General counsel are often the first to confront the consequences of cultural breakdowns — harassment claims, retaliation allegations, whistleblower complaints, reputational damage — yet they are rarely given reliable, forward-looking data about where those risks are forming. By the time issues reach legal, they are already expensive, public, and difficult to contain.

This roundtable offers a strong thesis on an emerging workplace tool: Workplace culture audits are far more than a soft HR exercise; they are a form of crucial legal risk intelligence. Employment attorneys and business counselors Christina Hynes Mesco and Katie Rinkus will explore how well-designed culture audits function as an early warning system, surfacing power imbalances, policy blind spots, and behavioral patterns that often precede litigation.

The discussion will cover what distinguishes a legally sound culture audit from a generic survey, how to structure audits under privilege, and how to translate findings into concrete, risk-reducing action.

This roundtable is designed for in-house and general counsel, attorneys who conduct internal investigations, and legal leaders who want greater visibility into organizational risk before it becomes a legal crisis.