The enduring economic strife of the past few years has caused an unprecedented shift in the global legal industry and the technology supporting the industry. Legal service delivery models have...Read more
Corporate legal departments are facing unprecedented pressure to manage themselves like any other business unit, streamlining costs and improving efficiency. This presents unique challenges to a department that has traditionally...Read more
Mark Poag
General Counsel, DataCert, Inc., USA
Mark Poag, Datacert's General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Marketing, joined the company in 2001 following its acquisition of DigiContract, which he co-founded in 1999 and at which he served as president and CEO. In this capacity, he was entrusted with high-level responsibilities, including raising equity funding, recruiting employees, and directing business development efforts. Prior to joining DigiContract, Poag practiced corporate law at Bracewell & Patterson, LLP. Poag now leverages his legal and business expertise to provide Datacert strategic guidance about the legal technology industry.
Poag is an active member of many esteemed professional organizations, including the Association of Corporate Counsel, American Bar Association, and the State Bar of Texas. He has been selected by his peers as a Texas Rising Star and, in 2006, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Houston Business Journal recognized his achievements in the field of corporate law by honoring him as Outstanding Solo Corporate Counsel.
At Datacert, Poag evaluates and executes strategic alliances and M&A opportunities. In addition, Poag delivers thought leadership for Datacert in the areas of legal spend, intellectual property, and matter management and oversees the product strategy. Poag's responsibilities also include oversight of transactional work, litigation, and regulatory activity for Datacert and its subsidiaries. Specifically, Poag establishes and maintains intellectual property protection policies and procedures, is responsible for all contracts with customers, vendors, partners and employees, structures company policy regarding pertinent legal issues (e.g. privacy, intellectual property, etc.) and the maintenance of all corporate records.
Poag earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and graduated cum laude from Tulane University School of Law with a juris doctorate. He graduated magna cum laude from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University where he received his MBA.
