Cox Enterprises' Chief Legal Officer Manages Competing Demands Across AI, Regulatory Issues
Jennifer Hightower, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Cox Enterprises, handles legal strategy across a sprawling business that touches multiple regulated sectors. The breadth of her role means staying current on disparate issues - from AI governance to sector-specific rules - rather than specializing narrowly.
"I have to stay abreast of the variety of issues, because so many different issues hit different sectors of my business," Hightower said in an interview.
For in-house counsel managing large, diversified operations, this split focus reflects a practical reality. A single company can face telecommunications regulations, media compliance requirements, automotive standards, and emerging AI rules simultaneously. Each demands expertise and attention.
The Breadth Challenge
Hightower's position illustrates why chief legal officers at major enterprises operate differently than specialized practitioners. Rather than going deep on one area, she must maintain working knowledge across multiple domains.
This approach affects how she prioritizes. Emerging regulations in one business line might require immediate action while another sector faces stable, established rules. AI governance sits alongside these existing obligations, not replacing them.
The role also shapes how legal teams hire and structure themselves. Generalist counsel who can move between issues become as valuable as subject-matter experts.
What This Means for In-House Teams
General counsel managing complex organizations face similar pressures. AI for Legal professionals increasingly need to understand how new technology intersects with existing regulatory frameworks rather than treating it as a separate concern.
For those in legal leadership, AI for Executives & Strategy resources can help build the foundation needed to assess AI's impact across different business units.
Hightower's comments suggest that staying informed requires deliberate effort. The volume of issues demands systems for tracking developments, allocating team resources, and knowing when to escalate.
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