BDO's Legal Tech Talk Podcast

Guest Notes

Lorrie Engel is the Legal Operations Lead at Lennox International. She is a legal operations professional with strong expertise in change management and technology adoption, focused on driving operational efficiency and collaboration. She describes herself as a resourceful, tech savvy and flexible legal operations professional with strengths in multi-tasking, problem solving, communication and creativity.

Lorrie Engel | Linkedin

Key Takeaways

1. Effective Change Management Strategies:

• Emphasize a no-judgment approach to encourage open communication and support among team members.

• Provide ample notice and clear communication about upcoming changes to ease transitions.

2. Overcoming Adoption Challenges

• Engage legal teams in the selection process of new tools to ensure they meet user needs.
• Demonstrate the efficiency and user-friendliness of new technologies to drive adoption.

3. Learning from Past Experiences

• Recognize the value of learning from failures to improve future implementations.
• Use past challenges as opportunities to refine strategies and processes.

4. Strategic Use of AI in Legal Operations

• Explore AI use cases for legal research and strategic decision-making.

• Prioritize data security and confidentiality when integrating AI tools.

5. Procurement and Evaluation of Legal Tech Tools

• Shift towards involving legal teams in the evaluation and procurement of SaaS-based software.

• Align technology solutions with specific business needs and objectives.

6. Transitioning Across Industries

• Leverage past experiences and skills when transitioning to new roles or industries.
• Recognize the importance of supportive leadership in facilitating successful transitions.

7. Knowledge Sharing and Leadership Development

• Share insights and knowledge gained from conferences and educational events with the team.
• Participate in leadership development programs to foster growth and innovation within the organization.

8. Future Outlook on Legal Technology

• Stay informed about emerging technologies and trends in the legal industry.

• Continuously evaluate and adapt strategies to meet evolving business and technological needs.

Guest Notes

Oyango Snell is a newly appointed Executive Director of Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) focused on strategic global expansion, deeper partnerships, and inclusive innovation in legal operations. With nearly 20 years of experience in legal, government, and corporate affairs, Oyango is known for his energetic leadership, motivational speaking, and endless innovation, transforming organizations and the teams he represents through the execution of transparent business practices, effective communication, human development, and empowerment. With over 15 years of association management and executive leadership experience, Oyango challenges internal and external stakeholders to think beyond the impossible to enhance the quality of service, increase revenue streams, and develop and enhance advocacy strategies.

Oyango Snell | LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• AI Integration in Legal Operations: Oyango Snell emphasizes the importance of integrating AI into legal operations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. He discusses the need for legal teams to identify specific business problems and find AI tools that address those issues, rather than getting caught up in the broad and often intimidating concept of AI.
• Challenges of Bureaucracy: The episode highlights the challenges posed by bureaucratic processes in corporate legal departments and law firms. Oyango points out that bureaucracy can hinder decision-making and innovation, and he stresses the importance of providing educational resources and insights to help legal professionals navigate and influence these processes.
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: Oyango shares his dedication to fostering diversity and inclusivity within CLOC and his career. He discusses his intentional efforts to build diverse teams and create leadership opportunities for individuals from various backgrounds, emphasizing that true leadership is about creating more leaders.
• Continuous Improvement and Feedback: Oyango underscores the importance of reflection and feedback in improving CLOC's conferences and member experiences. He is committed to listening to feedback from various stakeholders to enhance future events and ensure they meet the needs of participants effectively.

Guest Notes

Jenn McCarron is an innovative leader in law technology known for her ability to develop talent, foster growth, and link business expertise with artistry and creativity. Jenn’s unique approach — which recognizes that a growth mindset requires a deeply creative process — has enabled her to build teams from the ground up that revolutionize major organizations and the industry at large. Jenn is an advocate of human-centric leadership. Jenn currently serves of president of the board of directors at Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) and host of CLOC Talk podcast. Jenn’s career includes being the visionary behind 'Legal Ops 3.0', built Netflix’s legal ops function from the ground up and more.

Jenn McCarron | LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Legal Ops 3.0 Vision: Jenn McCarron introduces the concept of Legal Ops 3.0, emphasizing a shift from foundational technology implementation to strategic data storytelling and advisory roles within organizations, which can drive competitive advantage and strategic growth.

• Impact of Generative AI: The episode highlights the significant role of generative AI in transforming legal workflows, enhancing efficiency, and expanding the strategic influence of legal operations professionals by automating routine tasks and enabling more informed decision-making.

• Change Management and Technology Adoption: Listeners gain insights into effective strategies for managing change and adopting new technologies in legal operations, drawing from Jenn's extensive experience in leading tech adoption initiatives.

• Human-Centric Leadership: Jenn underscores the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership, advocating for a human-centric approach that fosters better collaboration, innovation, and understanding within legal teams.

