With over 30 years of experience as a law firm business professional, Michelle helps firms optimize their talent development programs, retention strategies, human resources initiatives and organizational cultures. Michelle’s work with large firms — both in the US and abroad — has given her a keen understanding of organizational behavior and the business challenges unique to the legal industry.

Strategic advising

As a Strategic Partner to Beard Strategies, Michelle leverages her insights to support our clients with initiatives critical to business success, including:

• Leadership development
• Hybrid work models and workforce challenges
• Compensation frameworks
• Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I)
• Recruiting and retention
• Cultural differentiation
• Strategic planning 

Background

Prior to founding JME Advisors, a consultancy dedicated to helping top law firms succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace, Michelle served for 19 years as Managing Director for Talent Development at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, an industry-leading AmLaw 100 international firm. Before joining O’Melveny, Michelle distinguished herself in talent leadership roles at leading domestic and global law firms for over a decade, at times living and working outside the US on their behalf. Her purview in those firms included talent development, leadership development, coaching, recruiting and retention.

A long-standing advocate for the importance of a diverse workforce, Michelle has made significant contributions to improved recruitment, retention and career development for women and attorneys of color. Her influence was instrumental in advancing O’Melveny’s status as a leader in engagement, DE&I and making culture a winning differentiator. Her guidance contributed to the firm’s consistent top-tier rank in industry surveys, including The American Lawyer’s “A-List” and Vault’s “Law Firm Rankings.”

Education & credentials

• University of San Francisco, M.S., Organizational Development 

• University of San Francisco, B.S., Organizational Behavior 

• Thunderbird School of Global Management, Certificate in Global Leadership
• Georgetown University, Certificate in Leadership Coaching