Kathleen Bardell

Kathleen’s desire to use her legal skills to give back stems in part from her upbringing. With a teacher for a father, community service was ingrained in her. It’s no surprise that her dedication to pro bono started early. During law school, she took part in the “Street Law” program where law students teach components of the practical law curriculum in underserved high schools. “That is part of my core – to give back,” she shared. “Even when I was a baby attorney, pro bono has always been a big part of what I think should be required by all lawyers.”

When Kathleen joined Eversheds Sutherland in Atlanta in 2017, it was her second stint in private practice after over a decade in-house at the General Electric Company (GE). “It was exciting to join the firm, in particular to refocus my efforts on pro bono. I felt that they, as opposed to some of the other white shoe firms, actually walked the walk when it comes to pro bono,” Kathleen reflected. “And it's not just checking a box: there's a lot of time and people investment,” she adds. Her favorite firm memory was collaborating with Senior Pro Bono Counsel, John Fleming, on a case defending medically fragile youth in Georgia's welfare system. “We were working to prove there had been a concerted effort to deny claims and support for these vulnerable children,” she recounts. “Our job was to take testimony from caregivers and parents to make our best case. I found that experience personally very rewarding – not least because we won.”

On returning to the in-house world as Global Division Lead Counsel for Smart Buildings at ABB, Kathleen discovered she now had a unique perspective having worked extensively both as an in-house and external counsel. “That broad lens meant I could see what truly mattered to my clients,” she says. “For example, busy executives don't want dense white papers from their law firms – they want clear answers and succinct reasoning behind them.”

Kathleen enjoys the problem-solving nature of in-house work, and her role at a global organization like ABB keeps her very busy. She currently leads the legal initiatives for her Smart Buildings division, which alone operates in over 100 countries. No two days are the same. One day, she may handle labor and integrity disputes or commercial contract negotiations; the next, she could be conducting compliance trainings or investigating disputes. With a recent Deferred Prosecution Agreement stemming from a past compliance issue in South Africa, the integrity portion of her role has expanded significantly. Kathleen takes it all in her stride. She knows her work makes a real impact, whether it’s training employees on ethical practices or hammering out contracts terms. The autonomy and responsibility drives her forward, and takes her to all corners of the globe; from connecting with her division’s base in Dubai to meeting local counsel in Leeds in the north of England.

With such fast-paced, international responsibilities, how does Kathleen decompress? By hitting the water near her lake house! She’s a certified scuba diver and enjoys paddle boarding, jet skiing and boating with her husband when they visit her parents’ old lake house. “My main thing outside work is water sports,” she laughed. Although there isn’t much time for hobbies these days, she relishes the chance to make memories on Lake Hartwell in Georgia with the family.

For lawyers considering going in-house, Kathleen stresses the advantages: solving issues proactively, and having an immediate business impact. So for lawyers looking to spread their wings beyond law firm life, take comfort that you can still remain close to your legal roots while exploring new career avenues. Kathleen’s own diverse professional journey shows just how rewarding the voyage can be.