Xander Tapling, CIPP/US's Linkedin Analytics

How do you build a bigger pie? Does business always have to come down to a zero-sum game? After years spent representing and advising clients in complex contractual disputes, I believe there is always a better way to do business - and there is always more for every side to gain. I also believe that litigators have many of the tools needed to support those gains. In my capacity as a litigator, I: - advised multinational insurers in navigating complex, novel claims; - spearheaded foreign language discovery efforts and data control procedures in multi-million dollar international arbitration; and, - represented current and former police officers in highly-charged, emotional civil rights litigation. These experiences have put me in the room with stakeholders of varying friendliness and sophistication, maneuvering through tense situations with an eye toward the best outcome for my clients. A substantial part of my job has been analyzing very sophisticated, complex contractual arrangements, whether negotiating modifications to stave off litigation - or arguing about their finer points to advocate for those same clients. Since making the transition to in-house counsel, these experiences proved incredibly valuable, enabling me to work at the speed of business, provide actionable advice, and rapidly develop key familiarity with business operations in order to maximize my value to my team - whether on the warehouse floor or the C-Suite.