In-House Counsel

When Passion Meets Purpose

Sustainability lawyer Christine Uri talks about her unique journey from private practice to in-house lawyer.

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Christine Uri

When I went to law school, I thought I had a limited set of options when I graduated. I thought I could either enter private practice with a firm or I could work as a public defender or a prosecutor. The thought of working at a company as an in-house lawyer never even crossed my mind.

So how did I end up as an in-house lawyer in higher education? That is a story for a different day. Suffice it to say, I choose to take the path less traveled. As it turns out, I am not alone.

Sustainability lawyer Christine Uri and I recently sat down to talk about her unique journey from private practice to in-house lawyer. I have included highlights from our discussion here.

Lisa: How would you describe your career path?

Christine: It has been a little more of a set of hiking trails in the woods than a straight highway. I did not start with the vision of a becoming a general counsel and sustainability leader. I tried different things and learned from all of them.

Lisa: Let’s start from the beginning. How did your career in the law begin?

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Christine: I earned a college degree in liberal arts. Like many attorneys, I went to law school because I thought it would give me a way to help people — then I took a job in a law firm because it was the fastest way to pay off my student loans. My first assignment was working on the defense of an ENRON director. Looking back, I find this ironic given my focus today on sustainability and corporate ethics.

Lisa: What prompted you to leave private practice?

Christine: After eight years, I realized that I did not want to be a law firm partner. I quit my job and spent five months having coffee with strangers trying to figure out what was next for me.

During that time, I had the good fortune to meet with a corporate foundation head for a Fortune 100 company. This person was in charge of investing tens of millions of dollars annually to create a positive impact in the community. It sounded like a pretty great job at the time — so I asked, “How does someone get to be the leader of a corporate foundation?” Her response set the course for the rest of my career.

She said, “Just get a job, any job, at a company with a mission you believe in. Once you are in the door, you will be able to shift around and find many opportunities.” This was great advice. I stopped focusing so much on what role I wanted and I started focusing on what organization I wanted to join.

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I knew I wanted to work in a purpose-driven company with a strong commitment to making the world a better place. I found a corporate counsel role in a sustainability focused company called Ecova that fit the bill and I have been on a fantastic journey ever since.

Lisa: Let’s talk a bit about sustainability generally and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) more specifically. As I understand it, sustainability is a general term that encompasses all of a company’s efforts to reduce its impact on the world around it. ESG, on the other hand, is a more specific. ESG are specific areas by which a company’s sustainability efforts can be judged.

What role does sustainability and ESG play in business today?

Christine: Climate change, pandemic, human rights, and racial equity — the world’s problems are more complicated than ever before. These problems won’t be solved without business coming to the table in a big way. Investors, regulators, customers, employees, and activists are all demanding that companies adopt new and more sustainable ways of working. And companies are rapidly evolving to meet these demands.

Lisa: What is the in-house lawyer’s role as it relates to sustainability?

Christine: Public companies are increasingly subject to regulations on ESG issues. At minimum, regulators like the SEC are requiring transparent reporting. In-house lawyers clearly have a role in ensuring their companies comply with these regulations.

Beyond that, in-house lawyers are increasingly being called on to lead ESG programs that go beyond compliance. The research is clear that stronger ESG performance equals stronger financial performance, but to achieve that result, business operations must be transformed. In-house lawyers have broad visibility and proven leadership skills. They are a natural fit for this work.

Lisa: What advice would you give to lawyers who are interested in sustainability?

Christine: Although change can’t come fast enough for the planet, the good news for lawyers is that they have time to build sustainability expertise into their professional skillset — and the energy they invest in this area will serve them well over the course of their careers.

My advice? Start where you are. Look for opportunities to become involved in environment or social issues that are immediately around you. If you decide you really want to commit, you may need to go back to school or find a different job, but start looking at what is around you first. Knowledge and experience can be built over time in many different ways.

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If you are purpose-oriented with a passion for positive change, sustainability may just be the ticket for you. Connect with in-house lawyers like Christine Uri and they are sure to inspire and support you in your sustainability journey.

Lisa Lang is an in-house lawyer and thought leader who is passionate about all things in-house.  She has recently launched a website and blog Why This, Not That™ to serve as a resource for in-house lawyers.  You can e-mail her at lisa@lawyerlisalang.com, connect with her on LinkedIn, or follow her on Twitter.

Christine Uri is the Chief Sustainability and Legal Officer at ENGIE Impact – a company committed to accelerating the sustainability transformation. Christine built her in-house career over the last 8 years at ENGIE starting as Corporate Counsel, moving to General Counsel, and expanding her scope to include other executive leadership roles. In addition to leading a global legal team, Christine is currently responsible for the development and implementation of ENGIE Impact’s corporate sustainability strategy. She recently launched a series on LinkedIn under the hashtag #SustainableCounsel. The #Sustainable Counsel series is designed to help in-house counsel take a leading role on corporate sustainability.

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