Calibrate Recruits Chief Legal Talent and Inclusion Officer for Fish & Richardson
April 8, 2024 – Austin, TX-based management consulting and executive search firm Calibrate recently assisted in the recruitment of Dana Gray as chief legal talent and inclusion officer for Fish & Richardson, a global intellectual property law firm headquartered in Boston, MA. “Dana is a leader who is dedicated to promoting excellence and a culture of collaboration,” said Kristine McKinney, chief operating officer. “Dana takes the reins of a vibrant legal talent department and will advance Fish’s initiatives with an immediate focus on bolstering our innovative training and DEI programs. Her leadership will build upon the firm’s success in developing and promoting top talent to ensure we continue to provide our clients with the best IP legal minds in the industry.”
Ms. Gray brings more than 30 years of experience and is widely respected for her ability to build connections among colleagues and develop team cohesion. She most recently served as managing director of professional development for a global full-service law firm. In 2023, she was ranked by Twin Cities Business on their “Notable Leadership in Recruitment & Talent” list, and she was recognized as an “Unsung Legal Hero” in 2022 by Minnesota Lawyer.
Ms. Gray currently services on the board of directors for the National Association for Law Placement. Previously she served two terms on the Professional Development Institute Conference Planning Committee. She is also a member of the Professional Development Consortium and Minnesota Legal Career Professionals.
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As the chief legal talent officer of Fish & Richardson, Ms. Gray will have operational and strategic oversight of the professional development, legal recruiting, pro bono and social responsibility, and diversity and inclusion departments. As a member of the firm’s leadership team, she will steer the development and execution of strategy to enhance the firm’s award-winning inclusive and collaborative culture through talent pipeline growth, training and development, pro bono and community service initiatives, and policies that align with the firm’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Collaborative Culture
“I was particularly drawn to Fish for their collaborative culture and for their deep expertise in IP,” said Ms. Gray. “At Fish, we can ensure our talent strategy has a personalized approach with specialized training and opportunities. As someone who has spent my entire career focused on career development and advancement for lawyers, I am thrilled to join Fish.”
5 C-Level Roles Being Impacted by AI
The predicted potential of AI can be a contentious subject depending on the industry. Some, including Elon Musk, foresee a Skynet-like future, as in the Terminator movies, if AI advances unchecked. Others believe the threat is overblown, and genuine AI autonomy acting with malicious intent towards humans is dubious. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), businesses cannot truly predict the existential ramifications of AI technology, however the current and future impact on the C-suite can be imagined, according to a recent report from Odgers Berndtson’s Emanuel Pfister.
Odgers Berndtson has links to some of the world’s foremost AI companies and non-profit organizations. The firm’s team in Europe has been supporting appliedAI, Europe’s largest initiative for the application of trustworthy AI, since it was established. “The role of AI puts a different lens on C-suite roles, creating new specific AI-triggered challenges that organizations need to be aware of,” said Mr. Pfister.
Fish & Richardson offers litigation, prosecution and counseling services for patents, trademarks and copyrights, as well as trade secret counseling and litigation services. Established in 1878, Fish & Richardson has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S. and Europe.
Calibrate provides recruiting and consulting services focused on finder leaders who support law firm profitability. Its recruiting team, which comprises of advisers and recruiters with law firm and corporate experience, helps law firms achieve superior business results through the strategic use of talent, time and technology.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
