Ask a Chief of Staff: “Don’t Try This at Work!" — How Chiefs of Staff Can Lead on Legal Issues
🗓️ Join us on July 15th!
Legal problems are one of the fastest ways to derail any company at any stage of growth. And too often, Chiefs of Staff are asked to “just figure it out” with templates, platforms, or their best guess. But great Chiefs of Staff don’t just avoid legal mistakes; they actively lead their teams away from risk, spot danger zones early, and make the business case for professional help when it counts.
Join Chief of Staff community mentor Lee Pham and Cast Legal Studio co-founder Stacy Wu for an interactive conversation about real-world legal issues faced by Chiefs of Staff. Lee & Stacy are seasoned lawyers with experience across startups, large enterprises, and directly with the Chief of Staff remit. They’ll unpack the most common legal traps, share practical checklists, and show you how to move beyond “DIY” to become your company’s legal risk radar and advocate for doing things right.
Expect real stories, actionable advice, and plenty of Q&A—so you leave ready to lead (not just react) when legal challenges show up at your desk. Note: This is an informational session and no legal advice will be provided.
✅ You should attend this fireside chat if...
You’ve ever found yourself as the “go-to” for legal, compliance, or HR issues — and weren’t sure where your limits were;
You want to move beyond legal “patch jobs” and help your company set smart, scalable policies;
You’re a Chief of Staff, founder, or operator who needs to know when to raise a flag, and how to make the business case for real legal help;
You want to understand how lawyers can be allies and actually help you achieve your business goals;
You want to learn from real stories (not hypotheticals) and leave with checklists and strategies you can use right away.
🎟️ Please note, there will be a 100-person limit on this event. If you are unable to attend live, we will send a recording of the event afterwards.
🎙️ More about the Speakers
Stacy L. Wu is a Co-Founder & Partner at Cast Legal Studio, where she practices trademark and entertainment law. Stacy focuses on transactional matters and advises clients in the creative and startup industries, working with artists, athletes, authors, entrepreneurs, and other brand owners to secure and protect their rights. Stacy also has a robust documentary practice where she advises film, TV, and podcast producers on rights issues and helps negotiate investor and distributor deals. Prior to Cast Legal Studio, Stacy served as in-house counsel at Shiseido Americas Corporation, CBS Corporation and Gap Inc. Stacy lives in the Catskill region of New York State and is conversant in Mandarin Chinese and Italian.
Lee Pham is an Executive Partner, Former Chief of Staff, and Patent Attorney who specializes in helping corporate leaders and their teams solve complex problems. Lee’s expertise spans corporate governance, legal strategy, and organizational transformation. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff to the Head of Corporate Development at American Express, supporting a global team on M&A, venture capital, and strategic investments. Lee also served as in-house counsel at American Express, advising on intellectual property, contracts, and compliance—ensuring seamless integration of legal and business priorities. As a Founding Member and Mentor of Ask a Chief of Staff and the founder of Teleiosis Consulting, Lee empowers rising leaders and executives across industries through mentorship, talent development, and inclusive innovation.
💜 Ask a Chief of Staff
Ask a Chief of Staff is a premier executive search and career development platform dedicated to placing top-tier Chiefs of Staff and empowering professionals in strategic leadership roles. We serve ambitious professionals and high-growth companies by offering executive recruiting, mentorship programs, and career resources tailored to Chiefs of Staff. By addressing the lack of structured career paths for this role, we provide guidance, connections, and opportunities that accelerate leadership development and organizational success.
Learn more at askachiefofstaff.com.