Careers and the Business of Law

In episode 08 of Careers and The Business of Law: Legal Data Intelligence Series, Omar Haroun chats with David Cowen about his diverse career, starting at top-tier law firms like Wilson Sonsini and Orrick, and leading into his philanthropic work with Indego Africa. They dive into how Omar's passion for "doing well by doing good" shaped his career, spotlighting the power of legal data intelligence to boost both personal and organizational growth. Omar stresses that the next wave of legal pros needs to be adaptable, ethically driven, and savvy about leveraging data's potential to spark real change. Key Highlights:

• Omar shares about his multicultural family background, with immigrant parents from Pakistan and Europe, and how their values of hard work and patriotism profoundly influenced him.
• Omar discusses his transition to Indego Africa, a social enterprise helping Rwandan women. He was inspired by the concept of 'doing well by doing good,' a revelation that came from his interactions with the organization's founders and his personal experiences in Rwanda.
• Drawing on the philosophical teachings of Aristotle, Omar articulates his vision for a fulfilling life through achieving potential and ethical living. He links these ideals to his work at LDI, aiming to empower individuals and organizations to harness the full power of legal data.

Mentions:

• Legal Data Intelligence official site: LegalDataIntelligence.org
• Indego Africa: Indego Africa
• Wilson Sonsini: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
• Orrick: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
• Song: Castles in the sand by Jimmy Hendrix

In episode 7 of Careers and The Business of Law: Legal Data Intelligence Series, John Koss from Mintz shares his multifaceted career trajectory with David Cowen. They delve into John's transition from Spanish and journalism studies to pursuing a law degree and later an MBA. Throughout the conversation, they discuss the integration of eData consulting, legal operations, and the significant role of eDiscovery in modern legal practices. John also outlines the indispensable skills for future legal data intelligence professionals: adaptability in the face of technological change, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to professional growth. Key Highlights:

• John delves into his diverse educational background, sharing his journey from studying Spanish and journalism to pursuing law and finally an MBA. His drive for continuous learning is evident as he describes the influence of his academic mother and his athletic background at Northwestern.
• John recounts his initial move to Boston for law school, humorously noting his misjudgments about the city's size compared to Chicago, yet expressing his fondness and decision to make it his home.
• David and John discuss the transformation of legal practices over the decades, highlighting the shift from traditional methods to more efficient and technologically integrated approaches, stressing the need for innovation in the field.

Mentions:

• Mintz's official website: Mintz
• Northwestern University's official site: Northwestern
• Boston University School of Law: Boston University Law
• Suffolk University Law School: Suffolk Law
• Song: Stand Back by Stevie Nicks
• Legal Data Intelligence official site: LegalDataIntelligence.org

Welcome to "Careers in the Business of Law" with David Cowen. Today's guest is Zach Posner, a dynamic force in the legal tech world. Zach's journey from promoting legal tech startups to organizing impactful summits is nothing short of inspiring. Tune in to hear about his latest ventures, insights on the evolving legal tech landscape, and a special musical mention that might surprise you.

Key Highlights:

• Zach discusses the rapid advancements in AI, particularly the impact of LLMs (large language models) on both startups and incumbents in the legal tech industry.
• Zach explains how the idea for the TLTF Summit came from recognizing their unique position and wanting to accelerate the entire community by bringing key players together.
• Zach highlights the increased sophistication and maturity of new legal tech startups, noting a significant rise in interesting companies from programs like Y Combinator.

Mentions:

1. Zach Posner: LinkedIn
2. The Legal Tech Fund (TLTF): Website
3. The Legal Tech Fund (TLTF): LinkedIn
4. Greg Mazares: LinkedIn
5. Andrew Sieje: LinkedIn
6. Bruce Springsteen: Website
7. Y Combinator: Website

In this episode of Careers in the Business of Law: Legal Data Intelligence Series, David Cowen hosts Laura Kibbe, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Global Head of Litigation, Legal Operations, and Chief of Staff to the GC at Unisys. Laura shares her transformative journey from traditional litigation at Texaco to pioneering eDiscovery at Pfizer, providing invaluable insights into the evolution of the legal industry and the impact of new technologies.

