Every law firm has a strategy to serve clients and win business, and every law firm also works with some sort of technology in today’s digital world. But how often does that overall strategy take law firms’ digital initiatives into account? Recent research from the Thomson Reuters Institute (TRI) found that most law firms are satisfied with how they’re tying their firm’s digital transformation to its overall strategy — but in practice, only about half actually have a fully realized digital strategy at the C-suite level, and many of those have been instituted only in the past couple of years. In the latest TRI Insights Podcast, Zach Warren, TRI’s technology and innovation insights leader and Lucy Leach, director of research strategy at TRI, discuss why many law firms think they’re above average (but not perfect) on digital strategy, how clients are too often left out of the process, and what the rise of generative artificial intelligence means for digital strategy’s future.

Every law firm has a strategy to serve clients and win business, and every law firm also works with some sort of technology in today’s digital world. But how often does that overall strategy take law firms’ digital initiatives into account? Recent research from the Thomson Reuters Institute (TRI) found that most law firms are satisfied with how they’re tying their firm’s digital transformation to its overall strategy — but in practice, only about half actually have a fully realized digital strategy at the C-suite level, and many of those have been instituted only in the past couple of years. In the latest TRI Insights Podcast, Zach Warren, TRI’s technology and innovation insights leader and Lucy Leach, director of research strategy at TRI, discuss why many law firms think they’re above average (but not perfect) on digital strategy, how clients are too often left out of the process, and what the rise of generative artificial intelligence means for digital strategy’s future.

How law firms are navigating their own digital strategy

 Dealing with economic uncertainty has become a part of daily life for law firm leadership and it seems there is always a new crisis to be worried about.  In this week’s Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, Thomson Reuters Industry Data Analyst Bryce Engelland discusses with Lawrence J. White, professor of economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business, how the second half of the year may fare and what events law firm leaders should be on the lookout for.

Dealing with economic uncertainty has become a part of daily life for law firm leadership and it seems there is always a new crisis to be worried about. In this week’s Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, Thomson Reuters Industry Data Analyst Bryce Engelland discusses with Lawrence J. White, professor of economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business, how the second half of the year may fare and what events law firm leaders should be on the lookout for.

What’s next for law firms and the economy?

 In this week’s Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, our technology content leader Zach Warren dives into the generative artificial intelligence (AI) craze within law firms, speaking with Kelley Drye &amp; Warren chief information officer Judi Flournoy. As a law firm CIO with years of legal technology experience, Flournoy has seen tech trends come and go. However, generative AI and ChatGPT isn’t just a continuation of past AI initiatives, she believes, but a true game-changer.  That’s why she’s encouraging those within her firm to get acquainted early.  “They need to understand this technology early so they understand where it’s going to lead them later,” Flournoy explains.   In the podcast, she discusses not only the use cases she sees now, but her prognostications for law firms’ future, why generative AI will be here “faster than anyone realizes,” and why one AI is reminiscent of the movie Her.

In this week’s Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, our technology content leader Zach Warren dives into the generative artificial intelligence (AI) craze within law firms, speaking with Kelley Drye &amp; Warren chief information officer Judi Flournoy. As a law firm CIO with years of legal technology experience, Flournoy has seen tech trends come and go. However, generative AI and ChatGPT isn’t just a continuation of past AI initiatives, she believes, but a true game-changer. That’s why she’s encouraging those within her firm to get acquainted early. “They need to understand this technology early so they understand where it’s going to lead them later,” Flournoy explains.  In the podcast, she discusses not only the use cases she sees now, but her prognostications for law firms’ future, why generative AI will be here “faster than anyone realizes,” and why one AI is reminiscent of the movie Her.

Generative AI within law firms 

Fraud, waste &amp; abuse in government are very important topics in a time when many government agencies are being asked to do more with less and are attempting to use technology to bridge the gap while bringing new staff up to speed. With the global pandemic moving to the rearview, government workers must focus on the monumental task ahead, including improving their efficiency and technical ability. In the latest episode of the Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, Rabihah Butler, Enterprise Content Manager, speaks to Andrew Pellington, Senior Director in Product Marketing for Thomson Reuters, about the upcoming Government Fraud, Waste &amp; Abuse Report from the Thomson Reuters Institute.

