Meagan Keiser began her legal career in the Washington, DC office of Eversheds Sutherland, where she was a summer associate and then joined the energy team straight out of law school. Today, she leads the global M&A legal team at Equinor, based in London, overseeing lawyers in Norway, the UK and the US. Her journey from private practice to in-house counsel has been shaped by a deep appreciation for people, purpose, and the power of adaptability.
What is your fondest memory of your time at Eversheds Sutherland?
My first instinct was to say the time I lost Wi-Fi at 5:00 a.m. right before a submission deadline and had to run around the corner frantically trying to reconnect – but maybe not that one! Honestly, it has to be the people. I worked in the energy team in the Washington, DC office, and several of my closest friends today came from Eversheds. That wasn’t something I expected when starting at a law firm, but it was a really pleasant surprise. I’ve also stayed in touch with my first-year partner mentor – we’ve both moved on, but that relationship has lasted. So yes, it’s the people, hands down.
What impact did the firm have on you as a lawyer?
The network I built at Eversheds Sutherland has been incredibly valuable – some are still there, others have moved on, but it’s great to have people you can reach out to with a random legal question.
More fundamentally, I’m an energy attorney because of Sutherland. I was a biology major in undergrad, and during my summer internship I was assigned to an energy project. Between the subject matter and the people, I knew that was the path I wanted to pursue. That led me to work with Equinor, who were a client at the time, and eventually to join them. It’s hard to imagine my legal career without that starting point.
What was the transition like from private practice to working in-house at Equinor?
Definitely not seamless. Even as a relatively junior lawyer, the shift was significant. One of the biggest adjustments was learning how to communicate with non-lawyers. In private practice, you’re often speaking lawyer-to-lawyer. In-house, that approach doesn’t work – people don’t want a five-page memo; they want a clear answer.
Another challenge was understanding your role in the organization. At a firm, there’s a clear hierarchy and shared professional identity. In-house, legal is just one part of a much broader business, and sometimes there’s skepticism from internal clients. Navigating that dynamic was a learning curve.
What advice would you give to someone considering going in-house?
First, don’t assume it’s going to be a better work/life balance. That might have been true once, but I don’t think it is anymore – especially in M&A.
What I love about being in-house is being closer to the business and helping shape decisions. So my advice would be: think about what you enjoy (or don’t) in your current role, and whether an in-house position would enhance that.
Also, be prepared to make decisions. In-house lawyers often have to give a clear “yes” or “no,” sometimes within a short timeline and without the support of a big team. That level of responsibility can be daunting if you’re not ready for it.
What do you value most from external counsel?
For us in M&A, it’s about genuine expertise. Have you done deals in this space? Do you understand the industry? That kind of sector knowledge is invaluable.
We’ve seen deals where one side had brilliant lawyers who didn’t understand the industry, and it created real friction.
The other big factor is personality. We spend long hours together, so we want people we enjoy working with. And yes, fees matter – but experienced lawyers often save time and money in the long run by getting to the point faster.
What’s something funny or interesting that people might not know about you?
This is dangerously close to a “fun fact” question – which always reminds me I haven’t been fun in 15 years! But here’s one: I just completed the seven-continent marathon challenge.
It started with Antarctica, actually. I was looking for a place with no cell reception – maybe not the best endorsement of in-house life! But I found out you could run a marathon there, and that kicked off a ten-year journey.
Now I’ve run a marathon on every continent. I guess I need a new hobby now!