Passle CMO Series Podcast

In our second special episode to mark International Women's Day 2025, we catch up with inspiring women who are paving the way in professional services marketing and business development. They share their top tips for firms looking to accelerate action and promote equality within their organizations.

Our incredible guests discuss the importance of transparent paths to promotion, the significant impact of leading by example, and why creating a safe space for authenticity is crucial to fostering equality in the industry.

A big thanks to all of our guests for their generous contributions to this important conversation:

Amelia Calloway, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Morris Manning & Martin

Amanda Lindley, Director of Business Development, Thompson Coburn

Ashley Horne, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Womble Bond Dickinson, US

Bonnelle Martin, Associate Director - Marketing and Brand, Baker Botts

Heather Reid, Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer, Miles & Stockbridge

Kim Lansdown, Director of Strategy and Marketing, Fladgate

Kelby Luther, Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer, Allen Matkins

Michelle Powell, Sr. Manager of Marketing and Business Development, Axinn

Rachel Watson, Director of Business Development, Client Development and Campaigns, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld 

Savannah Kirk, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator, Jones Walker

Stefanie Nastou, Chief Marketing Officer, AMS

To celebrate International Women's Day 2025, we’re proud to present a special two-part edition of CMO Series REPRESENTS, where we spotlight the women at the forefront of driving gender equality in professional services marketing and business development.

We’re privileged to feature insights from influential women who share their personal journeys, the challenges they've faced, and the steps needed to accelerate gender equality in the industry.

In part one, our guests delve into the significance of female representation, the role of authenticity in leadership, and the profound impact women have in shaping change. Through their stories, we explore how women are not only excelling in their roles but also paving the way for future generations.

Thank you to all of our guests for their generous contributions to this conversation:

Emma Sosner, Head of Marketing at Spencer West

Stay tuned to hear more in part two of this special series.

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re revisiting powerful conversations with Black professionals in legal marketing to honor their expertise, contributions, and the lasting impact they've made on the industry. 

In this episode of the CMO Series REPRESENTS Podcast, Yasmin Zand chats with Terra Davis, Chief Diversity & Talent Development Officer at Knobbe Martens. Terra joins the series to share her journey, why she started advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion, and the critical role of psychological safety in law firms.

Terra discusses the strategies and programs she is working on to drive change and innovation to create a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone belongs, as well as advice for others looking to promote psychological safety within their firms. 

The world of business development and marketing in law firms is constantly changing as professionals work to adapt to new challenges, integrate technology, and redefine the ways to meet client needs. 

Today on the CMO Series Podcast, James Barclay is joined by Joe Palermo, Chief Operating Officer at Crowell & Moring, and Greg Fleischmann, Director of Client Development at WilmerHale, to discuss the major shifts that are shaping the legal marketing profession for the next few years.

Joe, Greg and James cover: 

In celebration of Black History Month, we're revisiting impactful conversations with Black professionals in legal marketing to honor their expertise, contributions, and the lasting impact they've had on the industry. 

In this episode of CMO Series REPRESENTS, Yasmin Zand sits down Lynnette Espy-Williams, an Equity Partner and the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Cozen O'Connor. Lynnette, recognized as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Diversity & Inclusion by The Chief Navigators Magazine, joins the series to share her journey as a diverse lawyer and the transformative experiences that have influenced her career.

The conversation explores the influential role of innovative marketing and mentorship and uncovers Lynnette's invaluable insights and practical advice on how to bring allies together to shape a future where inclusivity not only exists but thrives.

In honor of Black History Month, we’re revisiting meaningful conversations with Black professionals in legal marketing to celebrate their expertise, contributions, and the lasting impact they've made on the industry. We hope that these stories inspire others to embrace change and continue to build a more inclusive and equitable future.

In this episode of CMO Series REPRESENTS, Yasmin Zand welcomes a leading role model who is paving the way in professional services marketing by highlighting issues related to color, culture, and leadership in law firms. 

Yasmin chats with Diana Lauritson, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager at Hogan Lovells, to share her lived experiences, the role race has played in her career and how to raise the next generation of marketing leaders.

Advertising plays a crucial role in the marketing mix and offers law firms a powerful tool to build stronger, more recognisable brands.

In today’s episode of the CMO Series Podcast, Will Eke speaks with Kim Lansdown, Director of Strategy and Marketing at Fladgate, about how her unique journey from barrister to advertising professional informs her approach to legal marketing. 

Kim shares insights on Fladgate’s standout campaign with The Financial Times, the challenges of driving creative marketing within a law firm, and offers valuable advice for others aiming to leverage advertising strategies to strengthen their legal brands.

Kim and Will explore: 

To celebrate Black History Month 2025, we’re re-releasing standout insights and expertise shared by Black professionals in the legal space.

What does it really take to become a Rainmaker? Rising to the level of managing partner requires not only legal expertise and experience but, also, the ability to generate revenue and drive the firm’s growth. Building credibility through thought leadership plays a crucial role in this process, creating a direct link between valuable insights and financial success.

In this episode of the CMO Series Rainmakers, Tom Elgar, Co-founder of Passle, is joined by Rohan Massey, Managing Partner at Ropes & Gray in London. Rohan, who leads the firm’s Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity practice, is nearly a year into his role as Managing Partner. He has built a reputation as a thought leader, leveraging insight-driven content to drive success.

Listen in to explore how thought leadership has become a key component of Rohan’s success, its impact on his career progression, and how he’s professionalised the approach to thought leadership at Ropes & Gray.

Rohan and Tom discuss:

With podcast listening at a record high, there’s a significant opportunity for law firms to reach their target audience. In episode 166 of the CMO Series Podcast, we dive into the world of podcasting and learn how an effective podcast strategy can support your marketing and business development efforts.

Recorded live in London, Will Eke is joined by Kate Fairweather, Director of Business Development and Marketing at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, to discuss the power of podcasts and why law firms should include podcasting in their strategy. 

We explore Curtis’s podcast and how it’s supporting their recruitment efforts with the potential to drive business growth within the firm. We’ll also hear more about Kate’s podcast journey, her award-winning ‘Dogs with Jobs’ series which won the Podcast of the Year 2022, and why she’s championing podcasting in legal marketing. 

Kate and Will cover: