The Juno Legal lawyer loves to see legal advice that translates into real-world outcomes
Natalie Marshall had wanted to pursue a legal career since she was a child, but she took a few detours along the way, including becoming a customer relationships management officer at Asteron Life. However, she always came back around to law.
Since diving headfirst into this career path, she has amassed a wealth of in-house legal experience that includes stints at Office of the Privacy Commissioner (where she was an investigator and then a legal adviser), NZX Regulation Limited (as market conduct manager) and OSPRI, where she as general counsel established and spearheaded the company’s legal function in addition to serving as the only in-house lawyer advising the board, CEO, and executive leadership on legal and regulatory matters.
“I have always enjoyed working closely with people. Being in-house gives me the opportunity to build those relationships and be part of the wider team, while gaining real insight into how different parts of the organisation operate and what they’re trying to achieve”, Marshall told NZ Lawyer. “That close involvement means I can provide advice that’s practical and helps the business navigate risk while still moving forward. Seeing legal advice translate into real-world outcomes is something I find really rewarding.”
She also enjoys the way her work gives her insights into an organization.
“I’m a strong believer in really understanding the wider context legal issues sit within, because that context is often critical to solving those issues effectively”, Marshall said. “I enjoy getting a feel for how a business operates, what matters to its people, and what’s driving their decisions, and then using that to come up with practical, workable solutions”.
In May, she commenced at Juno Legal. When asked why she made the jump from OSPRI – where she wore many hats including privacy officer – she cited the community as being a key factor.
“At this point in my career, I was looking for an environment that combined meaningful work, strong professional connections, and flexibility, and Juno offered all three. Even when I’m on assignment, I still feel part of a wider team and have access to the support expertise, and collaboration that comes with being a part of Juno”, Marshall told NZ Lawyer.
Marshall presently works from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington supporting the supporting Upper Hutt City Council.