Fraud, waste &amp; abuse in government are very important topics in a time when many government agencies are being asked to do more with less and are attempting to use technology to bridge the gap while bringing new staff up to speed. With the global pandemic moving to the rearview, government workers must focus on the monumental task ahead, including improving their efficiency and technical ability. In the latest episode of the Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, Rabihah Butler, Enterprise Content Manager, speaks to Andrew Pellington, Senior Director in Product Marketing for Thomson Reuters, about the upcoming Government Fraud, Waste &amp; Abuse Report from the Thomson Reuters Institute.

A look at the upcoming Government Fraud, Waste & Abuse Report

After several banner years, many law firms find themselves in a different position in 2023. While billing rates set new record marks, law firm profitability continues to slip, driven down by a continued rise in overhead expenses and a slowing of how effectively law firms collect the cash that is owed to them. In the latest Thomson Reuters Institute Insights Podcast, host Bill Josten is joined by Brent Turner from Thomson Reuters Institute Advisory Services to discuss the realities of today’s legal marketplace and what law firms can do to protect their profitability this year and beyond. As the podcast explains, the solution doesn’t necessarily lie in ever-increasing rates or in pushing clients to take smaller discounts. Instead, the answer most likely comes from ensuring the firm’s partners are  following best practices for how they handle their bills.

After several banner years, many law firms find themselves in a different position in 2023. While billing rates set new record marks, law firm profitability continues to slip, driven down by a continued rise in overhead expenses and a slowing of how effectively law firms collect the cash that is owed to them. In the latest Thomson Reuters Institute Insights Podcast, host Bill Josten is joined by Brent Turner from Thomson Reuters Institute Advisory Services to discuss the realities of today’s legal marketplace and what law firms can do to protect their profitability this year and beyond. As the podcast explains, the solution doesn’t necessarily lie in ever-increasing rates or in pushing clients to take smaller discounts. Instead, the answer most likely comes from ensuring the firm’s partners are <a> following best practices for how they handle their bills</a>.

How law firms can protect their revenue in 2023

 As demand for legal services shifts and tightens, how law firms differentiate themselves in the market is critical. Jen Dezso, director of client relationships for the Thomson Reuters Institute, joins the podcast to   discuss recent research  into how law firms are effectively developing standout brand positions and the importance of clear brand equity for law firms.  While it can be tempting to try to be all things to all clients, the research shows that, much more often, those law firms that have the strongest brand identities are the firms that are known for excellence in specific areas.

As demand for legal services shifts and tightens, how law firms differentiate themselves in the market is critical. Jen Dezso, director of client relationships for the Thomson Reuters Institute, joins the podcast to <a href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/legal/law-firms-brand-strategy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> discuss recent research</a> into how law firms are effectively developing standout brand positions and the importance of clear brand equity for law firms. While it can be tempting to try to be all things to all clients, the research shows that, much more often, those law firms that have the strongest brand identities are the firms that are known for excellence in specific areas.

The importance of branding & differentiation for law firms

In our latest podcast, Nadya Britton, tax &amp; accounting specialist for the Thomson Reuters Institute, chats with Corey Greene, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Thomson Reuters, about some of interesting findings around operational efficiency from the 2023 State of the Tax Professional Report. Although efficiency isn’t a new concept for most businesses, until recently it was hardly something a tax &amp; accounting firm would see as a strategic priority. In this new report, however, efficiency was listed as the number one priority. In the podcast, the pair discusses how tax &amp; accounting firms can optimize their operations to maximize productivity, and provide-quality services to clients and reduce costs.

