At 26 years old, Cassie Sadowitz became the youngest person to quarterback the legal department of an NFL franchise. Now in her fifth season as general counsel with the Jacksonville Jaguars, she told Corporate Counsel that data privacy laws, like the California Consumer Privacy Act, and legal sports gambling are among the biggest issues that she faces.

Sadowitz will be speaking at Corporate Counsel's SuperConference on the relationship between an organization's legal and marketing departments.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Corporate Counsel: What do you think are the three biggest issues for in-house counsel today and how do you tackle them?

Cassie Sadowitz: Data privacy is one of our key initiatives this season. With the recent implementation of CCPA and evolving regulations, we are undergoing internal data assessments, evaluating our current practices, and ensuring that our business teams are equipped with the knowledge and resources they need when interfacing with consumers.

Legalized sports betting is also another area affecting our industry. We are monitoring the legal trends and working with the NFL on an ongoing basis to ensure we are thoughtful about capitalizing on new revenue opportunities in the gambling space while upholding and maintaining the integrity of the game.

Another area affecting in-house counsel on a more general basis is the promotion of diversity and inclusion policies related to recruitment and retention—both with respect to internal team members as well as outside counsel. We have partnered with a few organizations that are leading the charge in this area, including Diversity Lab's Move the Needle Fund, and also signed on to the American Bar Association's Lawyer Well-Being Pledge.

CC: What are the qualities an in-house leader should have that makes for an effective department leader and also a business partner to the C-suite? 

CS: Adaptability, empathy and the ability to manage relationships and competing priorities are a few traits required to be an effective in-house leader. Building trust with internal and external stakeholders and ensuring that you are clearly communicating objectives and expectations all help to ensure a productive working environment. It's critical, especially in professional sports, to be seen as a proactive team player and not as a roadblock to new ideas or innovations.

CC: What steps did you take to prepare yourself to become a business partner at the Jaguars?

CS: I'm a firm believer that lifelong learning is essential to being an effective attorney and strategic business partner. It's important to me to stay current on legal trends affecting my industry as well as maintaining a full understanding of the operational aspects of our business. Another area of focus includes taking the time to invest in and support my colleagues and those around me as we work to achieve common goals.

CC: What are the strategies you have put in place to ensure your legal team collaborates and there is a consensus of culture?

CS: Although we are a relatively small legal team, we strive to create and embrace a culture that is collaborative, supportive and transparent. We review our department's mission, vision and values from time to time, and ensure that we are fostering an ongoing dialogue regarding personal and professional development for everyone. It is also important to implement regular touchpoints, an open-door policy, and a "one-team" mentality, especially when the legal team is managing high volume across multiple entities.

Join hundreds of general counsel and senior legal leaders at Corporate Counsel's 20th annual SuperConference from April 28 to April 29 at the Holiday Inn Chicago-Mart Plaza River North. Register today for the premier forum designed for and by general counsel from Fortune 1000 companies.

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