Alternative legal services provider LOD has hired high profile legal operations specialist Maria Passemard, who joins from John Lewis Partnership as director of innovation and design. The recruitment of a senior in-house legal operations professional by an ALSP is a sign of the maturing of a market that is still in its relative infancy and will add considerable expertise to LOD’s client offering.
Passemard is due to start at LOD on 02 March 2020. The plan is that her hire will strengthen LOD’s ability to help general counsel to plan and implement operational change to drive greater efficiencies within their legal function.
Tom Hartley, LOD’s CEO, said: “Our growing LOD team is focused on helping GCs gear their departments for delivery and performance. Maria joins a global family of legal operations professionals and technologists who share this common goal. We are delighted to welcome her to the team and are excited about adding her skills and experience to LOD.”
At John Lewis Partnership, Maria was a senior member of the Legal Leadership Team, working for both the John Lewis and Waitrose brands, reporting directly to the GC. Her role was to oversee the day-to-day operations of the legal department, including leading on strategic planning, legal technology selection and implementation, outside counsel management and data insights.
Passemard said: “As a former head of legal operations, I have first-hand experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of forward looking in-house teams. I’m looking forward to assisting LOD’s excellent client base to find workable solutions to the various challenges that they face at a time of huge change for the legal profession.”