In our latest podcast, Nadya Britton, tax &amp; accounting specialist for the Thomson Reuters Institute, chats with Corey Greene, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Thomson Reuters, about some of interesting findings around operational efficiency from the <a href="https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/en/accounting-solutions/c/tax-professionals-report-2023/form?gatedContent=%252Fcontent%252Fewp-marketing-websites%252Ftax%252Fgl%252Fen%252Faccounting-solutions%252Fc%252Ftax-professionals-report-2023" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2023 State of the Tax Professional Report</a>. Although efficiency isn’t a new concept for most businesses, until recently it was hardly something a tax &amp; accounting firm would see as a strategic priority. In this new report, however, efficiency was listed as the number one priority. In the podcast, the pair discusses how tax &amp; accounting firms can optimize their operations to maximize productivity, and provide-quality services to clients and reduce costs.

Automation to drive efficiencies in tax

As the world buzzes about the chaos caused by 21-year-old Jack Teixeira and the online chat service Discord, the new Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast examines the real conversation around the data breach controversy and other security concerns. Rabihah Butler, corporate compliance &amp; risk specialist for the Thomson Reuters Institute, speaks to Jim Dinkins, former executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations, who provides a unique perspective on the data breach. In a world of checks and balances, where privacy is competing with security, the pair discusses how best to keep the balance.

As the world buzzes about the chaos caused by 21-year-old Jack Teixeira and the online chat service Discord, the new Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast examines the real conversation around the data breach controversy and other security concerns. Rabihah Butler, corporate compliance &amp; risk specialist for the Thomson Reuters Institute, speaks to Jim Dinkins, former executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations, who provides a unique perspective on the data breach. In a world of checks and balances, where privacy is competing with security, the pair discusses how best to keep the balance.

Keeping the balance between data security and privacy

In the new Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, Zach Warren, technology specialist for the Thomson Reuters Institute, revisits the "2023 Alternative Legal Services Provider (ALSP) Report" with Jim Jones, Senior Fellow at the Center on Ethics in the Legal Profession at Georgetown University. Now a few months out from the report’s initial release, Jim and Zach explore what surprised them from the results, including how quickly the ALSP market has grown in such a short amount of time, and how law firm attitudes towards ALSPs are shifting.

In the new Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, Zach Warren, technology specialist for the Thomson Reuters Institute, revisits the "2023 Alternative Legal Services Provider (ALSP) Report" with Jim Jones, Senior Fellow at the Center on Ethics in the Legal Profession at Georgetown University. Now a few months out from the report’s initial release, Jim and Zach explore what surprised them from the results, including how quickly the ALSP market has grown in such a short amount of time, and how law firm attitudes towards ALSPs are shifting.

As the ALSP market grows, so does its acceptance

In the latest Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast, we speak to Meredith Ritchie, General Counsel of Alliant Credit Union; and Audrey Rubin, senior advisor with BarkerGilmore and former COO of the legal department at Aon, about some of the key findings of the 2023 State of the Corporate Law Department report and how those issues are impacting the daily operations of corporate law departments and in-house lawyers. The discussion covers the increasing regulatory complexity that corporate general counsel must navigate, the pressure to stay on budget, key practices that may be poised for growth in the changing economy, and whether other strategic priorities like diversity, equity &amp; inclusion may potentially see a loss of focus as new challenges take prominence. 

In the latest <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1sVzVPFHT3JHLxKwpUoTMZ" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Thomson Reuters Institute Insights podcast</a>, we speak to Meredith Ritchie, General Counsel of Alliant Credit Union; and Audrey Rubin, senior advisor with BarkerGilmore and former COO of the legal department at Aon, about some of the key findings of the <a href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/legal/state-of-the-corporate-law-department-2023/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">2023 State of the Corporate Law Department report</a> and how those issues are impacting the daily operations of corporate law departments and in-house lawyers. The discussion covers the increasing regulatory complexity that corporate general counsel must navigate, the pressure to stay on budget, key practices that may be poised for growth in the changing economy, and whether other strategic priorities like diversity, equity &amp; inclusion may potentially see a loss of focus as new challenges take prominence.

Examining today's Corporate Law Department 

The blog at the Thomson Reuters Institute fuels the important conversations with top legal, tax, government, and business professionals with the goal of being the preeminent thought-leader in these areas.

