This Legal Life: Lessons Learned from a Life in Legal

In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga speaks with Liz Smith, former legal headhunter and now Head of Talent at Bamboo, about her powerful career transformation and how she’s challenging the traditional model of legal recruitment. After 20 years in the industry, Liz followed her inner voice and made a bold pivot—moving from transactional placements to helping lawyers reimagine their careers with purpose, flexibility, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Together, they explore how burnout, authenticity, and the search for meaning drove Liz to build a more human-centered approach to talent. From 4 a.m. reflections to guiding lawyers toward autonomy and alignment, this episode is a must-listen for anyone rethinking what success in law can really look like.

About our Guest:

Liz Smith is dedicated to attracting top legal talent and building meaningful connections across the legal community. Through strategic networking, headhunting, and coaching, she plays a vital role in connecting creative lawyers with opportunities that align with their ambitions. Known for her authenticity and trust-building approach, Lizzie is a passionate ambassador for her firm and an active voice within the industry. Her work gives her the autonomy to thrive—combining her natural strengths in relationship-building with her genuine enjoyment of meeting and working alongside inspiring legal professionals.

Connect with Liz on LinkedIn

In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Sarah Cottrell — former BigLaw lawyer turned career coach and founder of The Former Lawyer Podcast.

Together, they explore the courage it takes to step away from prestige, perfectionism, and external validation to rediscover what truly matters. Sarah shares her journey through burnout, anxiety, and uncertainty — and why true clarity doesn’t come from overthinking, but from taking action.

About Our Guest

Sarah Cottrell is a career coach who helps unhappy lawyers ditch their soul-sucking jobs. She practiced law for ten years and specializes in helping lawyers identify alternative careers.

Sarah hosts The Former Lawyer Podcast, where she interviews lawyers who have left law for other fields and provides advice and strategies for those who want to do the same. She is an ICF-Certified Coach, a Certified Career Management Coach, and an Academies-Certified Strengths Coach.

🔗 Website: formerlawyer.com

In this deeply reflective episode, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Tony Albrecht, former insurance defense lawyer turned Co-Founder and Creative Director of CONTENDER, to explore how recovery, reinvention, and creativity can redefine success in law. From hitting rock bottom in Guam to helping mission-driven lawyers find their authentic voices on LinkedIn, Tony shares how embracing fear, storytelling, and self-awareness can turn even the hardest chapters into powerful new beginnings.

About Our Guest:

Tony Albrecht is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of CONTENDER. His path has been largely defined by recovery from two things: alcoholism and lawyering. He had his last drink in 2010, a year after graduating from law school.

In 2021, Tony walked away from the practice of law on the verge of making partner with an insurance defense firm in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. After leaving the practice, he gained traction as a creator on LinkedIn in 2022 and saw an opportunity to help others share their messages in ways that resonate.

Today, Tony is building CONTENDER, a personal branding and LinkedIn ghostwriting agency that creates magnetic online presences for mission-driven lawyers and leaders.

He now lives in Muskoka with his wife and their two kids. When he’s not hanging out online, Tony enjoys long runs and drinking too much coffee.

In this episode of This Legal Life, host Ben Chiriboga sits down with Patrick Patino—attorney, coach, and host of The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast—to discuss what it means to practice law on your own terms.

From a poet-turned-lawyer to a founder challenging conventional firm models, Patrick shares how authenticity, creativity, and presence shaped his journey. He reflects on failure, reinvention, and why lawyers should trust intuition over outdated playbooks.

This candid conversation is a roadmap for legal professionals ready to embrace change and build careers aligned with who they truly are.

About Our Guest:

Patrick brings a sensible, mindful, and creative approach to the practice of law. He is the host of The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast.

When not practicing law, he enjoys making pottery, reading chef memoirs, and going on outdoor adventures with his family.

Connect with Patrick

• LinkedIn
• The Newfangled Lawyer Podcast
• ALH Law Profile

In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Chad Main, founder of Percipient and host of the Technically Legal podcast, to unpack his journey from commercial litigator to legal tech entrepreneur. Chad shares lessons from building Percipient as an alternative legal service provider, including the persistence and risk-taking required to launch and grow a business in the legal space. The conversation explores how technology and AI-assisted workflows are reshaping legal practice, the role of “human in the loop” in delivering efficient services, and why embracing change is critical for the future of law. With candid reflections on entrepreneurship, technology, and the evolving role of lawyers, this episode offers practical insights for professionals looking to adapt, innovate, and create lasting impact in the industry.

About our Guest:

Chad is an attorney and the founder of Percipient, an alternative legal service provider. Prior to founding Percipient, Chad worked as a litigator in Los Angeles and Chicago. Chad launched Percipient on the belief that when technology is leveraged correctly, it makes attorneys even more effective. He also hosts the Technically Legal Podcast.

Voice is more than sound — it's a leadership tool. In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with David Pope to explore his journey from BBC studios to coaching law firm partners across Asia and the Middle East. With decades of audio expertise and 30,000 hours in the studio, David now helps lawyers master their vocal presence, command gravitas, and build confidence from the inside out.

A must-listen for legal professionals ready to own the room — one word at a time.

