Key Insights

1. The Modern GC Must Combine Legal Skill With Policy Strategy

Adam’s experience at Warby Parker and Ro shows a decisive shift: legal issues often escalate into public policy battles.
Whether it’s online vision tests or asynchronous telehealth, the GC becomes the architect of:

• legislative strategy,
• messaging,
• stakeholder education,
• and coalition-building.
  The role looks closer to a policy strategist than a traditional corporate lawyer.
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2. Regulatory Ambiguity Is Not a Reason to Freeze — It’s a Space to Operate

Ro scaled an entire business on an uncertain regulatory landscape.
Adam’s approach:

• know the risks,
• design controls,
• educate regulators,
• and move responsibly but decisively.
  Startups can’t wait for regulators to clarify; the GC must help the business operate ethically in the gray.

3. Storytelling Changes Regulatory Outcomes

Adam emphasizes that legislators are moved by people, not legal memos.
For ED medications, hair loss, smoking cessation, and mental health, Ro reframed issues through real patient stories.
A compelling narrative can shift hearings, legislative proposals, and lobbying efforts — especially in states hesitant to modernize care models.

4. Unionization and Crisis Response Require Calm, Transparent Leadership

At Blank Street, Adam oversaw multiple unionization efforts across locations.
His playbook:

• give employees dignity,
• share accurate information,
• centralize internal comms,
• and keep the company aligned on values.
  For GCs, labor issues are legal + cultural + reputational — rarely just one lane.

5. Government Affairs Doesn’t Require a Big Team — It Requires the Right Partners

Adam describes how he personally worked state-by-state with lobbyists.
His framework for choosing external partners:

• Find who similar “disruptive” companies used
• Prioritize people who know both policy and tech
• Tailor messaging by state ideology (access vs. deregulation)
  Government affairs becomes manageable when the GC builds the right coalition.

6. Closing Insight

Modern GCs don’t just interpret regulation — they shape how their companies operate within it.
Adam’s career highlights the GC as strategist, storyteller, crisis navigator, and operator.