Thomson Reuters Institute Insights Podcast

Gibson Dunn

Alison Lee

In the first part of our podcast on the technology behind blockchain and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Joe Racyznski, a legal technologist and futurist for Thomson Reuters Legal, speaks with Judith Alison Lee, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn &amp; Crutcher and Co-Chair of the firm’s International Trade Practice Group. Among her other areas of expertise, Ms. Lee advises clients on issues relating to virtual and digital currencies and related blockchain technologies. She is also the author of several articles on Blockchain Technology and Virtual Currencies for Thomson Reuters.

The Technology of Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies with Judith Alison Lee of Gibson Dunn (Part1)

As a follow-up to Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color’s  interview with the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession’s CEO Sandra Yamate on the launch of the Social Impact Incubator (SII), Natalie Runyon, Director for Enterprise Content at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, spoke with three SII members Katie Larkin-Wong, Associate at Latham &amp; Watkins; Deanna Kwong, Senior IP Litigation Counsel at Hewlett Packard Enterprise; and Derek Ishikawa, Attorney at Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP. In this podcast, they discuss how Millennials think differently about diversity and inclusion and what they recommend to current leaders in the legal profession to expedite inclusion efforts. Moreover, they share why their number one recommendation to speeding up progress is breaking down silos.

As a follow-up to Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color’s <a href="http://www.legalexecutiveinstitute.com/incubating-diversity-inclusion-leaders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> interview with the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession’s CEO Sandra Yamate</a> on the launch of the Social Impact Incubator (SII), Natalie Runyon, Director for Enterprise Content at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, spoke with three SII members <a href="https://www.lw.com/people/KatherineMLarkin-Wong" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katie Larkin-Wong</a>, Associate at Latham &amp; Watkins; <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannakwong/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deanna Kwong</a>, Senior IP Litigation Counsel at Hewlett Packard Enterprise; and <a href="https://www.hkemploymentlaw.com/attorney/derek-k-ishikawa/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Derek Ishikawa</a>, Attorney at Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP. In this podcast, they discuss how Millennials think differently about diversity and inclusion and what they recommend to current leaders in the legal profession to expedite inclusion efforts. Moreover, they share why their number one recommendation to speeding up progress is breaking down silos.

New Podcast: Millennial Lawyers Discuss Diversity & Inclusion Innovations to Advance Progress

Demetra Liggins

As part of our Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative, we feature a new podcast in which we speak to Demetra Liggins, a partner at the law firm Thomson &amp; Knight, and Co-Founder — with her twin sister — of Corporate Homie, an organization that seeks to help women and minorities advance in corporate America.

New Podcast: Advancing Women & Minorities, with Corporate Homie's Demetra Liggins

In our new podcast, Natalie Runyon, Director of Enterprise Content for Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute and content strategist for the Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative sat down with Paula Edgar and Wendy Amengual Wark, partners from Inclusion Strategy Solutions. Both Edgar and Amengual Wark have deep expertise in how to build inclusive organizations that promote workplaces where everyone, including under-represented groups, can thrive and reach their full potential. In this podcast, we explore the reasons why representation of women, professionals of color, and members of the LGBT+ and disability communities as so under-resented at the corporate executive ranks and why their progress is advancing so slowly. We also debunk the myth that increasing diversity results in compromising on quality,  citing the fact that research study after research study going back to the 1990s say the exact opposite. In addition, we also examine the definition of inclusion, as well as the approach of Edgar and Amengual Wark to partnering with straight white men to craft their “distance travelled” story and allow them to open up about fears of working with women in the post #MeToo era. Next, we discuss how to interrupt common norms that continue to promote gender-specific social structures that hurt both men and women. Finally, we close out our conversation by investigating the role of allies and how to activate their commitment and advocacy.

