![\"506341\"](\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/NY_Diversity_Inclusion_610x400-300x197.jpg\")
\u201cNo.\u201d It\u2019s the word that strikes dread into product teams when they hear it from legal counsel. It signals roadblocks, delays, and shelved ideas. Early in my career, I saw this play out again and again. Saying \u201cno\u201d felt like the safest choice, but it often killed momentum — and trust.<\/p>\n
Then I started shifting my approach. Instead of leading with \u201cNo, we can\u2019t,\u201d I began framing my feedback as \u201cYes, if we \u2026\u201d This subtle change unlocked collaboration and innovation while still keeping the company on solid legal ground. Here\u2019s how this mindset has transformed how I work with product teams — and how it can work for you.<\/p>\n
Understand The ‘Why’ Before You Respond<\/strong><\/p>\n Before shutting down an idea, ask why it\u2019s on the table in the first place. What problem is the team solving? What\u2019s the goal behind the feature or campaign?<\/p>\n Once, a team wanted to scrape publicly available data for an AI project. Instead of saying, \u201cThat\u2019s too risky,\u201d I asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s the outcome we\u2019re trying to achieve?\u201d Together, we explored alternatives like licensing agreements or using open datasets. The team still hit their goal, but without the legal headaches.<\/p>\n The takeaway? Understanding the \u201cwhy\u201d shifts the conversation from risk avoidance to goal achievement.<\/p>\n Frame Risks As Design Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n Every risk is also a design opportunity. Legal boundaries, when approached creatively, can lead to smarter, more innovative solutions.<\/p>\n For example, when a rewards program risked violating state lottery laws, I didn\u2019t say no outright. Instead, I suggested tweaks to the structure — like skill-based competitions — that met legal exceptions. The final program was not only compliant but also more engaging for users.<\/p>\n What I\u2019ve learned is simple: legal constraints don\u2019t have to stifle creativity. They can inspire it.<\/p>\n Always Offer A Path Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n Teams need solutions, not just red flags. If you spot a problem, pair it with a way to move forward.<\/p>\n For instance, a startup team wanted to use customer testimonials in ads. Saying \u201cThat\u2019s risky — it could be misleading\u201d would have shut the idea down. Instead, I said, \u201cYes, if we verify the claims and include disclaimers to meet advertising laws.\u201d The team got their campaign, and the company stayed compliant.<\/p>\n A \u201cYes, if we \u2026\u201d approach builds momentum instead of stopping it cold.<\/p>\n Weigh The Risk Versus The Reward<\/strong><\/p>\n Not every risk is worth taking, but not every risk is a deal-breaker, either. Legal counsel adds value by helping teams evaluate which risks are worth it.<\/p>\n When a team wanted to launch a feature that might invite regulatory scrutiny, I didn\u2019t veto it outright. Instead, we analyzed the potential rewards — customer loyalty and competitive advantage — and paired them with a mitigation plan. The result? A bold move that paid off.<\/p>\n Balancing risk and reward is key to helping teams innovate responsibly.<\/p>\n Break Big Risks Into Small Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n When a project feels overwhelming, propose incremental progress instead of an all-or-nothing approach.<\/p>\n For example, a team launching a complex subscription model faced tricky tax regulations. Instead of delaying the entire rollout, I suggested starting with simpler regions to test and adapt. Breaking it into smaller steps minimized risk and kept the momentum going.<\/p>\n Small wins build confidence — and trust.<\/p>\n Be A Partner, Not A Referee<\/strong><\/p>\n The earlier legal is involved, the better the outcomes. By joining brainstorms or design sessions early, you can shape ideas into legally viable solutions before they become problems.<\/p>\n When I sat down with engineers to co-design a compliance-heavy feature, we avoided costly rewrites later. Similarly, being part of marketing discussions helped guide bold campaigns while keeping them safe from legal pitfalls.<\/p>\n Collaboration is how you turn legal from a roadblock into a trusted ally.<\/p>\n Celebrate Wins<\/strong><\/p>\n When your guidance leads to a success, make sure to celebrate it. This reinforces your value as a partner and builds trust for future collaboration.<\/p>\n For example, when our privacy-first data strategy became a customer favorite, I made sure the team recognized how legal had contributed. Wins like these make teams eager to involve legal in their next big idea.<\/p>\n The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/p>\n Starting with \u201cYes, if \u2026\u201d isn\u2019t about ignoring risks. It\u2019s about showing your team that you\u2019re invested in making their ideas work. By focusing on solutions and being a partner in the process, you can help teams innovate with confidence — and without losing sleep.<\/p>\n For more strategies on how to balance innovation and risk as a product lawyer, check out my book, “Product Counsel: Advise, Innovate, and Inspire<\/a>.” It\u2019s filled with practical insights and real-world examples to help you lead with solutions and become a trusted partner to your teams.<\/p>\n Have you tried a \u201cYes, if we \u2026\u201d approach? I\u2019d love to hear your experiences — let\u2019s keep the conversation going.<\/p>\n Legal boundaries, when approached creatively, can lead to smarter, more innovative solutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27805,"featured_media":506342,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96],"tags":[22,232,1322,7],"class_list":["post-31125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-house-counsel","tag-in-house-counsel","tag-olga-v-mack","tag-teamwork","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n![\"Olga](\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/06\/Olga-Mack-150x150.jpg\")
Olga V. Mack <\/em><\/strong>is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, and <\/strong>Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\u00a0She is working on three books: <\/em><\/strong>Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024),\u00a0The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on <\/em><\/strong>LinkedIn<\/em><\/strong><\/a> and Twitter @olgavmack.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"