Missouri In House Counsel Legal news, updates and analysis
Corporate counsel, Jack Henry and Associates, Washington University
Janelle L. Williams was already familiar with courtrooms when she decided to go to law school.
She’d spent a fair amount of time testifying in them as an expert witness while she was a forensic scientist doing chemistry and DNA work in sexual assault cases in Texas.
“What I enjoyed most was having lawyers cross examine me,” recalled the Washington University graduate. “I’d have to defend my position, defend what I’d done.”
Indeed, defense proved to be her wheelhouse.
Later, after a stint spent at Lathrop & Gage as a litigator, Williams came to John Henry where she’s been for the last three and a half years handling employment matters in-house for the fintech operation.
Whether it is healthcare issues, ADA matters or investigations, it crosses Williams’ desk in her role as corporate counsel.
“If it touches on employees, it is my job to make sure that we are abiding by applicable federal and state laws and mitigating damages in the case of litigation,” she noted.
Most of all, she enjoys the complexity of the work.
“Every day is a very different day,” she said. “I think people are inherently interesting and dynamic and varied. Even a problem that may implicate the same laws can be a very different problem because you are also dealing with humans. Everyone has different needs, thoughts, perceptions and ideas.”
Williams, who serves on the board of directors for the Mid-America Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, said she appreciates her work at Jack Henry since the in-house position allows her to concentrate her efforts.
She also feels that in-house work lets her be more proactive and think in terms of solutions.
“You have one client so, as opposed to thinking up strategies for several clients, you have to truly focus on your one client and think of it in a comprehensive, holistic view so one case is not being worked in a bottle or in isolation,” she said.
