2025 In-House Counsel Awards: Jessica E. Barile

Number of years with firm: 8

Law school: University of Richmond School of Law (2014)

Legal leadership: As the first attorney hired for my organization, I established the internal legal department and its functions. My work at the credit union has included advising the organization through significant change, including a conversion of our credit union charter and a merger with a credit union with assets exceeding one billion dollars. I currently serve as a member of the America’s Credit Unions Emerging Issues Committee, a committee of executive credit union representatives that reviews proposed regulatory and advocacy initiatives and provides feedback on priority and potential impact to credit unions. I serve in a similar capacity on the League of Credit Unions and Affiliates’ Virginia Advocacy Committee, which focuses on Virginia level legislative and regulatory initiatives. I previously chaired the Richmond Bar Association Corporate Counsel section.

On my identity/background: My professional experience as an attorney has been entirely in-house. Prior to my first in-house attorney role, I worked in research and support roles for legal libraries at large law firms. This experience gave me a unique perspective and set of skills as I began my in-house roles.

Most pressing issue that IHCs face: In my industry, the continued increase of complex regulatory requirements and the growing number of state-level legal changes, particularly in privacy and data protection law, make the scope of responsibility for in-house counsel a pressing issue.

Evolution of the IHC position: The rapid changes required during COVID and the current instability of the federal government and federal regulatory agencies has required more confidence in operating in unknown or novel legal environments.