Key Highlights:

• The Accidental Pioneer: Laura recounts her unplanned yet transformative transition from traditional litigation to eDiscovery at Pfizer. She describes learning on the job with early computer systems and handling vast amounts of data.
• The Relativity Revolution: Laura discusses the launch of Relativity by Andrew Sieja and its revolutionary impact on the legal industry, transforming document management and data handling processes.
• Beyond Litigation: Laura explores the shift from traditional litigation to addressing diverse data sources and new legal challenges, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted approach to privacy, security, and governance issues.
• Embracing Vulnerability and Creativity: Laura talks about the importance of creativity and vulnerability in her career, sharing how admitting what she doesn't know and learning from experts has been key to her success.

Mentions:

1. Jack Welch: LinkedIn
2. Andrew Sieja: LinkedIn
3. Texaco: Texaco
4. Kay Scholer: Kay Scholer
5. Unisys: Unisys
6. George Socha: LinkedIn
7. Tom Barnett: LinkedIn
8. Monica Bay: LinkedIn
9. Sanjay Batra: LinkedIn
10. Outro Song: Livin'On A Prayer

In this episode of Careers in the Business of Law, David Cowen chats with Alison Grounds, Managing Partner at Troutman Pepper eMerge in Atlanta. Alison shares her journey from a summer associate to a leading innovator in legal technology and e-discovery. Key Highlights:

• Alison Grounds faced a pivotal moment as a 5th-year associate when a critical review questioned her focus on e-discovery. Motivated by this feedback, she researched and connected with pioneers like Ronni Solomon and Tess Blair, ultimately deciding to specialize in e-discovery.
• Alison compares the early days of e-discovery to today's advancements in generative AI. She highlights the ongoing need for creativity and willingness to step out of comfort zones, pointing out, "We're still solving problems, just with different tools."
• To tackle the challenges of generative AI, Alison formed a diverse task force at Troutman Pepper. This group included general counsel, data security, IP, and labor and employment lawyers, showcasing the importance of inclusive discussions for technological adoption.

Mentions:

• Alison Grounds: LinkedIn
• Troutman Pepper eMerge
• David Cowen: LinkedIn
• Ronnie Solomon: LinkedIn
• Tess Blair: LinkedIn
• Paul Weiner: LinkedIn
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Wiser Than Me: Wiser Than Me

In episode 05 of Careers and the Business of Law: Legal Data Intelligence Series, Chris Acosta talks with David about his journey from managing eDiscovery at law firms like Naasiman and Ogletree to leading Legal Data Intelligence at MoFo. He shares about the rapidly changing landscape post-COVID, the birth of LDI as a framework to tackle "redundant, obsolete, and trivial data (ROT)," and how his mentors shaped his leadership style. Chris highlights the importance of strategic business partnerships, the merging of privacy, compliance, and security in data management, and the three superpowers every legal data intelligence pro should have: adaptability, collaboration, and a strategic mindset.

Highlights:

• Chris Acosta discusses the evolving field of Legal Data Intelligence, pointing out the integration of privacy, security, and compliance into data management.
• He explains how the Legal Data Intelligence (LDI) framework was developed to manage "redundant, obsolete, and trivial" (ROT) data, enhancing strategic business partnerships.
• Chris balances his professional life with personal interests like jujitsu and enjoys Phoenix's "If I Ever Feel Better," highlighting his educational background and passion for continuous learning.