In our new podcast, Natalie Runyon, Director of Enterprise Content for Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute and content strategist for the Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative sat down with Paula Edgar and Wendy Amengual Wark, partners from Inclusion Strategy Solutions. Both Edgar and Amengual Wark have deep expertise in how to build inclusive organizations that promote workplaces where everyone, including under-represented groups, can thrive and reach their full potential. In this podcast, we explore the reasons why representation of women, professionals of color, and members of the LGBT+ and disability communities as so under-resented at the corporate executive ranks and why their progress is advancing so slowly. We also debunk the myth that increasing diversity results in compromising on quality, <a href="http://www.legalexecutiveinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/For-Legal-Employers_16-Ways-to-Expedite-the-Advancement-of-Lawyers-of-Color.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> citing the fact</a> that research study after research study going back to the 1990s say the exact opposite. In addition, we also examine the definition of inclusion, as well as the approach of Edgar and Amengual Wark to partnering with straight white men to craft their “distance travelled” story and allow them to open up about fears of working with women in the post #MeToo era. Next, we discuss how to interrupt common norms that continue to promote gender-specific social structures that hurt both men and women. Finally, we close out our conversation by investigating the role of allies and how to activate their commitment and advocacy.

Encouraging Diversity and Inclusion by Treating People as Unique Individuals

In the second part of our podcast on the technology behind blockchain and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Joe Racyznski, a legal technologist and futurist for Thomson Reuters Legal, speaks with Judith Alison Lee, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn &amp; Crutcher and Co-Chair of the firm’s International Trade Practice Group. Among her other areas of expertise, Ms. Lee advises clients on issues relating to virtual and digital currencies and related blockchain technologies. She is also the author of several articles on Blockchain Technology and Virtual Currencies for Thomson Reuters.

The Technology Of Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies With Judith Alison Lee Of Gibson Dunn (Part 2)

Perry Teicher

In our latest podcast, we speak to Perry Teicher, a corporate attorney that serves on the leadership of the Global Impact Finance and Investment Group at the law firm of Orrick, Herrington, and Sutcliffe. Teicher explains Impact Finance, which involves working with investors or companies that are particularly concerned about environmental and social impact as a core part of their investment strategy. Impact Finance projects intentionally try to create a positive environmental or social impact, in addition to some type of financial return.

Impacting Finance Podcast w/ Perry Teicher of Orrick

Laura Empson

In this new podcast, Charlotte Rushton, managing director for U.S. Law Firms at Thomson Reuters, will be speaking to Laura Empson, Professor in the Management of Professional Service Firms at Cass Business School in London and Senior Research Fellow at Harvard Law School. Professor Empson’s new book, "Leading Professionals: Power, Politics &amp; Prima Donnas", was published last fall by Oxford University Press.

New Podcast: Leading Professionals with Professor Laura Empson

In this series of podcasts, we will feature the insights of Nancey Watson, of NL Watson Consulting in Toronto, around issues concerning the pricing and procurement of legal services, including how to keep the human touch amid the metrics, what clients want and don’t want, how to avoid pricing pitfalls, and when to walk away from an RFP.

In this series of podcasts, we will feature the insights of Nancey Watson, of NL Watson Consulting in Toronto, around issues concerning the pricing and procurement of legal services, including how to keep the human touch amid the metrics, what clients want and don’t want, how to avoid pricing pitfalls, and when to walk away from an RFP.

Keeping the Human Touch in the Procurement Process

Holly Sais Phillippi, Head of Proposition Customer &amp; Third-Party Risk at Thomson Reuters-Americas, discusses the upcoming Beneficial Ownership rule that will go into effect on May 11. Then, Brett Wolf, a Thomson Reuters journalist, speaks to Jim Richards, founder of RegTech Consulting, about the upcoming rule and what investors and financial institutions can expect on May 11.

New Podcast: Beneficial Ownership Rule Is Coming May 11! Are You Ready?

In a new podcast, we feature industry experts Amanda DuPont, an investigative research specialist and speaker with Thomson Reuters, and Catherine Banks, a compliance, risk, and audit specialist for the Risk Team at Refinitiv. Amanda and Catherine are going to discuss the concept of risk scoring of customer accounts by financial institutions, how it works, and how the practice can help protect a financial firm’s reputation and its balance sheet. They will also discuss how new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are impacting the fight against financial fraud and the role regulators play in the concept of risk scoring.

