In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, Cale Curtin, senior counsel & corporate director for Matador Resources, discusses the traits he seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with him and more.
Texas Lawbook: What have been your biggest adjustments to going in-house?
Cale Curtin: As outside counsel, you don’t necessarily see all the teamwork and coordination going on at the client during and especially following a major transaction. A couple of lawyers on the in-house team will be the main point of contact for outside counsel, but there are many different groups within the company they are coordinating with to execute and then integrate a transaction. You take a broader view and work with all of the disciplines in the company to move towards the same goal.
Lawbook: What do you look for in hiring outside counsel?
Curtin: We’re very relational at Matador and have long-term connections with most of our outside counsel. I look for subject matter expertise, excellence in execution and someone I’d like to take hunting or fishing.
Lawbook: What does outside counsel need to know about working with you?
Curtin: I like informal communication, texts or phone calls over email, and don’t need you to have the final answer right away. I like talking it out and being a part of finding the solution.
Lawbook: What is the role of GCs and in-house counsel in seeking the solution to improve diversity and inclusion?
Curtin: People are a company’s greatest asset, and it’s part of everyone’s job description to be involved in recruiting and training talent and building a company’s culture.
Click here to read the Lawbook profile of Cale Curtin.