Mentions:

• MoFo (Morrison & Foerster LLP): mofo.com
• Ogletree Deakins: ogletree.com
• Phoenix (Band): wearephoenix.com
• Villanova University: villanova.edu
• Johns Hopkins University: jhu.edu
• UC Irvine: uci.edu
• University of Illinois: illinois.edu
• Entourage (TV Show): IMDb Page
• Outro Song: If I Ever Feel Better

In this episode of Careers in the Business of Law, David Cowen sits down with Ashley Miller, Vice President of Sales at Litera. Ashley shares her fascinating journey from growing up as a "P&G brat" in Cincinnati to traveling the globe and eventually leading sales at one of the most innovative companies in legal tech. She delves into her career, the evolution of Litera, and the qualities she looks for in top talent. Ashley's story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of diverse experiences. Key Highlights:

• Ashley grew up traveling due to her father's role at Procter & Gamble, living in Japan from ages 11 to 16. This global exposure cultivated her independence and curiosity, foundational traits in her career.
• Starting at Dell, Ashley moved through roles at LexisNexis, Kraft Kennedy, and Thomson Reuters before joining Pangea 3, where she focused on ALSP and e-discovery services. At Litera, she drives innovation in legal tech, focusing on efficiency and strategic impact for clients.
• Litera's growth and innovation include developing Gen AI tools like Foundation Dragon, which drastically reduces time on tasks such as analyzing corporate transactions. Ashley highlights the importance of being entrepreneurial-minded and a builder for success at Litera.

Mentions:

1. Ashley Miller: LinkedIn
2. Litera - Litera
3. Procter & Gamble - P&G
4. Farrah Pepper - LinkedIn
5. Blippi (children's entertainer) - Blippi
6. Blondie - Blondie
7. Pat Benatar - Pat Benatar
8. The Pretenders - The Pretenders
9. Joan Jett - Joan Jett
10. Heart of Glass By Blondie

Farrah Pepper is the Chief Legal Innovation Counsel (CLIC) at Marsh McLennan, where she makes things…click. Farrah founded and leads the company's Legal Innovation & Technology (LIT) team, which includes the LIT innovation lab and the legal data discovery program. Farrah has a long history of building and leading in-house and law firm teams to solve business challenges, create enterprise value and reduce risk. Previously, Farrah was GE's global discovery counsel, where she served as the large, diverse conglomerate's first dedicated legal expert on discovery strategy and policy. Farrah created and led the GE Discovery Center of Excellence and reinvented GE's approach to global discovery and data management to drive dramatic savings, efficiencies and risk reduction. Prior to joining GE, Farrah was a litigator in the New York office of Gibson Dunn, where she was a founder and leader of the firm's global electronic discovery practice group. Recent accolades for Farrah include being named a Thought Leader by Corporate Counsel (Women, Influence & Power), a Women of Legal Tech inductee by the ABA's LTRC (Legal Technology Research Center), a member of the Legal 500 GC Powerlist (US), and a fellow in the College of Law Practice Management. Farrah is a lifelong New Yorker and double-NYU grad: NYU College of Arts & Science (B.A., summa cum laude) and NYU School of Law (J.D.).

In episode 24 of Careers in the Business of Law: Legal Tech Innovators Series, David Cowen chats with Farrah Pepper about her dynamic career journey from Gibson Dunn to GE and Marsh McLennan. Farrah shares her insights on negotiating for the roles you truly want, the evolution of legal innovation, and the importance of being a "Swiss Army knife" in the corporate world. She also delves into the collaborative spirit of the LDI community and the emerging roles in the legal industry, highlighting the need for creativity, empathy, and a forward-thinking mindset. Farrah's engaging storytelling and vibrant personality make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of law and technology. (00:08) - Meet Farrah Pepper. David Cowen introduces Farrah Pepper as a dynamo, smart, kind, and humorous. Farrah responds with gratitude, joking about having David as her hype man. (01:59) - Farrah's Journey. David highlights Farrah's impressive career, noting her roles at Gibson Dunn, GE, and Marsh McLennan. Farrah shares insights on how careers and companies have evolved, pointing out the importance of conversations over negotiations. (03:21) - The Innovation Pitch. Farrah recounts how she pitched an innovation-based role at Marsh McLennan, moving beyond her previous e-discovery role at GE. She highlights the value of being a "Swiss Army knife" in solving corporate problems. (07:19) - Riding the Waves Together. Farrah uses a surfing metaphor to describe the collaborative nature of the LDI community, highlighting the shared vision and collective effort of its members to ride the waves of change in the legal industry. (12:14) - Legal Data Intelligence Origin Story. Farrah discusses the community-driven nature of LDI and gives props to Omar from Relativity for galvanizing the project. She points out LDI's focus on broad community involvement and its resources, including job descriptions and use cases. (16:20) - Emerging Roles in Legal. David and Farrah discuss new and evolving roles in the legal industry, such as legal chief of staff, legal chief operating officer, and legal data intelligence officer. Farrah shares her excitement about these opportunities and the creative potential they hold. (22:19) - Farrah's Musical Inspiration. Farrah reveals that her house is filled with Taylor Swift and Broadway music, sharing how Taylor Swift's "I Can See You With a Broken Heart" resonates with her and other legal professionals.

