Y-ADR Spotlight Series - Interview Questions with Elizabeth Reilly-Hodes

Elizabeth Reilly-Hodes

Managing Attorney at GSK

1. What do you find to be a beneficial aspect of CPR?

I have a litigation background, but in my current position in-house, I am in a Legal Operations role, and much of my job is focused on controlling legal spending globally. Part of that is choosing ADR in the right circumstances, and so I appreciate the exposure to different approaches and aspects of ADR that I personally would not have the opportunity to learn about in my day-to-day role.

 2. What is one piece of advice you would give to somebody who wanted to pursue a career in ADR?

I would absolutely advise them to get involved in CPR, specifically the Y-ADR Committee.  Attend events, read the publications, network with other members, and just be as exposed as possible to these amazing practitioners and get involved.

 3. What is an issue that you see within the field of ADR and how can that issue be combated?

As with almost every other facet of 21st century life, AI will have an increasing impact on the field of ADR.  AI is in no position to replace human lawyers or neutrals at the moment, so the challenge is how we can best utilize current technology to be more efficient, fair, and cost-effective.  As a client, we are always looking to our outside counsel for ways to reduce costs while maintaining excellent representation and obtaining favorable outcomes, so the use of both AI and ADR is appealing on many levels.  That said, we are all aware of the need to tread cautiously (with lawyers being famously risk-averse!). At this point I believe it’s about striking a balance between being curious about how AI can assist us while being sure the proper guardrails are in place.

 4. Is there a moment in your career that you are most proud of?

At one point in my law firm career, when I was a midlevel associate, I knew that I was not interested in pursuing partnership. Not just at my firm, but at any firm, for reasons that spanned the professional (no interest in business development!) and personal (growing family). I had a frank conversation with my practice group leadership, which were receptive, and I ultimately obtained a title that recognized my seniority and contributions but also the reality that I wasn’t trying to make partner.  I ultimately left the firm to go in house, but I remain proud of being able to carve out my non-traditional path to keep doing the work that I really enjoyed.

5. What personal characteristics are most beneficial to you in your career?

I am very process- and detail-oriented: I like a good routine, I like to multi-task, and I like to pay attention to the little things. These traits help me in my role in Legal Ops, particularly in developing work flows to maximize efficiency while not sacrificing the quality of the work we perform for our internal clients.

6. What ADR process do you believe is most effective?

My favorite ADR experience from practice was a mediation that resolved – in six hours! – a case that had been in litigation for well over a decade.  The matter was stalled mid-discovery, complicated by the competing interests of various stakeholders (including the insurer), and marred by several changes in counsel on one side and corporate ownership on the other.  The case was finally resolved, in mutually-beneficial fashion, after a single six-hour session with a mediator. After years and years of unsuccessful, counter-productive litigation, the parties were both able to obtain reasonable resolution to their dispute by coming to the mediation table.  Absolutely impossible to argue about the value that a mediator can bring to these situations. My only regret that is that we did not convince the other side to agree to mediation sooner.

7. (Fun one!) Describe your perfect Friday night in 5 words or less.

Movie night with the family!