Joshua Horenstein, SVP and Chief Legal and Human Resources Officer at Innophos, discusses his approach to aligning legal and HR functions to drive strategic growth. He highlights the importance of empowering both teams to collaborate effectively, build rapport, and maintain transparent communication. This approach enables organizations to address complex issues like employee relations and compensation, enhance team performance, and achieve key business objectives.

“No company can survive without a strong HR team driving the workforce. The same goes for legal. You can pursue all kinds of innovative ideas, but without a patent attorney helping to secure those patents, you’re stuck with no way to move forward.” - Joshua Horenstein

Key Takeaways: 

• Collaborating Legal and HR functions leads to better strategic growth and resolves potential legal hurdles proactively.
• Transparency, effective communication, and building rapport are essential for HR and Legal to function together seamlessly.
• An empowered and informed HR team can significantly contribute to employee retention and operational efficiency.
• Involving legal counsel in business strategy helps in foreseeing and addressing compliance and regulatory issues.
• Continual self-challenge and growth are vital aspects of professional development for both HR and Legal leaders.

Joshua argues for an evolved role where legal and HR teams collaborate closely, building a relationship grounded in trust and humility. Rather than making every CHRO report to the general counsel, he advocates for a supportive framework where legal provides strategic foresight across departments. Throughout the discussion, he emphasized that a strong HR-legal partnership can protect and drive business growth. By viewing legal professionals as proactive business partners, companies can achieve strategic benefits, from employee relations to compensation strategies, positioning themselves for innovation and success.

Topics Include

• Aligning HR and Legal Departments to Drive Strategic Company Growth (1:58)
• Empowering Employee Relations Through HR and Legal’s Collaboration (3:30)
• The Role of Legal in Building High-Performance HR Team (2:38)
• CHROs and Legal Counsel Collaborating for Effective Compensation Strategies (3:04)
• Successful Strategies for Enhancing CHROs and Legal Counsel Collaboration (2:34)
• HR and Legal: Building Business Partnerships Beyond Traditional Roles (2:52)
• HR and Legal as Important Resources in Business Success (1:52)
• Overcoming Challenges Through Effective Partnerships (2:19)