Tegan Boorman.
Time in current role/time at the company:
Seven years in my own firm. Seventeen years practicing as a Lawyer.
How would you describe what the company does?
We create user-friendly contracts and advise on all things legal compliance. We’re best known for our legal work in the influencer marketing industry.
What do you do day to day?
Consult on legal intricacies; draft, review and negotiate contracts; review draft pieces of advertising content; and audit live ad content. Often in the context of proposed or ongoing influencer campaigns, talent going under management, social media giveaways and competitions or service agreements between agencies and brands. I also spend quite a bit of time helping e-commerce businesses with their terms and conditions, privacy policies and protecting their IP.
Define your job in one word:
Dealmaker.
I got into the industry because:
I was spending a lot of time helping brands navigate the online space and working with creators. I saw a niche opportunity and went for it. It helped that I had a Masters in Public Relations as well as my law degree and many years’ experience under my belt as a corporate, commercial and IP Lawyer.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?
A lack of awareness in pockets of the industry of some of the key legal issues impacting the influencer marketing industry, such as where certain products or services (for example, regulated health services, therapeutic goods and financial products and services) are subject to additional regulations and how brands, influencers and agencies can navigate those campaigns, the use of music in social media content, limitations in platform terms and conditions impacting on campaigns and ad disclosure obligations to name just a few. I commit quite a bit of time to growing this awareness through my involvement as Chair of the Guiding Council of AiMCO, podcasting, creating and sharing content around the issues, lecturing at universities and providing commentary to the media.
Social media also seems to facilitate a false sense of security for businesses who view non-compliance by others and think if they haven’t been penalised for it then it must be acceptable practice, creating ticking timebombs.
What’s the biggest industry-wide challenge you’d like to see tackled?
Better contracts between creators, agencies and brands. They reduce the risk of uncertainty and disputes. In fact, many of the complaints I hear about the influencer marketing industry could be prevented with better contracts that properly deal with the relevant key issues and expectations of the parties (such as scope requirements, edits and reshoots, content usage rights and influencer and agency fees).
Who has been a great mentor to you and why?
I’m lucky to have worked with quite a few people I would consider mentors in various ways.
When I worked for an in-house legal team earlier in my career, I learnt a lot about effective leadership from two managers, each of whom now work in General Counsel roles at different companies. They were both masters at empowering and supporting teams.
I now serve as a non-executive director on a board where I can confidently say I have learnt something from each of my fellow board members during my tenure, as each brings unique perspectives and skill sets to the table.
Words of advice for someone wanting a job like yours?
Commit to continuous learning and upskilling for the rest of your life, and always be willing to say yes to something that pushes you outside of your comfort zone. This is where magic happens.
If I wasn’t doing this for a living, I'd be:
Likely working on the creative side instead of the legal side. I’ve been lucky enough to view the creative side in action on set during the filming of ads, and I loved every minute of it.
My philosophy is:
Stay true to your values, lean into what interests you and be forever willing to challenge yourself.
My favourite advert is:
I’m going to say the Lynx Fine Fragrance campaign is right up there as one of my favourites, as I got to witness it being made. Apple – Intention also really spoke to me.
Music and TV streaming habits: what do you subscribe to?
I have two kids, so I probably have more streaming subscriptions than I’d like to admit. I know we at least subscribe to Stan, Netflix, Binge, Disney+, Spotify, Prime, Apple TV and the Calm app. I rarely get time to watch much myself, but I’m a big fan of Bridgerton and will usually find the time to binge-watch a whole season of that as it drops.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I was a child model, so I had some early insights into the advertising industry from a young age. This may have also played a part in kickstarting my passion for the industry.
In five years’ time, I'll be:
Likely still lawyering. Likely still focused on this industry.
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