• Future Trends and Challenges: The discussion explores future trends in legal operations, including the need for strategic roles, the impact of market dynamics, and the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies like AI, preparing listeners to navigate the evolving legal landscape.

Guest Notes

Daryl Kreml is a Compliance leader whose career spans government, law firm, and in-house roles. A Harvard Law School graduate, he began his career at the CIA, then spent over eight years in Compliance and Enforcement at a top law firm in Washington, DC, and London. His in-house roles include Head of International Compliance at Boston Scientific and Head of Global Compliance at Biogen. At Sage Therapeutics, as SVP and Chief Enterprise Risk and Compliance Officer, he established a global Compliance Program and developed a notable data analytics framework featured in a Harvard Business School case study. Daryl believes in fostering trust and engagement through ethical practices.

Guest LinkedIn

Daryl Kreml | Linkedin

Key Takeaways

• Mission-Driven Innovation: Daryl Kreml emphasizes the importance of a strong mission focus in driving innovation and problem-solving. His experience at the CIA taught him that the question should not be a simple yes or no, but rather how to achieve the mission effectively.
• Values-Driven Compliance: Daryl advocates for a values-driven compliance culture, where data and analytics serve as tools to inform and enhance decision-making rather than drive it. This approach ensures that compliance programs remain aligned with the organization's core values and mission.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The episode highlights the significance of involving all stakeholders in understanding the organization's culture and challenges. Daryl shares an innovative example of using music playlists to build a compliance culture, demonstrating how creative approaches can foster engagement and alignment.
• The Role of AI in Compliance: While AI tools are making valuable contributions across compliance programs, Daryl underscores the need for human oversight and expertise. He discusses the potential of AI to handle tasks traditionally done by junior team members, while also raising concerns about developing future talent in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Guest Notes

Jason Albert serves as the Global Chief Privacy Officer at ADP, where he leads the company's privacy strategy, governance, and compliance across all markets and regions. With over 25 years of experience as an attorney, Jason has designed and executed strategic campaigns for major corporations, leveraging regulatory regimes to enable business success. He oversees a team of privacy professionals who collaborate with business units, legal, security, and external stakeholders to ensure ADP's products and services meet the highest standards of data protection and user trust. Jason also advises senior leadership and the board on emerging privacy trends, risks, and opportunities, while representing ADP in industry associations, regulatory forums, and public policy debates.

Guest LinkedIn & other provided contact info

Jason Albert’s LinkedIn

Jason Albert’s Email – [email protected]

Key Takeaways

• AI Ethics and Trust: Jason Albert emphasizes the importance of implementing AI ethics principles, such as transparency and explainability, to build trust with users and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
• Data Minimization: The discussion highlights the significance of data minimization as a core privacy principle, focusing on collecting only the data necessary to provide services, thereby reducing risks and enhancing user trust.
• Privacy as a Human Right: Jason frames privacy as a fundamental human right, advocating for strong privacy programs that protect individuals' data and align with both U.S. and international privacy laws.
• Future of AI and Regulation: The episode explores the potential of AI to enhance human creativity by handling routine tasks, while also anticipating continued regulatory developments and the adoption of standards to guide AI usage responsibly.

Guest’s Notes:

Robert Keeling is a partner at Redgrave LLP, leading their second request and antitrust practice. With extensive experience in e-discovery and information governance. Robert is widely recognized as a leading authority on eDiscovery, focusing on coordinating discovery for large, complex, and data-intensive matters. He represents clients in major regulatory enforcement actions, government investigations, and internal investigations, helping them navigate all phases of the discovery process.

Guest’s LinkedIn

Robert Keeling | LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Advancements in Generative AI: Robert Keeling highlights the significant advancements in generative AI technology, noting how its increasing power and decreasing cost are making it more accessible and effective for legal professionals. This progress is paving the way for broader adoption and transformation within the legal industry.
• Iterative Use of AI: Keeling emphasizes the importance of an iterative approach when using generative AI in legal contexts. Continuous refinement and testing are crucial to achieving optimal results, which can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of legal processes.
• AI in Privilege Log Creation: One of the most exciting applications of generative AI, according to Keeling, is its potential to revolutionize the creation of privilege logs. AI can streamline this traditionally inefficient and costly aspect of legal work, offering significant time and cost savings.
• Balancing AI and Human Judgment: While AI offers tremendous efficiency gains, Keeling underscores the continued importance of human judgment in legal processes. He predicts that AI will complement rather than replace human reviewers, maintaining a critical role for attorneys in ensuring the quality and defensibility of legal work.

Todd Itami is the Director of Artificial Intelligence and E-Discovery Solutions at Covington & Burling LLP, where he advises global companies on machine learning applications for legal and business tasks. He has led e-discovery efforts in major U.S. litigations and investigations, offering expertise in digital forensics, data preservation, and traditional legal tasks. Todd combines technical and legal knowledge to solve complex problems, achieving cost savings through AI, automation, and software optimization. He also advises on e-discovery vendor pricing and leads legaltech software development, integrating advanced language models to enhance document review tools.

