Legal Speak
360 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 38 ratingsLegal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what's happening in the legal industry. Each episode tackles a subject that's worthy of a deep dive—from law firm profit hacks to Supreme Court showdowns to the most promising plays in legal tech. Hosted by Senior Litigation Reporter of the Daily Report Cedra Mayfield and Senior Staff Writer for the American Lawyer Patrick Smith, Legal Speak offers straight talk from experts, plus an inside-the-newsroom perspective on market-shaping stories.
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Episodes
'I Lost Everything': An Anti-Corruption Judge on Her Escape From Afghanistan
January 13, 2024 00:34 - 27 minutes - 50.1 MBIn this week’s Legal Speak episode, Judge Lida Kharooti, who served as a judge on Afghanistan’s anti-corruption serious crimes court for 13 years, shares how she fled the country when the Taliban took over.
How Jurists Joined Forces to Help Women Judges Evacuate Afghanistan
December 15, 2023 22:24 - 31 minutes - 58.2 MBIn this week's episode, Judge Toni Clarke shared how international coalitions helped women judges escape Afghanistan when the Taliban took over.
How an Eight-Figure Verdict Helped Spur Transformation in This Legal Department
December 09, 2023 15:19 - 25 minutes - 46.4 MBIn this episode, Law.com Litigation Reporter Aleeza Furman talks with Temple University Health Network General Counsel John Ryan about how, in the wake of an eight-figure verdict, his legal department decided to revamp its approach to litigation.
Why Its Exciting to be a Defense Attorney During Polarizing Times
December 01, 2023 23:31 - 31 minutes - 57.3 MBIn this week’s episode of Legal Speak, Orrick's Meghan Kelly and Bill Oxley discuss the most surprising findings from their national jury research project.
Why the DiCello Levitt Trial Center Teaches Lawyers to Stop Spinning the Truth
November 18, 2023 00:01 - 45 minutes - 83.9 MBIn this week's Legal Speak episode, DiCello Levitt partners Bobby DiCello and Ken Abbarno share how they train attorneys at the firm's trial center, including helping lawyers learn how to look within.
How Sidley Austin Is Filling In Pandemic-Era Training Gaps
November 10, 2023 19:01 - 28 minutes - 51.6 MBIn this week's Legal Speak episode, Sidley's Dan Clivner and Sharon Flanagan share how the firm is leveraging its leadership and executive development model Built to Lead to ensure associates are not falling through the cracks.
Shipt CLO Linda Seal Explains How Flexibility and Mentorship Empower People to Do Their Best Work
November 06, 2023 21:13 - 16 minutes - 30.1 MBIn this episode, Linda Seal, chief legal officer of delivery service Shipt, talks about how she seeks to get the most out of her team.
Live from WIPL 2023 with Lakeshia Ekeigwe
October 20, 2023 18:59 - 8 minutes - 7.69 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Leah Yadegar
October 20, 2023 18:35 - 6 minutes - 5.84 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Christina Liwski
October 20, 2023 18:19 - 4 minutes - 4.11 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Denver Sheridan
October 19, 2023 20:06 - 5 minutes - 4.65 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Aswathi Zachariah
October 18, 2023 22:18 - 7 minutes - 6.49 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Betty Jang
October 18, 2023 20:32 - 4 minutes - 4.5 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Laura Vega
October 18, 2023 20:10 - 6 minutes - 5.91 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Liz Lugones & Steph Corey
October 18, 2023 17:55 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from WIPL 2023 with Jenny Holmes
October 18, 2023 17:40 - 3 minutes - 3.42 MBWomen, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) offers an opportunity for unprecedented exchange with women in-house and outside counsel. This unique event gatherers 700+ female speakers and attendees to share their thoughts on hard-won leadership guidance and insights on risk management, the future of litigation, crafting an ESG strategy and the ever-changing role of legal leaders. This year the conference was held in New Orleans and Legal Speak was there. In this episode, Alaina Lancaster is join...
Live from the GCC East with Andy Teichholz
October 06, 2023 16:45 - 9 minutes - 8.9 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Andy Teichholz, Global Industry Strategist, Compliance & Legal at OpenText.
Live from the GCC East with Andrew Guattari and Alex Carraro
October 06, 2023 16:38 - 9 minutes - 8.42 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Andrew Guattari and Alex Carraro, Account Managers at Cobblestone Software.
Live from the GCC East with Calie Valore
October 05, 2023 14:03 - 8 minutes - 7.4 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Calie Valore, Digital Media Specialist at Thompson Coburn.
Live from the GCC East with Virginia Griffth
October 05, 2023 14:00 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Virginia Griffith, Vice President of Business Development at LegalBillReview.com
Live from the GCC East with Matt Wheatley
October 03, 2023 16:12 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Matt Wheatley, the Vice President of Client Development at Priori.
Live from the GCC East with Joseph Panetta
October 02, 2023 20:46 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Joseph Panetta, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer.
