Michele Coleman Mayes’ career has run the gamut, from time spent working in the U.S. Department of Justice to stints as general counsel of large corporations, such as Pitney Bowes Inc. and the Allstate Corporation. But after five years at Allstate, she got a call from a search firm and found herself pondering a leap to the not-for-profit arena, working in a 104-year-old landmark in the nation’s largest city.
In 2012, Mayes made the “nonlinear” move to become the general counsel of the New York Public Library. Now she is greeted by a pair of iconic lions when she comes to work every morning. She and her small staff work on matters that are typical for a GC: risk management, labor and employment, litigation and real estate law. But they also face unique challenges, from dealing with “orphan works” to contemplating the significance of libraries in an increasingly digital world. Mayes spoke to senior editor Rich Steeves; an edited version of their conversation follows.
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