LegalZoom Lures Away The Honest Company's General Counsel
Nicole Miller succeeds Chas Rampenthal, who is stepping down after 16 years as LegalZoom's GC to serve in a new role at the legal tech firm.
June 15, 2020 at 02:42 PM
4 minute read
The original version of this story was published on Corporate Counsel
LegalZoom website.
The longtime general counsel of LegalZoom.com Inc. is stepping down to take on a new role within the company, which has hired The Honest Company's former general counsel, Nicole Miller, to serve as the legal tech firm's new top lawyer.
Miller succeeds Chas Rampenthal, who has served as LegalZoom's GC for more than 16 years. He will remain with the Glendale, California-based company in a product-facing role focused on connecting lawyers with people in need of legal advice.
"The LegalZoom mission is really consistent with a core passion of mine. This democratization of law, driving of transparency, making the complex more simple is something that's consistent with my core value system and it's something that drives me," Miller said in an interview Monday, her first day on the job.
She said The Honest Company has hired her successor, but she declined to name the new GC as the company has yet to announce the appointment.
Chas Rampenthal, former LegalZoom general counsel.Rampenthal said in a statement Monday that he'll transition to the role of "segment leader" for LegalZoom's emerging "attorney assist segment." He added that he leaves the company's legal team "in the capable hands of a phenomenal GC."
"I have known Nicole for seven years. She is an amazing leader with the right attitude and outlook to keep us on the path to success," he said.
Miller, who is based in Los Angeles, had worked for The Honest Company since 2014, first as senior corporate counsel and then as vice president of legal affairs and associate general counsel in 2016. In 2018, Miller stepped up to serve as GC.
She began her legal career in 2010 as an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and also had a two-year stint as an associate at Cooley before she went in-house for The Honest Company.
At LegalZoom, Miller said she intends to "build on the great legal work that Chas and other folks before me have put together."
She added, "I'm really excited to put my own creativity and prior experience into continuing to innovate on the LegalZoom products."
Nicole Miller, LegalZoom's general counsel.Rampenthal noted that he spent much of his time as GC "both fighting for our existence and developing legal products," referring to legal battles that the company had with various state bar groups that alleged LegalZoom was engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
One of LegalZoom's most significant disputes was with the North Carolina State Bar and ended with a 2015 settlement that allowed the company to continue offering its legal services in the state.
"Over the past few years, the fighting has slowed, allowing us to refine our vision for broad legal access," Rampenthal stated.
"We realized that to truly democratize law and help consumers and small businesses, we must include attorneys in the process," he added. "Connecting attorneys with those that need legal advice is the next frontier for LegalZoom—and I am proud and excited to help lead a cross-functional team of amazing 'Zoomers' as we build innovative products and services incorporating advice from legal professionals."
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