When you’ ve built trust and credibility as a partner... conversations are collaborative
________________________________________________________________________________________ Kristin McNulty | Intel
Kristin’ s leadership approach reflects both mentorship and experience.“ Walter Cronkite gave me permission to pivot. Professor McCarthy taught me how to think like a counselor, not just a litigator, and to see the business context behind every legal question,” Kristin shares.
When you’ ve built trust and credibility as a partner... conversations are collaborative
“ The key is understanding that protecting our reputation and business speed aren’ t opposing forces; they’ re actually complementary when you approach them strategically. My job is not to say‘ no’; it is to say,‘ here’ s how we can do this right.’”
The legal team builds frameworks that guide decision-making across the organization. It allows business teams to move while legal focuses on complex issues and supports trust across teams.“ When you’ ve built trust and credibility as a partner, those conversations are collaborative, not adversarial,” she observes.
What’ s next
Kristin’ s focus on AI continues to expand beyond legal workflows. She continues to support Intel’ s work in AI and education, including programs that extend access to training and tools. She helps build the legal structure that allows these efforts to scale.“ Through trademark clearance and licensing work, I help create the legal framework that allows these programs to reach hundreds of institutions. It’ s essential to making these initiatives possible and scalable,” she explains.
That work continues to shape how these programs evolve. Through engagement with students and educators, Kristin sees how those efforts translate into practice.“ These aren’ t hypothetical initiatives; they’ re making a real impact. Knowing my legal work helped make that possible makes it some of the most meaningful work I do,” she reflects.
Her focus remains on anticipating risk while supporting growth for Intel.“ My job is to understand where Intel is going and anticipate legal challenges before they arise. I create frameworks that let the business move at the pace it needs without compromising the brand we’ ve built,” she says.
That pace needs discipline beyond the office. In recent years, Kristin shifted on how she recharges, trading endurance training for routines that support balance.“ I’ ve replaced the marathon training and adrenaline junkie ways with lots of walking and restorative yoga,” she shares.
Time with family anchors that shift.“ What recharges me most is precious time with my family doing the things we love, like watching my teenage boys play ice hockey, traveling together, and spending time with our beloved pets,” she finishes. ■ modern-counsel. com 143