Guest LinkedIn

Todd Itami | LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Transformative Impact of AI on Legal Practice: Todd Itami emphasizes that AI and technology are revolutionizing the legal profession, moving it away from traditional methods and towards more innovative, tech-driven approaches. He highlights the importance of adopting a tech-agile culture to stay competitive and deliver value to clients.

• Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Todd stresses the significance of continuous learning and staying updated with the latest technologies. He shares his personal commitment to spending two to three hours a day absorbing new information, which he believes is crucial for leveraging the full potential of AI and other technological advancements.

• Challenges in Integrating AI: Despite the hype around AI, Todd points out that the legal industry is still in the early stages of integrating these tools effectively. He discusses the need for clear policies, flexible frameworks, and a culture that embraces change to successfully implement AI in legal workflows.

• Ethical Considerations and Information Governance: Todd underscores the importance of maintaining ethical standards and robust information governance when using AI. He argues that AI tools should be evaluated within existing frameworks for confidentiality and data security, ensuring that they are used responsibly and effectively.

With over a decade of experience in the legal industry, Rich has held various roles, including Director of E-Discovery and Information Governance at JC Penney and positions on the law firm and service provider sides. He specializes in legal operations, legal technology, e-discovery, and litigation support. Rich holds a degree in psychology from Georgetown University and brings a unique perspective to his work, drawing on his early career experience running a group home for troubled teens. His expertise spans process mapping, continuous improvement (Kaizen), and the transformative potential of generative AI in legal tech.

Guest LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richrobinson-toyota/

Key Takeaways

• Rich Robinson emphasizes the importance of mapping processes and continuous improvement (Kaizen) to optimize outcomes both personally and professionally.
• Rich discusses the transformative potential of generative AI in the legal industry and its future impact on legal processes.
• Rich highlights the importance of active listening, empathy, and effective communication in leadership to engage and influence teams.
• Rich talks about the shift to hybrid work models and the need to balance productivity with personal interaction to maintain strong team dynamics.

BDO’s Legal Tech Talk is a podcast hosted by Jared Crafton, BDO’s Forensic Technology Practice Leader, and Daniel Gold, Principal, E-Discovery Managed Services Leader. In this podcast series, they are joined by judges and legal professionals for exciting discussions on the use of technology in the legal industry.

Hosts’ LinkedIn

Daniel Gold, Esq. | LinkedIn

Jared Crafton | LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Special Episode: A recap of the best episodes of 2024 (featuring judges, attorneys, and legal tech leaders), marking the end of season 2. They emphasize the significance of this milestone, noting that they have been running the podcast for two years.
• Podcast Reflections: Daniel and Jared reflect on the journey of the podcast, mentioning that they have produced about 48 episodes with the help of their podcast team. They express pride in the impact they have made by sharing stories from influential figures in legal technology. They highlight the responsibility they feel in sharing impactful stories with their listeners.
• Building Community: Daniel and Jared emphasize the importance of community support. They attribute their success to being consistent and authentic in their approach. By staying true to themselves and their mission, they have built a loyal audience that resonates with their content. They highlight that listener feedback and support are crucial for the show's growth.
• Season 3 Plans: Daniel and Jared are gearing up for season 3 and announce that the podcast will expand to a new format. Tune in to find out the full details of BDO’s Legal Tech Talk podcast’s 2025 plans!

Guest Notes

Andrea D'Ambra is a recognized thought leader in eDiscovery, information governance, cybersecurity, and privacy. Ranked by Chambers and Partners as a leading eDiscovery/Information Governance lawyer in the U.S., Andrea frequently speaks on cutting-edge technology issues. She served on the Steering Committee for the Sedona Conference's Working Group One and leads Brainstorming Groups on topics like data breach liability and the impact of social media on discovery obligations. Andrea advises clients on state and federal eDiscovery rules, data disposal, and regulatory notification for data security incidents.

Guest LinkedIn

Andrea D'Ambra

Key Takeaways

• Andrea emphasizes how tools like ChatGPT can help craft messages with the appropriate tone, especially for difficult or interpersonal communications. This can increase efficiency and effectiveness in professional interactions.
• Andrea discusses the significance of taking ownership of tasks and ensuring that everyone on the team feels included and responsible. This approach is crucial for meeting deadlines and achieving successful outcomes, particularly in high-pressure environments.
• The episode highlights both the potential and the current limitations of generative AI in legal practice. While AI can assist with tasks like summarizing documents and generating content, it still requires human oversight to ensure accuracy and relevance.
• Andrea and the hosts discuss how technology, including AI, can help bridge the gap between complex systems and everyday use. They also note that human behavior must adapt to leverage these technologies effectively, such as by improving prompt engineering and clearly defining action items in meetings.