In a new podcast, we feature industry experts Amanda DuPont, an investigative research specialist and speaker with Thomson Reuters, and Catherine Banks, a compliance, risk, and audit specialist for the Risk Team at Refinitiv. Amanda and Catherine are going to discuss the concept of risk scoring of customer accounts by financial institutions, how it works, and how the practice can help protect a financial firm’s reputation and its balance sheet. They will also discuss how new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are impacting the fight against financial fraud and the role regulators play in the concept of risk scoring.

How Customer Risk Scoring Can Help Banks Protect Themselves Against Fraud

This podcast features a conversation about the duties of a general counsel within a midsize law firm with David Wollin, general counsel of Hinckley Allen. The interview will focus on areas of the duties of midsize law firm GC, how to tell when a firm needs one, and the impact on the firm itself. The interview is conducted by James Jones of Georgetown Law and the GC Roundtable.

This podcast features a conversation about the duties of a general counsel within a midsize law firm with David Wollin, general counsel of Hinckley Allen. The interview will focus on areas of the duties of midsize law firm GC, how to tell when a firm needs one, and the impact on the firm itself. The interview is conducted by James Jones of Georgetown Law and the GC Roundtable.

The Duties & Challenges of a Midsize Law Firm GC

In a new podcast, Natalie Runyon, the Head of Thought Leadership for the Talent Platform at Thomson Reuters' Legal Executive Institute, speaks to Michelle Wimes, the Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak &amp; Stewart, one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, about the best ways foster better professional development within law firms.

New Podcast: Professional Development within Law Firms with Ogletree Deakins' Wimes

Steve Looney

We’re discussing the new Tax Reform Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump at the end of December, with Steve Looney, the chair of the Tax &amp; Corporate department at the law firm of Dean Mead in Orlando, Fla.

The Tax Reform Act Podcast w/ Steve Looney of Dean Mead

The Legal Executive Institute, in collaboration with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) and the Georgetown Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession recently conducted a survey of law firm leaders of primarily U.S.-based law firms in the midsize to large law firm market to examine where those leaders saw the greatest potential threats to their law firms, how they plan to confront those threats, and how their law firms are approaching institutional change.    We spoke with Jim Jones from Georgetown and Oliver Yandle from the ALA to hear their take on the initial findings in this section of the report.  They shared insights from their many years of experience to help interpret the significance of the findings and advice for how law firms can begin to position themselves to work through partners resistance.   Here are a few key insights they shared:  While strategies for dealing with partnership resistance will vary from firm to firm, it is vital that firms not stand still on driving change while waiting for the firms to draw near enough to the precipice of calamity that the partners finally feel compelled to act; Start with younger partners to build a culture that accepts change and the younger partners and future leaders of the firm will feel empowered to drive it forward; Compensation can play a key role in how effective change efforts will be at a given firm because lawyers, by and large, will do what their compensation system tells them is important.   The full audio of our interview with Jim and Oliver is available below.  The full report on the findings from this survey will be available through our website on October 24.  Please consider subscribing to the weekly Legal Executive Institute Newsletter to be sure you don’t miss out on the report when it’s released.

