Latitude Expands Leadership with Joan Blackwell's New Role as VP of Strategic Initiatives

Latitude Promotes Joan Blackwell to VP of Strategic Initiatives

In a significant move that underscores its commitment to operational excellence and growth, Latitude, a renowned flexible legal staffing company, has elevated Joan Blackwell to the position of Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. This newly created role is designed to spearhead the company's ongoing development in leadership, hiring practices, and operational training programs.

Founded in 2013, Latitude has established itself as a leader in providing top-tier legal talent to law firms and corporate legal departments worldwide. Blackwell's extensive legal background, complemented by her previous leadership roles, uniquely positions her to contribute to Latitude's expanding footprint in the legal staffing industry.

Blackwell comes to her new position with an impressive resume that includes serving as the former General Counsel and Chief of Staff for the Indiana Attorney General's Office. With her roots in both academia and practice, she has been a pivotal figure in legal circles, including her tenure at Barnes & Thornburg LLP and as an adjunct professor at Indiana University. Her diverse experiences bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Latitude as the firm scales its operations.

In her new role, Blackwell will be responsible for crucial initiatives such as leadership development, strategic hiring, and enhancing the onboarding and training processes, ensuring that Latitude can continue to attract and retain exceptional legal talent.

Reflecting on her career journey with the company, Blackwell stated, "I have had the opportunity to work across different parts of Latitude over the past few years. This experience has been invaluable, and I'm thrilled to step into this role to support our teams and build the structures we need to scale effectively while preserving Latitude's unique character."

Prior to her promotion, Blackwell's journey at Latitude began in 2021 as the Director of Legal Recruiting and Placement, where she was instrumental in providing flexible talent solutions that met the legal needs of various clients. In 2025, she transitioned to the corporate talent team as Director of Talent Strategy and Operations, where she enhanced recruitment processes and facilitated collaboration.

Ross Booher, CEO and co-founder of Latitude, praised her ability to bridge strategic vision with practical execution: "Joan has a unique ability to connect strategy with execution. With her extensive experience as a General Counsel and attorney, she understands the high expectations of both our clients and the talented attorneys we represent. As we continue to grow, Joan will play a key role in scaling our infrastructure and guiding our strategic initiatives."

Furthermore, Blackwell's legal expertise is not just administrative; it stems from her active practice in commercial bankruptcy and litigation, evidenced by her prior role as a staff attorney at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Notably, she has also nurtured upcoming legal minds through her teaching role at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Latitude's mission is to offer exceptional legal professionals who are resilient and adaptable, meeting the demands of various practice areas such as commercial contracting, data privacy, and litigation. As it continues to grow its portfolio from Fortune Global 100 companies to dynamic startups, Latitude’s focus remains on providing unparalleled legal services bolstered by its robust network of legal talent. Joan Blackwell's promotion is a strategic step toward ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the flexible legal staffing industry.

As Latitude prepares for its next growth chapter, Blackwell's leadership is poised to further enhance its reputation and operational capabilities, ensuring that both clients and legal professionals receive the highest standards of service.

About Latitude

Latitude is recognized as a full-service flexible legal staffing company. By specializing in offering former in-house and Big Law attorneys for both contract and permanent positions, it serves a wide array of clients, from global enterprises to boutique firms. Founded on a commitment to providing quality talent with emotional intelligence, Latitude is a trusted partner for legal staffing solutions across multiple practice areas.