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Through a corporate spinoff and rebuild, business transformation, rapid growth and a spate of acquisitions, Legal is looked at to keep a steady hand at the helm. Contracts remain active. Customers expect consistency. Internal teams seek direction while governance structures take shape. In regulated environments, speed and clarity are essential. At 3E, the transition came with a change in ownership, new investment, and bold technology plans. The legal function needed to advance as quickly as the business.
Audrey Jean stepped into that environment as General Counsel with a clear understanding of the stakes. 3E supports manufacturers and retailers navigating chemical, product, and sustainability requirements across the globe. Its customers rely on regulatory knowledge and accuracy and a corporate and legal framework that supports this important work. That dependence shapes how Legal operates internally.“ This opportunity allowed me to build a department, create a full-scale legal function in a global environment, modernize our processes, and support the company’ s growth,” Audrey explains.
Her role extends beyond managing risk. Legal sits close to product strategy, commercial decisions, data use, and workforce planning. As 3E grows globally and invests in AI-driven solutions, Legal participates in those discussions instead of reacting once decisions are made.
Building legal from separation
Audrey’ s approach reflects her career, spanning deal execution and long-term enterprise advising. She started in private practice, handling project finance and M & A transactions at global firms. That work centered on structure, negotiation, and risk allocation.
Audrey’ s perspective shifted when she spent time seconded into a client’ s legal department. The experience introduced her to a different rhythm of legal work, one shaped less by transactions and more by continuity, trust, and organizational context.“ I enjoyed collaborating with the same stakeholders over time, seeing long‐term goals take shape, and gaining insight
98 Ananya Ahuja, Ann O’ Neil, Lena Buttkus, Kait Ramsay, Marine Paye, and Audrey Jean