2025 In-House Counsel Awards: Rodney Satterwhite

Number of years with firm: 2.5

Legal leadership: Prior to 2023, Hilb Group relied solely on outside counsel for its legal needs. Recognizing the need for a more efficient and cost-effective solution, the company made a strategic decision to establish an in-house legal team. My vision has been to build a robust legal team that encompasses and supports the diverse legal needs of Hilb Group. Through internal promotions and strategic external hires, the legal team quickly expanded, and by mid-2023, the team was fully established with five attorneys and one paralegal. Since its inception, Hilb Group’s legal department has made significant strides in enhancing the company’s legal capabilities. After establishing a companywide legal intake system, the team has collaboratively closed more than 900 legal requests, including errors and omissions claims, contract reviews and approvals, property and casualty and employee benefits brokerage agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and litigation matters. We have also established and communicated a comprehensive Code of Corporate Conduct and Business Ethics, implemented a confidential ethics reporting hotline for employees, and implemented a Contract Lifecycle Management system that has significantly reduced the time and effort required to review and approve contracts while ensuring thorough examination and legal compliance.

On my identity/background: My 30-year litigation background prepared me to stand up a legal function from scratch. The organizational skills and risk analysis, in addition to both internal and external advocacy, have contributed to my successes as a General Counsel.

Most pressing issue that IHCs face: The influence of AI in the workplace and in the legal function.