Juno Counsel - In-house legal community

Āpereira | April 2025

In-house life often asks us to hold dual demands: clarity and care, urgency and reflection, managing risk and enabling momentum. The skill is knowing it's not about choosing one over the other. It is not a versus, but an and.

In this month's edition, we hear from Neena Ullal, General Counsel at High Performance Sport New Zealand, about why wellbeing and performance are not competing forces but two sides of the same coin. Juno Lawyer, Nicole MacFarlane, shares how flexibility enables her to stay connected to family while also embedding quickly and effectively into client teams. And from our Juno All Hands 25 kōrero, we bring you nine client-tested takeaways of what they want from their in-house counsel, and yes, there are some dualities there too.

Mā pango mā whero, ka oti te mahi.
With black and with red, the work is completed.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Neena Ullal, High Performance Sport NZ

We caught up with Neena Ullal, General Counsel at High Performance Sport New Zealand - and a finalist for ILANZ 2025 Public Sector In-house Lawyer of the Year - as she shares thoughtful reflections on how her role can extend beyond purely legal, and supporting people is key to sustaining performance.

"Wellbeing and performance are not opposing forces. They are two sides of the same coin."

👉 Read Neena’s spotlight here

JUNO STAFF INSIGHT: Nicole MacFarlane

Juno Lawyer, Nicole MacFarlane shares how Juno’s model gives her the freedom to stay close to family across Aotearoa and Australia, while stepping quickly into complex client environments and delivering trusted legal support when it is needed most.

"It’s been liberating to have more choice about where, when, and with whom I work...while still taking on meaningful roles supporting New Zealand businesses."

👉 Read Nicole’s reflections on flexible in-house support

FEATURE: What clients really value from their in-house lawyers

Nine client-tested ways to strengthen your legal support
What do clients actually want from their in-house lawyers? Based on feedback from Juno All Hands 2025 and years of embedded experience, these nine takeaways show how in-house lawyers can listen better, advise more clearly, and deliver support that really sticks.

"Clients are focused on outcomes. They want clear, timely advice that helps them move forward, not a lesson on the legal landscape."

👉 Read the nine takeaways here

ILANZ Conference 2025

Ngā mihi nui to the ILANZ team for bringing together next week's exciting programme of learning, connection, and celebration for in-house lawyers across Aotearoa.

Whakamihi to all the ILANZ 2025 award finalists! In-house legal work often happens quietly, behind the scenes, so it is fantastic to see the skill, leadership, and dedication of teams and individuals recognised and celebrated.

We are looking forward to the kōrero, the learning, and the inspiration ahead. If you would like to connect during the conference, feel free to get in touch.

🔗 Find out more about the ILANZ conference here. Hei kōnā, see you there!

OFFICE HACK: Navigation Pain Pane

When you’re deep in long documents, try using the Navigation Pane in Word (View → Navigation Pane) to stay fast and focused.

It gives you a clickable outline of your document, lets you drag and drop to rearrange sections, and helps you spot gaps or inconsistencies.

👉 Here are Office Watch's practical tips to get more from Navigation Pane

WHAT WE ARE READING/WATCHING

📄A short video by wellbeing strategist Leanne Spencer reminds us that there is no paradox between wellbeing and high performance, as our guest Neena Ullal, GC from High Performance Sport NZ, puts it, they're two sides to the same coin.

📄How to stand out at work without seeming like a narcissist: This article from Fast Company offers five practical strategies to help you stand out for the right reasons, with confidence, collaboration, and credibility, not ego.

🧘‍♀️Tranquillity and Ruin by Pōneke writer Danyl McLauchlan brings sharp thinking and dry humour to this exploration of mindfulness, uncertainty, and how we make sense of complexity. There's a compelling Spinoff review of Tranquility and Ruin too.

Juno Lawyer Melanie Naulls and Monty the dog

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Juno is a leading provider of on-demand legal services and flexible in-house lawyers, actively supporting Aotearoa's in-house legal community. Get in touch today to discuss options for experienced in-house legal support on an interim basis, embedded within your team, or on a managed legal services basis. Click here to see our full range of services.