Live from the GCC East with Bianca Erb
October 02, 2023 20:10 - 4 minutes - 4.05 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Bianca Erb, the Business Development Manager of Mercator by Citco
Live from the GGC East with Jason Simon
October 02, 2023 16:22 - 7 minutes - 6.47 MBThe General Counsel Conference East has long been the premier forum for general counsel to learn, network and evolve in their roles. This year's conference is being held in Brooklyn, New York and Legal Speak is there. In this episode, Law.com's Zack Needles speaks with Jason Simon, the CEO of 5S Technology.
It's Time to Pour Concrete: Davis Wright Leader Says Law Firms Need to Double Down on DEI
September 29, 2023 18:30 - 13 minutes - 23.9 MBIn this week's Legal Speak episode, Yusuf Zakir, Davis Wright Tremaine’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, speaks to what it's like to be a DEI leader at a time when the topic is under legal fire.
What the Global 200 Rankings Say About Big Law's Past, Present and Future
September 22, 2023 21:38 - 13 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this week’s episode, Law.com Editor-in-Chief Zack Needles sits down with Law.com International Editor-in-Chief Paul Hodkinson to talk about the biggest takeaways from this year’s data.
How and Why Davis Wright Built Its Own GenAI Chatbot
September 15, 2023 21:53 - 26 minutes - 48.8 MBIn this week’s episode of Law.com's Legal Speak podcast, Law.com legal technology reporter Isha Marathe speaks with Vid Prabhakaran, Davis Wright Tremaine partner and member of its AI steering committee; and Dan Szabo, the firm’s director of enterprise projects, about DWT’s very own chatbot that looks a whole lot like ChatGPT.
How Husch Blackwell's Virtual Office Prioritizes In-Person Connections
September 08, 2023 22:03 - 27 minutes - 49.7 MBIn this week's Legal Speak episode, the managing partner of Husch Blackwell’s virtual office discusses the pros and cons of practicing law remotely and how it’s changed the way he operates.
What the Legal Industry Can Learn From the Rise and Fall of a Lewis Brisbois Spinoff
August 25, 2023 22:45 - 20 minutes - 36.7 MBThis week's episode features an interview with Law.com business of law reporters Justin Henry and Jessie Yount, who break down the rise and fall of Lewis Brisbois spinoff firm Daugherty Lordan They also weigh in on what the legal industry should take away from the whole saga.
How One Attorney's Firm Rallied Behind Him Following an ALS Diagnosis—and What Big Law Can Learn From It
August 18, 2023 21:42 - 26 minutes - 48.6 MBIn the recruiting phase, law firms can talk all day about flexibility, work-life-balance and the family-style connections among colleagues, but what happens when all those talking points get put to the test? This week's episode features an interview with Nick Warack, an attorney who received an ALS diagnosis while working at Davis Wright Tremaine. Warack talks about how, in the midst of crushing unknowns, his firm and coworkers provided him unwavering support in the aftermath of the news.
How the Billable Hour, Among Other Factors, Pushes Women Out of the Legal Profession
August 11, 2023 18:08 - 15 minutes - 28.6 MBIn this week’s episode, Elizabeth Manno, partner at Venable and co-chair of the National Association of Women Lawyers research committee, discusses some of the issues attorneys have pointed to that could explain the steady and significant attrition of women from law firms relative to the number of women entering the profession as associates.
Beyond the Numbers: Clients Want to Know About Culture of Diversity at Law Firms
August 04, 2023 21:29 - 20 minutes - 37.1 MBClients are pushing law firms to disclose more and more diversity-related information in order to earn their business, according to Lloyd Freeman, chief diversity officer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.
How Lawyers Can Make 'Living the Dream' a Reality
July 28, 2023 19:04 - 28 minutes - 51.9 MBIn this week’s episode, Mayer Brown litigator Brandon Renken shares why he challenges his fellow legal professionals to focus on the funny, exciting and joyous aspects of their work as part of his "Unlawful" podcast.
Security and Overreliance: Attorney Address Generative AI Concerns for Legal Industry
July 21, 2023 19:43 - 18 minutes - 33.6 MB"Be forward-leaning, but be smart," said Danielle Benecke, the founder and global head of Baker McKenzie's machine learning practice, on adopting generative AI technology.
Practicing Lawyer, Private Family Man, Public Agitator: Veteran Litigator James Brosnahan Talks Balancing Ambitions
July 15, 2023 00:24 - 33 minutes - 62 MBYou don’t get to be one of the country’s most prominent litigators without some focus. For James Brosnahan of Morrison & Foerster, his career goal was to go to trial—any trial and any subject. In this week’s episode, Ross Todd speaks to Brosnahan about his new memoir titled, “Justice at Trial: Courtroom Battles and Groundbreaking Cases.”
Is It Time to Recruit From More Law Schools Following SCOTUS Affirmative Action Rulings?
June 30, 2023 20:46 - 20 minutes - 37.1 MBIn this week’s episode, Lloyd Freeman, chief diversity officer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, discusses where Big Law firms are moving the needle the most when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion—as well as where they’re continuing to fall short.
