Kathryn Cameron Atkinson commented on the role independent compliance monitors play when working with a company. "One of the things that is critical is to have a monitor that is willing to put their ego to the side," said Atkinson, who has herself been appointed twice as an Independent Compliance Monitor by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  As an example, Atkinson noted that when a company pushes back on language in a recommendation, the Monitor needs to consider, "'OK, does this affect our getting to the end goal of an effective programme? Does the wording matter?'" Atkinson's comments were made as part of a Practising Law Institute conference panel on monitorships in New York.