Jocelyn Hill – MISTRAS

MISTRAS Group, a global leader in technology-enabled asset integrity solutions, specializes in advanced non-destructive testing, predictive maintenance, and data-driven technologies to support critical infrastructure worldwide.  The publicly traded company serves industries including oil & gas, aerospace & defense, infrastructure, and manufacturing with integrated products and services that reduce risk, maximize uptime, and drive continuous, efficient operations across client facilities.

Jocelyn Hill | MISTRAS | Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary

Into this dynamic environment steps Joceyln Hill, vice president, assistant general counsel, and assistant corporate secretary—and MISTRAS’s general counsel in waiting. Recruited in 2023 as part of a planned succession, Hill brings with her not only deep legal and operational experience but also a worldview shaped by early international exposure and a professional journey that’s zigzagged across litigation, lobbying, infrastructure, and transportation. Her current mission is to help build a forward-looking legal function at a company in the middle of its tech-first evolution.

“We’re in growth mode,” Hill says. “That’s an exciting place to be.”

A global lens and legal calling

Hill’s path to the law began not in a courtroom but in diplomatic circles. Growing up in a military family, she lived in the Netherlands, the UK, and Brazil—eventually attending high school in Rio de Janeiro. Her father’s work as a naval attaché introduced her to international business and diplomacy. She remembers the parties, the conversations, and the problem-solving that unfolded across cultures and industries.

“It was fascinating to watch these interactions,” she recalls. “I was exposed to international lawyers working with companies like Texaco and Pepsi. I decided early on to do something similar—work at the intersection of law and international business.”

After earning her undergraduate degree in English from Kenyon College and a JD from Penn State Dickinson Law, Hill launched her career in insurance litigation. However, she quickly discovered that building deals excited her more than resolving disputes. A pivot into transactional law through renewable energy and infrastructure work soon followed.

“I didn’t want to be an insurance litigator my whole life,” she says. “But I took something from every role, and it all ties together.”

From railroads to readiness

Hill’s most formative test came at Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail), where she eventually rose to become general counsel in 2019. Her path to Conrail began while working for the City of Philadelphia on infrastructure projects like the city’s version of the High Line. That project led to a connection at Conrail, and an invitation to join as an in-house legal and lobbying expert.

At Conrail, Hill managed a legal team of eight and navigated challenges few lawyers ever face. Her trial by fire came with her first major derailment—actually, it was a train wreck.

“There was twisted metal everywhere,” she says. “It was my first press conference, and there was no time for second-guessing. I was up for three days during a blizzard, overseeing the evacuation of a town, and trying to get tracks ready for rush hour. That kind of pressure creates camaraderie—and confidence.”

Being the GC of a railroad taught her how to act quickly, allocate resources smartly, and collaborate under stress.

“You learn grace under pressure,” Hill says. “And you get used to balancing risks without letting caution stop the business from moving forward.”

Those skills have proven essential in preparing for her next big challenge: leading the legal function at a fast-evolving, global asset integrity technology company.

The legal function of the future

Hill joins MISTRAS at a pivotal moment. The company is expanding its footprint in data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, and predictive intelligence. Hill is at the forefront of that shift, revamping legal operations to support the transformation.

One of her first major initiatives involved reviewing hundreds of master service agreements (MSAs) to identify patterns and create a robust, scalable contract playbook. She implemented a contract management system, trained teams across departments, and baked future-proofing into new templates—from data protection and aggregation clauses to IP safeguards.

Her approach is both tactical and strategic.

“I’m not just here to redline contracts,” she says. “I’m here to understand where the business is going and ensure our agreements help us get there.”

She’s also taken on complex regulatory work. At a metal plating facility in Phoenix, Hill addressed environmental compliance issues that initially raised red flags—but ultimately became a success story.

“We turned what could have been just a liability into a gold-ribbon aerospace support facility,” she says, “by combining law, project management, and environmental strategy.”

That type of high-impact, cross-functional thinking is what sets Hill apart. She doesn’t see legal as a gatekeeper.

“Legal shouldn’t slow things down—it should make things happen,” she says. “That means understanding the business deeply and being involved early.” “ I also expect the same level of business embeddedness from my outside counsel – I rely on them as an extension of my in-house law department.”

Leadership & legacy

Hill leads a small legal team and spends most of her time in the company’s Princeton, New Jersey, office, immersing herself in the company’s operations, culture, and strategic plan.

“I’ve asked many questions and spent a lot of time with the GC,” she says. “I want to fully understand the vision for the company and how legal can support it.”

Though her current title is assistant general counsel, she’s clearly preparing for the next step and doing it with intention.

“The CEO called me last November,” she says. “They wanted someone who could step into the GC role and grow with the company. I saw the potential here and did a lot of research, read analyst reports, and talked with leadership. Everything pointed to a company in transformation—and I wanted to be part of that.”

MISTRAS’s global presence particularly energizes Hill.

“At Conrail, we were regional. Here, I get to engage with teams in Europe, Brazil, and beyond. I don’t need to know Netherlands law daily—but if we’re entering a joint venture or partnership, I want to understand what that means.”

She’s also keenly aware of the importance of representation and mentorship, especially now that the company has a new female CEO, Natalia Shuman.

“She’s a powerhouse,” Hill says. “She’s building a great team. And she reminds me that you deserve the seat at the table—so speak up and be your best advocate.”

That ethos is one Hill has carried throughout her career. From her early days as a high school student in Rio de Janeiro who decided she wanted to be a lawyer, to her hands-on, collaborative leadership style, Hill is clear about one thing: building relationships and understanding people takes work—and it pays off.

“Being in-house means being part of the action,” she says. “You can’t be transactional. You must be present, invested, and curious. That’s how you turn legal from a cost center into a strategic asset.”

As MISTRAS transforms, Joceyln Hill is already leading from within—quietly shaping the legal and strategic infrastructure that will power the company’s future. The general counsel seat may be waiting, but she’s already driving change.