Lawyer. Registry reformer. Fraud fighter. Board leader. Community Builder.
Allison DeSantis is one of the most experienced and trusted voices in the world of business registries and legal compliance. Her career spans public service and private sector leadership, including key roles in combatting fraud, modernizing services, and strengthening global connections through IACA.
Now working at the intersection of law, technology, and business at LegalZoom, Allison continues to champion more accessible, transparent registry systems.
In this interview, she reflects on what she has learned, her experience, and the moments that shaped her journey, from hosting global conferences to helping entrepreneurs navigate complex regulations.
Let’s start at the beginning. What drew you into law, and how did your career begin?
I actually studied communication management in undergrad, with a minor in industrial psychology, so I was always interested in how people work and interact. I loved public speaking and even dabbled in journalism. But as I neared graduation, I knew I wanted to keep learning. I chose law school because of its flexibility, I liked the analytical side of it, and it felt like a better fit than an MBA. I didn’t envision myself in a courtroom every day, but I liked the idea that a law degree could take me in many directions. And it did.
What were your first years in practice like?
I started out at a small law firm in Columbus doing workers’ compensation. It was a great way to learn fast, small firms give you hands-on experience with everything. I did administrative hearings, client advising, legal writing... but I knew I was drawn more to the business side of law. That led me to apply for a role as Corporations Counsel at the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
You ended up spending 16 years at the Secretary of State’s office, how was that experience?
More exciting that most would think. There was always something new to work on. I started by advising the Business Services Division, and over time moved into leadership as Director of Business Services and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. I never got bored as there were always new problems to solve, new technologies to implement, and even new types of fraud to detect and prevent.
Let’s talk about your work there. What were some of the projects you worked on?
When I started, we had over 80 paper forms, many outdated or unclear. One of my first goals was to overhaul those. We rewrote them, added plain-English instructions, and tried to make them usable for everyone, not just attorneys. Around 2012, we began building an online filing system in-house, starting with the most common filings like LLC formations. By 2017, we had most of our forms online. It was a massive effort, but we were proud of it.
And you also worked to combat fraudulent filings, which has become a huge issue globally. What did that involve?
It became a real focus for me. Early on, we had a case where a business owner discovered someone had dissolved his company, and he had no idea for 20 years. That stuck with me. Once filings moved online, fraud cases increased. So we built a multi-pronged strategy: we introduced e-notifications, developed fraud detection tools, pushed for legislative changes, and even helped draft a bill that created a complaint process for fraud victims. I’m really proud of that work.
You also held leadership roles at IACA, including multiple terms as President. How did you get involved?
Ohio was already a member when I joined the Secretary of State’s office. I went to my first IACA conference in 2009 and was blown away. So much knowledge-sharing, and such a collaborative community. I joined the board soon after, became President in 2015, and hosted the 2016 conference in Columbus. During the pandemic, I returned as President to help keep things running and introduced “IACA Office Hours”, a monthly open forum for members to support each other. That sense of connection was very important to me, and I think it had a very positive impact.
Was there a special event or conference you hosted or participated in during your time at IACA that stands out? Any favorite moments or lessons learned?
Hosting the 2016 IACA conference in Columbus was definitely a highlight. It was amazing to be able to show off my hometown to attendees from over 40 U.S. states and 17 countries. That’s one of the unique and fun things about IACA; the president gets to host the conference, so it’s always in a different location. I loved the opportunity to welcome everyone to Ohio and to see such a broad community of registry professionals come together. It was a proud moment and one I’ll never forget.
How did that global perspective influence your work?
I learned so much from my peers in other states and countries. People were always generous with their knowledge, sharing what worked, what didn’t, even project plans. I borrowed ideas all the time, especially from states like Colorado and others. It probably saved Ohio a lot of time and money. The travel was a bonus too, I got to see how registries operated in places like Cardiff, Madrid, and Abu Dhabi. It gave me a broader perspective.
Now you’re at LegalZoom. How does that compare to your public sector experience?
Honestly, it’s been a smooth transition. The mission is similar, making it easier for people to start and run businesses. But the pace is different. In government, a change might take six weeks. At LegalZoom, we can fix something in two hours. I work with our fulfillment team, reviewing legal processes and rejections, and also with our government relations and marketing teams. I’m learning a lot, especially about compliance and how to communicate clearly with customers.
LegalZoom has a strong focus on helping small businesses. Can you share more about that?
Most of our customers are small or medium-sized businesses. We help with business formation, compliance, registered agent services, and now virtual mail and business license tools. Our compliance alerts and dashboards help people stay on top of requirements, all in one place. It’s about empowering people and small businesses who may not have access to legal teams or attorneys otherwise.
I hope you don’t mind us diving into a more controversial topic. What’s your take on the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and how it affects businesses?
The intent behind the CTA is important, transparency and fighting financial crime. But the complexity of compliance creates a real burden for small business owners who don’t have in-house counsel. At LegalZoom, we’ve built tools to help, but it’s a tough landscape. Regulations need to be clear and accessible, or they risk backfiring.
How do you see the registry and compliance space evolving? What excites you about the future?
The expectations have changed, people want to complete tasks in minutes, not weeks. AI and smarter design can help registries catch errors before they happen, reduce fraud, and speed things up. But governments need the resources to implement those tools. I’d love to see more collaboration between public and private sectors to share what’s working.
Allison and the LegalZoom team attending IACA's annual conference
Final question: what advice would you give someone starting a career in this field?
Be open to where your career might take you. I had never heard of business registries when I started. Now I think it’s one of the most interesting and impactful fields out there. And lean into the community; whether through IACA or just connecting with others in the space. You’ll learn a lot, and you’ll never feel like you’re doing it alone.
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Allison reminds us that registries are not just forms or software, they are foundational tools that enable compliance, protect against fraud, and empower people to build legitimate, thriving businesses.
From her time in public service to her current work at LegalZoom, Allison has consistently championed approaches that make these systems more accessible, more secure, and more human. Her leadership shows that when registries are designed with purpose and empathy, we are not just modernizing systems, we are making it easier for people to participate fully and confidently in the economy.