Backlash Against Trans People Happening Because 'We're Winning,' Says LGBTQ Advocate
June 23, 2023 18:57 - 17 minutes - 31.4 MBIn this week’s episode, Dru Levasseur, the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, shares how experiencing discrimination early in his legal career led him to become a DE&I advocate.
'No Way to Get This Right': Why Law Firms Are Getting Pushback on Office Returns
June 20, 2023 23:39 - 20 minutes - 37 MBIn the second part of Legal Speak's conversation with Ira Coleman, chairman of McDermott Will & Emery, about returning to the office, Coleman takes the position of an associate trying to convince a managing partner to loosen up on the firm’s attendance policy.
'No Way to Get This Right': Why Law Firms Are Getting Pushback on Office Returns
June 20, 2023 15:52 - 20 minutes - 37 MBIn the second part of Legal Speak's conversation with Ira Coleman, chairman of McDermott Will & Emery, about returning to the office, Coleman takes the position of an associate trying to convince a managing partner to loosen up on the firm’s attendance policy.
Why There Will Never Be a One-Size-Fits-All Solution to the Remote Work Conundrum
June 12, 2023 18:23 - 25 minutes - 45.8 MBIn this week’s episode—the first installment of a two-parter—Law.com business of law reporter Patrick Smith sits down with Ira Coleman, chairman of Am Law 50 firm McDermott Will & Emery, to unpack the office attendance issue.
What the Legal Industry Can Learn From the Lewis Brisbois-Barber Ranen Shake-up
June 06, 2023 17:55 - 26 minutes - 48.5 MBIn this week’s episode, Law.com business of law reporter Justin Henry breaks down the twists and turns of the shake-up, including the leaked emails.
How Poker Can Make Lawyers Better Negotiators
May 26, 2023 19:18 - 21 minutes - 38.5 MB"Understanding who you're at the table with, whether you're at a poker table or negotiation table, is really critical for your success in that arena," said Ellen Leikind, the founder and CEO of PokerDivas.
How One State Supreme Court Justice Is Helping Young Litigators Gain Trial Experience
May 19, 2023 21:33 - 27 minutes - 50.6 MBIn this week’s episode, Law.com litigation reporter Aleeza Furman speaks with Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Christine Donohue about creating opportunities for more junior attorneys to gain trial experience.
David Lat on What That Viral Paul Hastings Presentation Says About All of Us
May 12, 2023 14:58 - 25 minutes - 46.2 MBIn this week's episode of Legal Speak, the veteran chronicler of the weird world of Big Law culture discusses the PowerPoint presentation heard ‘round the industry.
Why Law Firms Need 'Unique' Systems for Feedback
May 05, 2023 21:13 - 22 minutes - 41.1 MBIn this week’s episode, Quarles & Brady partner Joe Wilson and Erica Gholson, the firm's director of learning and development, discuss a program the firm launched for giving and receiving feedback, called “The Loop.”
How WilmerHale's Gary Born Wrote His Thriller Book Between International Arbitrations
April 28, 2023 20:17 - 27 minutes - 49.7 MBIn this week's episode, WilmerHale's Gary Born discusses how wrote his fiction thriller, "The File," while maintaining a busy international arbitration practice.
Why Legal Chiefs Need to Start Developing ChatGPT Compliance Programs
April 21, 2023 21:44 - 23 minutes - 43.2 MBIn this week’s episode, Ryan Blaney, the head of the global privacy and cybersecurity group at Proskauer Rose, discusses the potential privacy concerns associated with ChatGPT.
How Insurers Are Inadvertently Helping Verdicts Go Nuclear
April 14, 2023 19:21 - 13 minutes - 24.8 MBThis week, we're featuring a special-crossover episode from our sister podcast, Insurance Speak: Bob Tyson, strategic managing partner for Tyson and Mendez and author of the book “Nuclear Verdicts: Defending Justice For All," shares mistakes insurers make that can lead to nuclear verdicts and why we might be seeing more of them.
Live from LegalWeek: A Conversation with Danielle Benecke on ChatGPT
April 07, 2023 21:11 - 15 minutes - 28.6 MBLegal Speak is live on location at Legalweek 2023 in New York City, where we interviewed professionals from across the legal industry about everything from ChatGPT to how to hire people who care. Experts shared the initiatives they are focused on and how they are seeing the industry evolve. Joining hosts Zack Needles and Alaina Lancaster for this episode is Danielle Benecke, Founder and Global Head of Baker McKenzie's Machine Learning Practice. Danielle was one of the panelists for Legal ...
Live from LegalWeek: A Conversation with Jessica Robinson
March 31, 2023 10:00 - 12 minutes - 11 MBLegal Speak is live on location at Legalweek 2023 in New York City, where we interviewed professionals from across the legal industry about everything from ChatGPT to how to hire people who care. Experts shared the initiatives they are focused on and how they are seeing the industry evolve. Joining hosts Zack Needles and Alaina Lancaster for this episode is Jessica Robinson, Vice President of Operations at Casepoint.