Mentions:

1. Farrah Pepper: LinkedIn

2. Gibson Dunn: Website

3. GE: Website

4. Marsh McLennan: Website

5. Relativity: Website

6. LDI (Legal Data Intelligence): Website

7. Laura Kibbe: LinkedIn

8. Nirav Shah from Home Depot: LinkedIn

9. Adam Rouse: LinkedIn

10. Jeff Salling: LinkedIn

11. CLOC (Corporate Legal Operations Consortium): Website

12. ILTA (International Legal Technology Association): Website

13. Solid Atlanta: Website

Outro Song: I Can See You With a Broken Heart

Jerry Levine is the Chief Evangelist and Co-General Counsel at ContractPodAi. Jerry serves as an advisor to customers and the internal client voice, helping to guide global client success and shape overall product vision. As a former global general counsel and Corporate Secretary at Amelia (IPsoft) - and a ContractPodAi customer, himself - he successfully implemented ContractPodAi within IPsoft's legal department. Jerry also held leadership and consulting positions at both publicly and privately held companies, including Axiom and LexisNexis. He also founded a start-up focused law firm. As a leader in legal design thinking, he has been committed to helping legal professionals become "awesome lawyers" and strategic organizational leads - to drive results and increase market share for businesses. Jerry holds a B.S. in Marketing and Japanese from the University of Maryland, and a J.D. with Honors from Rutgers Law School. He is currently based in New York City.

In episode 002 of Careers in the Business of Law: Legal Tech Innovators Series, Jerry Levine chats with David Cowen about his journey from computer science major to Japanese and marketing student, to crisis PR, and eventually becoming Chief Evangelist and Co-General Counsel at ContractPodAi. Jerry discusses the transformative role of automation in legal processes, the emergence of new roles like prompt engineers, and the importance of continuous learning. He also highlights how legal teams can become strategic business partners and the vital skills needed for the future of legal tech.

(0:09) Meet Jerry Levine: David Cowen introduces Jerry Levine, Chief Evangelist and Co-General Counsel of ContractPodAi, exploring why Jerry and his company are making waves in the legal tech world. David shares his curiosity about ContractPodAi's rise in popularity.

(1:39) What's Happening with Contracts? Jerry explains the "inflection point" in the legal industry, highlighting a shift towards automation and efficiency. He describes himself as an "elder millennial" and discusses how legal teams are now becoming integral parts of business strategy.

(4:53) The Importance of Contracts: Jerry discusses the central role contracts play in driving business operations and how tools like ContractPodAi help extract valuable insights from them. He points out the need for legal teams to work closely with other departments to leverage contract data effectively.

(8:10) Outsourcing and Efficiency: David and Jerry discuss how outsourcing contract management to Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs) can create efficiencies. Jerry stresses that the goal is not to reduce headcount but to optimize existing resources and create new roles.

(10:34) Emerging Roles and Skills: Jerry talks about the transformation of traditional roles in the legal industry due to technological advancements. He mentions the emergence of new roles like prompt engineers and the importance of continuous learning to stay relevant.

