier into our matter management process.

What types of issues will cause you to turn to outside counsel? As a large, complex organization, we face large, complex legal challenges and often partner with outside counsel to manage these multifaceted matters. Through our Pfizer Legal Alliance (PLA), a partnership between Pfizer and a group of law firms, we frequently build multi-firm teams to bring our collective best thinking to each significant case.

What types of issues will cause you to push for alternative fee arrangements with outside counsel? Pfizer has been at the forefront of the alternative fee movement. The PLA has transformed the way legal services are valued and delivered, using a flat fee structure that is set at the beginning of each year and is based on anticipated workload. This unique structure aligns the incentives of lawyers and clients, eliminates the need for economic competition across PLA law firms and rewards collaboration. I have seen firms collaborate in ways never imagined as a result of the PLA, and we have reaped the benefits of this in improved outcomes.

What three things does a law firm need to do to impress you? Be responsive, courageous and thoughtful. Too many outside lawyers tell clients what they want to hear or hedge their advice to protect against an adverse outcome. Our litigation team is not afraid of risk and accepts that sometimes things will not go our way. Respond quickly to or, better yet, anticipate our needs, give us your best assessment of the risks and provide multi-dimensional advice that considers Pfizer's needs as a global healthcare company.

Can you describe the career path that led you to become an in-house litigation counsel? Early in my career at Akin, I was asked to step up and fill the void after a senior associate left the firm. Working directly with in-house counsel at large clients showed me how impactful lawyers could be within an organization. I started in Pfizer's product support group as the Celebrex lead lawyer. When Vioxx was pulled by Merck, I had an opportunity to make an impact and work directly with Pfizer's most senior medical, legal and commercial leaders. After Celebrex, I sought out as many opportunities as I could in a diverse range of areas. These experiences, especially my role as the chief counsel for our largest business unit, allowed me to bring a broad and unique perspective to my current role.

If not an attorney, what would you wish to be? Assuming there is no spot for me on the New York Rangers, I would be a writer. Fiction or maybe travel writing.

What one piece of advice would you give to prospective in-house litigation counsel? Know the business. In-house litigators are intensely focused externally — outside counsel, judges, juries and adversaries all play crucial roles in the successful management of our matters. But having a deep understanding of the company and its products enables me to develop innovative strategies to advance the company's overarching mission. We are not in the business of litigation. My client does amazing things to try to better the human condition. We cannot lose sight of that.