The Legal Executive Institute, in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.alanet.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Association of Legal Administrators</a> (ALA) and the <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/legal-profession/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Georgetown Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession</a> recently conducted a survey of law firm leaders of primarily U.S.-based law firms in the midsize to large law firm market to examine where those leaders saw the greatest potential threats to their law firms, how they plan to confront those threats, and how their law firms are approaching institutional change.  We spoke with Jim Jones from Georgetown and Oliver Yandle from the ALA to hear their take on the initial findings in this section of the report.  They shared insights from their many years of experience to help interpret the significance of the findings and advice for how law firms can begin to position themselves to work through partners resistance.   Here are a few key insights they shared: <ul> <li>While strategies for dealing with partnership resistance will vary from firm to firm, it is vital that firms not stand still on driving change while waiting for the firms to draw near enough to the precipice of calamity that the partners finally feel compelled to act;</li> <li>Start with younger partners to build a culture that accepts change and the younger partners and future leaders of the firm will feel empowered to drive it forward;</li> <li>Compensation can play a key role in how effective change efforts will be at a given firm because lawyers, by and large, will do what their compensation system tells them is important. </li> </ul> The full audio of our interview with Jim and Oliver is available below.  The full report on the findings from this survey will be available through our website on October 24.  Please consider <a href="https://pc2.mypreferences.com/ThomsonReutersUSLegal/Profile" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribing to the weekly Legal Executive Institute Newsletter</a> to be sure you don’t miss out on the report when it’s released.

New Podcast: Law Firm Leaders Empowered to Drive Change, But Face Obstacles, Forthcoming Report Finds

This podcast features a conversation about fraud investigations in financial institutions and how to enhance them with real-time data. Gina Jurva, attorney and manager of the Risk &amp; Compliance platform at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, speaks to Rick Wells, director of the Global Financial Crimes Compliance group at Bank of America.

This podcast features a conversation about fraud investigations in financial institutions and how to enhance them with real-time data. Gina Jurva, attorney and manager of the Risk &amp; Compliance platform at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, speaks to Rick Wells, director of the Global Financial Crimes Compliance group at Bank of America.

The Importance of Real-Time Data for Successful Regulatory Compliance

Meredith Moore

The podcast will examine Weil’s Upstander Action Guide. Meredith Moore, the head of D&amp;I and Social Responsibility, will provide an overview of what an Upstander is and what behaviors an Upstander exhibits. She also will discuss the launch session that involved an interactive theatre group acting out scenarios of an Upstander intervention and the impact and outcomes from the Upstander program.

The podcast will examine Weil’s <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.weil.com_-7E_media_diversity_upstander_upstander-2Daction-2Dguide.pdf&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=4ZIZThykDLcoWk-GVjSLmy8-1Cr1I4FWIvbLFebwKgY&amp;r=ae4VQND-oRigD4nbxr-vEYWX9m4FYbHdyrqYVOUrfl8&amp;m=uWI-X6Fyac_U90y7exsQHHHmw1iqzijzSitjYDG8bLw&amp;s=klPhIW9ulRGGEPCwkcNmLZKkcuqXn846fTr6AJi32mY&amp;e=" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Upstander Action Guide</a>. Meredith Moore, the head of D&amp;I and Social Responsibility, will provide an overview of what an Upstander is and what behaviors an Upstander exhibits. She also will discuss the launch session that involved an interactive theatre group acting out scenarios of an Upstander intervention and the impact and outcomes from the Upstander program.

Understanding Weil’s Upstander Action Guide, with Meredith Moore, head of D&I and Social Responsibility

Ernest Tuckett

As part of the Legal Executive Institute’s Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative’s ongoing coverage, we are featuring a podcast to discuss the goals of the Black GC 2025 Initiative concerning hiring, training and retention of GCs of color, with  Ernest Tuckett, former General Counsel for the Americas at AkzoNobel and co-founder of the Black GC 2025 Initiative.

As part of the Legal Executive Institute’s Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative’s ongoing coverage, we are featuring a podcast to discuss the goals of the <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__nbacls.com_black-2Dgc-2D2025-2Dinitiative_&amp;d=DwMFAg&amp;c=4ZIZThykDLcoWk-GVjSLmy8-1Cr1I4FWIvbLFebwKgY&amp;r=ae4VQND-oRigD4nbxr-vEYWX9m4FYbHdyrqYVOUrfl8&amp;m=eGE3BceFRFpDWMdlLbgosmWKhiaZpTghmC2NcMgh-CQ&amp;s=Vx4w6wmN72S9vg7226wCQtjAaGU2EHKbBdDhLAnC66I&amp;e=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Black GC 2025 Initiative</a> concerning hiring, training and retention of GCs of color, with <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_in_ernest-2Dtuckett-2D44386ba_&amp;d=DwMFAg&amp;c=4ZIZThykDLcoWk-GVjSLmy8-1Cr1I4FWIvbLFebwKgY&amp;r=ae4VQND-oRigD4nbxr-vEYWX9m4FYbHdyrqYVOUrfl8&amp;m=eGE3BceFRFpDWMdlLbgosmWKhiaZpTghmC2NcMgh-CQ&amp;s=cRne4i_N6oEz3GqahIotBQyqTT45WV5H5J8pYYqyNUg&amp;e=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Ernest Tuckett</a>, former General Counsel for the Americas at AkzoNobel and co-founder of the Black GC 2025 Initiative.