(16:35) Jerry's Career Journey: Jerry shares his unconventional career path, from starting as a computer science major to becoming a Japanese and marketing major, leading to his interest in crisis PR and eventually law. He reflects on how these experiences shaped his career.

(20:44) Musical Tastes and Outro: Jerry reveals his love for Postmodern Jukebox, a band that reimagines modern songs in vintage styles. He shares his enjoyment of singing along and invites David to join him at upcoming events.

Mentions:

1. ContractPodAi: ContractPod Ai

2. Jeremy Irons: Jeremy Irons on IMDb

3. Lehman Brothers: Lehman Brothers on Wikipedia

4. CLM (Contract Lifecycle Management): Contract Lifecycle Management on Wikipedia

5. Temple University Law Japan: Temple University, Japan Campus

6. Postmodern Jukebox: Postmodern Jukebox Official Website

7. Outro song

Josh Kreamer is the Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel at Fileread, leveraging his extensive experience in e-discovery, legal operations, and information governance. Previously leading legal services at AstraZeneca, Josh co-founded Legal Data Intelligence (LDI) and is recognized for his strategic insights and passion for empowering legal professionals. His journey in legal tech includes significant roles at CPA Global, DiscoverReady, and Steptoe & Johnson. A Harvard Law School graduate, he has carved a niche in legal strategy and tech innovation, blending practical expertise with visionary leadership. Josh's commitment to advancing the legal field is evident in his collaborative approach and drive to unlock new potential for organizations. Known for his insightful commentary, he brings a fresh perspective to the evolving landscape of legal tech.

In episode 003 of Careers in the Business of Law: Legal Data Intelligence Series, Josh Kreamer talks with David about his journey from aspiring writer to Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel at Fileread. He shares insights on transitioning from legal services at AstraZeneca to shaping the evolving landscape of legal data intelligence. Josh discusses the emerging role of Chief Knowledge Management Officer, the power of finding value in legal data, and how "putting value first" will empower the next generation of legal tech professionals.

(01:17) LDI: Legal Data Intelligence. Josh describes Legal Data Intelligence (LDI) as a framework for understanding the work of legal data professionals. He points out the broad capabilities of e-discovery professionals, explaining how LDI builds a shared vocabulary within core businesses.

(02:28) The Shift to Capabilities. Josh discusses the evolution from function to capability, where companies are focusing more on maximizing employee potential. He notes that e-discovery professionals are now adapting to various platforms and expanding their roles. "We're fast learners, we want to adapt to change, and our capabilities are a lot more broad than the current set of labels might suggest."

(04:50) From Documents to Insights and Stories. Josh shares how the legal industry's focus has shifted from documents to data, insights, and stories. "The evolution that I've seen has been from documents to information to answers and stories." The emphasis now is on uncovering strategic insights to guide decision-making and strategy.

(10:44) From Iowa to Harvard: Josh's Journey. Josh recounts his journey from Iowa to Harvard Law School and his initial intimidation at Harvard. Despite his apprehensions, he realized he could keep pace with his classmates. "I found that I was able to keep pace with them, get ahead of some. I wasn't the smartest guy there, but certainly wasn't the dumbest."

(17:57) The AstraZeneca Jungle Gym. Josh explains his climb within AstraZeneca, starting from legal IT to building the company's e-discovery program. He turned the e-discovery program into a shared services organization that supports multiple business areas, leveraging legal data intelligence.

(23:04) Joining FileRead: The Entrepreneurial Jump. Josh reveals how he joined Fileread after a guest lecture at Columbia. He shares his excitement about shaping the company's core value proposition. "They needed a core value proposition, the one sentence you can use when you step into an elevator, that'll make the other person say, 'I want to hear more about that.'"

(27:08) Favorite Song: Postal Service - 'Against All Odds'. Josh shares his favorite band, Postal Service, and their cover of the Genesis song "Against All Odds." He describes how the band recorded their album by sending tracks through the mail. "They never recorded in the same room together... That album was my favorite album."

Mentions:

• Josh Kreamer
• FileRead
• AstraZeneca
• Relativity
• Postal Service
• Genesis