Despite all the buzz about in-house counsel serving as “strategic business partners” and helping their companies get things done, some executives continue to view lawyers as expensive roadblocks.

Case in point: When reflecting on his company’s first-ever acquisition, ConvertKit CEO and founder Nathan Barry lumped lawyers in with onerous contracts and tech snafus. ConvertKit, a marketing platform for podcasters, YouTubers and other creators, acquired FanBridge, a marketing platform for musicians, in early 2021.