AI Law Firms Emerge, Regulators Step In and Transparency Takes the Stand

In this week’s episode, Michael and Eleanor discuss AI law firm Garfield taking on a trainee in Channel 4’s latest experiment, the rise of a New York-based law firm operating fully remotely without associates and powered by AI, new moves toward greater tax regulation transparency, the FCA’s decision to take on responsibility for anti-money laundering in the legal sector, the court transparency pilot, and more. Thank you for Listening!

Exciting news! Our Associate Director, Linzi, will be hosting the podcast going forward, bringing insights and conversations from across the legal industry. In this week’s episode, Linzi is joined by Joint Managing Director Ben to discuss law firms pushing back on the latest lawmaker letters, the impact that AI has had on big law’s C-Suite, Setfords receiving private equity backing and the impact it’s had, the latest ALM 200 results, and more. If you'd like to read any of the stories mentioned in today's episode, the links are below: https://www.thelawyer.com/not-heard-of-setfords-you-have-now/ https://www.law.com/2025/10/13/taylor-wessing-garrigues-and-europes-top-earners-win-big-with-bold-global-strategies/ https://www.law.com/2025/10/10/paul-weiss-kirkland-skadden-push-back-on-latest-democratic-lawmaker-letters/ https://www.law.com/2025/10/14/big-laws-c-suite-shifts-focus-as-ai-impact-spreads/ https://www.thelawyer.com/youre-not-ready-for-the-ipo-rebound/Thank you for Listening!

This week, Ben is joined by Account Director Eleanor to explore Clifford Chance’s recent rebrand, reflect on how Charlie Kirk’s passing highlights the risks for lawyers sharing views online, and discuss whether the UK legal market still exists. Thank you for Listening!

This week Joint Managing Directors Ben and Michael discuss the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards and supplement, the UK's £31 billion tech deal with the US, Mishcon de Reya's new strategy and what Charlie Kirk's passing might mean for the legal sector.Thank you for Listening!

This week, Olivia speaks with Byfield Joint Managing Director Ben Girdlestone about the latest shifts in the legal industry, from four-day office policies and Addleshaw Goddard’s pay freeze to concerns over inflated billable hours and Burford Capital’s move to buy into US law firms. Thank you for Listening!

This week, Olivia is joined by Habiba Cullen-Jafar, Senior Reporter at Law.com International, to discuss her beat and what makes a compelling legal story. Their conversation also explores US law firms expanding into London, how their profitability compares to UK counterparts, and the latest trends shaping lateral hiring.Thank you for Listening!

This week, Olivia is joined by Joint Managing Director Michael Evans to explore law firm profit announcements, the changing landscape of bonus systems, the rise of UK class action values to £155 billion despite fewer filings, the Law Society’s taxpayer-funded push into the US, and the leadership changes at Pogust Goodhead following the appointment of a new management team.Thank you for Listening!

This week, Olivia is joined by Ben to explore why private equity partners in New York are making fewer moves despite an uptick in lateral market activity - and what this might signal for the sector. The conversation then turns to Rod Stewart’s AI-powered tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, examining how technology continues to blur the lines between performance, nostalgia, and intellectual property. They also dive into a remarkable Las Vegas inheritance dispute, where two women - both married to the same bigamist on the same street - are now battling over his fortune. As mentioned in the episode, here is the link to Dan Neidle's Q&A in the FT: https://www.ft.com/content/72138fa7-f664-4fb0-90e7-f6793de8bbeeThank you for Listening!

This week, Olivia is joined by Eleanor and Ben to discuss Clifford Chance’s openness to M&A and private equity investment and what this signals for the future of law firm ownership. They also look at the rise of disputes boutique Quillon, which has generated £10 million in revenue over four years. The episode also explores Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron's defamation claim against a right-wing podcaster and the legal implications of City trader Tom Hayes’ successful appeal against his libor-rigging conviction. They round off the episode with highlights from Law.com’s Top 10 AI blunders, reflecting on what they reveal about the intersection of tech and legal practice.Thank you for Listening!

For our 100th episode of Counsel Culture, Olivia speaks with Melinda Wallman, Chair and Global Practice Leader at Macrae, about how the rise of private capital is transforming legal recruitment. They explore the contrasting dynamics between the US and UK markets, and delve into Melinda’s perspectives on why private capital has become such a sought-after area for hiring, what firms are prioritising, and how this shift is reshaping legal career paths.Thank you for Listening!