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In business, progress rarely follows a straight path. Regulations shift, markets slow, and digital tools reshape how teams work and make decisions. For companies that operate across borders, each choice carries risk and consequence. Legal teams sit at the center of that pressure, expected to protect the business while keeping it moving.
At Outokumpu, a global stainless-steel producer, Jaron Brown tackles that challenge like an endurance runner. He builds momentum, manages energy, and keeps his eyes on the finish line. That same mindset shapes his legal practice. He helps teams make smart decisions fast, even as rules shift across regions. As Head of Legal & Compliance for the Americas, Jaron focuses on progress over control. “We’re here to facilitate, not jam things up,” he says. He makes legal input a tool for progress, not a roadblock. “Everything you do should be tied to the overall business objective,” he explains.
Outokumpu produces stainless steel with recycled content and operates within a circular model. Its operations span Europe and the Americas, with customers across sectors that include construction, automotive, and energy. That reach creates complexity, and Jaron’s team works to connect legal guidance with operational goals.
Early lessons
Jaron credits team sports for shaping his approach. He played basketball at the University of Hartford, where structure and accountability shaped his style. “Throughout my career, I’ve drawn on my experience as an athlete and thought about what it takes from each team member,” he shares.
Jaron learned early that success is about moving forward together. “We should all be rowing in the same direction. I try to be very clear about what I expect, but I also ask my team members what they are looking for from the team and what we are trying to accomplish together,” he adds.
After graduating from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Jaron began his practice in Cleveland just as deal work slowed after 9/11. He started in mergers and acquisitions but found few deals. “At that time, there was no M&A work to be had. I pivoted and became a securities lawyer,” he recalls. He developed expertise in SEC periodic reporting and governance & compliance while staying involved in transactional work.
He eventually returned to transactional work, joining an Atlanta firm to handle private equity deals and public company matters. He enjoyed the work and valued his client relationships but reached a turning point. “I loved doing the work. I loved counseling clients and helping them accomplish their goals and solve problems, but I wasn’t as passionate about selling legal services,” he reflects.
Jaron moved in-house in 2013, joining Novelis. The transition required a new set of skills. “There is a very different skill set that you have to master as an in-house lawyer,” he observes. Jaron learned to balance legal expertise with operational outcomes and stayed for eight years before seeking a new challenge. That search led him to Outokumpu.
Enabling momentum
Jaron frames legal work as a driver of value. He taps into advice from peers and networks, including a group of general counsel with deep experience who share insights across industries. One message stands out. “Show them everything you’re doing is either allowing the business to make more money, causing the business to keep the money it makes, or helping it seek new opportunities,” he recalls.
That mindset shapes how Jaron’s team works every day. “It’s really about finding solutions to let the business accomplish its goals,” he notes.
Technology powers much of that efficiency. Jaron champions tools that streamline contracts and sharpen decision-making. “We’re using tools to help others do their jobs better. It’s about making better decisions faster, quicker execution, and more reliability,” he points out.
His work focuses on modernizing legal operations through contract lifecycle management systems, e-billing platforms, and AI-powered tools that streamline review and analysis. “Our investments in these capabilities are helping procurement teams secure agreements faster and enabling sales teams to close transactions without waiting on legal review.” Jaron doesn’t see these tools as replacements for legal judgment; they extend it. His team can focus on complex matters, while business units act with clarity and confidence.
Team approach
Jaron leads with impact in mind. He tracks how his team shapes results and how individuals grow. “I just love hearing compliments about my team members from others in my organization,” he admits.
He builds teams with shared responsibility. “We’re a team, and you’re only as good as your weakest team member, but I don’t want to have any weak team members,” he insists. His goal is to develop each person and build strength across the group. “I enjoy seeing them take control, build trust, and take ownership over things,” he comments.
Jaron’s focus on development reflects his own journey. He learns from mentors, networks, and peers instead of relying on a single guide. “I listen to everybody. I read a lot. I just try to soak in as much as I can,” he observes.
Jaron’s focus on development shows up in his team’s daily interactions, especially as workplace dynamics shift. When remote and hybrid work became the norm, he reassessed how relationships form. “In-person human interaction matters more than you think,” he says. Although he considers himself an introvert, he values consistent engagement. “I get excited when I travel to the office. I get to see people, be with my team members, and engage,” he reflects.
That realization that proximity matters shapes how he leads now. “The challenge of being a hybrid remote worker made me think differently, be more open, and seek more interaction with people,” he remarks. He listens more and pays closer attention to how others experience their work.
Mentorship extends that instinct outward. He supports both formal programs and informal relationships with younger lawyers. “I like seeing young lawyers develop and blaze an intentional path to their own success,” he says. “There are things I wish I had known, and I want other people to benefit from the things I did not know,” he explains.
Running his own race
Jaron approaches success the same way he approaches endurance, with a focus on his own pace. He measures progress both personally and professionally, and his definition has evolved over time. “You’ve got to run your own race,” he remarks.
He now focuses on impact. “It’s the impact I have on myself and on others who I care about,” he states. A quote attributed to Maya Angelou shapes this view: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That perspective shapes how he interacts with colleagues and peers.
Outside work, Jaron keeps routines that help him stay focused. He runs long distances with friends he’s trained with for years and spends time golfing with his son. Running gives him space to think. “It’s therapeutic. I can clear my mind and solve problems just by going out for a couple hours and moving my body,” he explains.
That rhythm carries into his daily life. Jaron keeps a steady routine. Good health, family, and consistency anchor both his personal life and his leadership.
“It doesn’t take a lot for me to be content,” he notes.
Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 1,200 attorneys in over 25 offices nationwide. Recognized as one of the top firms for excellent client service and client relationships, Polsinelli is committed to meeting our clients’ expectations of what a law firm should be. Our attorneys provide value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight, offering comprehensive corporate, transactional, litigation and regulatory services with a focus on health care, real estate, finance, technology, private equity and life sciences. Polsinelli PC, Polsinelli LLP in California, Polsinelli PC (Inc) in Florida.