Discussing the Black GC 2025 Initiative with co-founder Ernest Tuckett

In a new podcast, we're featuring a conversation about how financial institutions can hire, train, and retain key staff in the areas of anti-money laundering, financial crime and regulatory compliance. Gina Jurva, Attorney and Manager of the Risk &amp; Compliance Platform at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, speaks to Michael Schidlow, Head of Financial Crime Risk Training for HSBC Bank’s Global Internal Audit Function. Michael designs and delivers customized training courses on anti-money laundering, terrorist financing, anti-bribery and corruption, and financial crime compliance best practices.

In a new podcast, we're featuring a conversation about how financial institutions can hire, train, and retain key staff in the areas of anti-money laundering, financial crime and regulatory compliance. Gina Jurva, Attorney and Manager of the Risk &amp; Compliance Platform at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, speaks to Michael Schidlow, Head of Financial Crime Risk Training for HSBC Bank’s Global Internal Audit Function. Michael designs and delivers customized training courses on anti-money laundering, terrorist financing, anti-bribery and corruption, and financial crime compliance best practices.

Financial Institutions Staff Training in Financial Crimes

Beth Cuzzone

In a new podcast, Charlotte Rushton, managing director for large and medium law firms at Thomson Reuters, speaks to Beth Cuzzone, Chief Business Growth Officer at Goulston &amp; Storrs, about the highlights of the recent 25th Annual Marketing Partner Forum. Beth was co-chair of the Forum, held earlier this year in California.

Podcast: Highlights of the recent 25th Annual Marketing Partner Forum with Beth Cuzzone

Ann Jenrette-Thomas

Color

Recently, the Legal Executive Institute’s Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative released its second white paper, titled 5 Marketing Strategies for Attorneys of Color in Big Law [insert link], by Ann Jenrette-Thomas, Chief Diversity &amp; Inclusion Officer at Stinson LLP. In a new podcast announcing the white paper, Natalie Runyon, Director of Enterprise Content for Thomson Reuters, speaks with Jenrette-Thomas about the white paper and what was behind its creation. In addition, the pair discusses why attorneys of color typically generate business differently from traditional business development methods and why it is important for firm leadership and marketing teams to invest in these approaches. Finally, Jenrette-Thomas talks about how law firms should be making investments in future black male partners, given the amount of media attention the topic recently has received within the legal industry.   

Recently, the Legal Executive Institute’s Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color initiative released its second white paper, titled 5 Marketing Strategies for Attorneys of Color in Big Law [insert link], by <a href="https://www.stinson.com/people-AnnJenrette-Thomas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ann Jenrette-Thomas</a>, Chief Diversity &amp; Inclusion Officer at Stinson LLP. In a new podcast announcing the white paper, Natalie Runyon, Director of Enterprise Content for Thomson Reuters, speaks with Jenrette-Thomas about the white paper and what was behind its creation. In addition, the pair discusses why attorneys of color typically generate business differently from traditional business development methods and why it is important for firm leadership and marketing teams to invest in these approaches. Finally, Jenrette-Thomas talks about how law firms should be making investments in future black male partners, given the amount of media attention the topic recently has received within the legal industry.

New Podcast:  Ann Jenrette-Thomas Discusses How Lawyers of Color Can Better Cultivate Business

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