David Cambria, Baker McKenzie’s first global director of legal operations, didn’t mention it in a recent conversation, but he’s got quite a nickname in his field: The Godfather.

He has pioneered ”legal operations” roles twice already—first in the law department at professional services firm Aon Corp. and most recently at food production and agriculture giant Archer Daniels Midland. And last month, 23 years after graduating law school, he went to work at a law firm for the first time.