About Our Guest:

Dividing his time between Hong Kong, Dubai and London, BBC trained Executive Voice Coach David Pope has spent the last 30 years with one aim in mind, to help GOOD speakers become GREAT speakers.

Working with 1000’s of legal professionals globally in Magic Circle, US and local firms, across a huge range of practice groups, he knows that there are 3 things that will always make you stand out as an exceptional communicator:

1. Voice – having a voice that is engaging, inspiring, captivating.
2. Presence – being able to command the attention of a single listener or an entire room.
3. Delivery – being able to deliver a message that moves people to take action, that inspires and educates.

His highly successful Voice Intensive Program revolves around extensive recording and analysis of the voice, so that every legal professional he works with 1-1 gets to understand their vocal strengths and areas for improvement.

He has coached legal professionals in global law firms in Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Riyadh and London.

He works with senior associates, preparing them for partner selection programs, partners being called on to speak more at conferences, and managing partners readying them for global speaking events.

He has developed CPD accredited voice, presence and storytelling workshops that he delivers in-person or online to global audiences. So, wherever he is in the world, he can ensure his sessions deliver valuable content that can engage and educate.

He has also developed online video courses: Unlocking The Power of Your Voice, Projecting Leadership With Gravitas, and Storytelling For Business, that can complement law firm’s training requirements for self-study.

His full suite of offerings can be found on his website at: allvoicetalent.com

Connect with him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/popedavid/

Email him at: [email protected]

In this episode of This Legal Life, Guy Alvarez—Founder of Alvarez AI Advisors and former Good2bSocial CEO—joins Ben Chiriboga for a candid conversation about bold reinvention and the evolving role of technology in legal practice.

From building one of the first law firm websites in the ’90s, to pioneering digital legal marketing, to now guiding firms through AI-powered growth, Guy reflects on the moments that shaped his career—and the mindset shifts that made reinvention possible.

For legal professionals navigating this “time between worlds,” Guy offers hard-won lessons on timing, courage, and building with both tech and heart.

About our Guest:

Guy Alvarez, a former practicing attorney, combines legal training with a genuine passion for how technology transforms the practice of law. After discovering the power of digital tools early in his career, he built executive experience at KPMG as Global Director of Digital Marketing where he managed a complex network of websites across global markets. At the Practising Law Institute, he led the development of their online center, fundamentally changing how the organization delivered legal education.

In 2012, Alvarez founded Good2bSocial, working directly with law firms of all sizes to improve their digital marketing and client relationships. His hands-on approach and practical understanding of attorneys' needs helped the company grow until its successful acquisition by Best Lawyers in 2023. Rather than stepping back, Alvarez recognized that AI represented the next significant shift in legal practice—one moving faster and with deeper implications than previous technological changes.

Driven by curiosity and a desire to help firms navigate this transition, Alvarez completed MIT Sloan and CSAIL's Artificial Intelligence program in early 2025. Today, he works alongside law firms implementing AI solutions that enhance their operations while preserving what matters most: the judgment, empathy, and wisdom that define great legal service. His work bridges the gap between technological possibility and practical application, helping attorneys embrace powerful new capabilities while staying true to their professional values and client relationships.

What if legal innovation starts within? In this episode of This Legal Life, Hannele Korhonen joins Ben Chiriboga to share her extraordinary journey from in-house counsel to legal entrepreneur, coach, and PhD researcher in intuition. Through design thinking, radical self-inquiry, and soul-level leadership, Hannele offers a new vision for what legal careers—and legal change—can look like when we stop pushing and start listening.

This episode is for lawyers ready to lead from the inside out.

Meet our Guest:

Hannele Korhonen is a Business Design & Innovation Coach and PhD researcher exploring how intuition can spark radical innovation in law and design. She’s the founder of Lawyers Design School, a global learning-first legal design platform that helps legal professionals reimagine their work through legal design thinking.

A former corporate lawyer, she has founded her own law firm and co-founded a legal tech startup. Today, she coaches purpose-driven entrepreneurs and legal creatives to design scalable, soul-aligned businesses using design thinking, the same method trusted by the world’s most innovative companies. Her work weaves together practical tools, research, empathy, creativity, and intuition to help clients build human-centered services that feel as good as they work.

Whether through her signature program The Freedom Incubator, custom workshops, or 1:1 coaching, Hannele’s mission is to support a future where business is soulful, law is human, and the people doing the work feel free.

Links:

Connect with Hannele on Linkedin

Learn more about The Freedom Incubator

Lawyers Design School

In this episode of This Legal Life, Gavin Sharpe—former lawyer, legal recruiter, and now executive coach in Monaco—joins host Ben Chiriboga to share how a personal identity reckoning led him to leave behind external success and embrace his “original child.” From scaling a global business to launching a purpose-driven coaching practice, Gavin discusses the deep work required to lead without the mask.

From creating space for leaders to grow to helping lawyers reconnect with who they really are, Gavin shares a deeply personal story of identity, reinvention, and what the legal profession must unlearn in order to truly thrive.

Meet Our Guest:

Gavin Sharpe is a seasoned advisor with nearly 30 years of experience working with global law firms, corporations, and senior leaders. Gavin combines his deep expertise in coaching, business, and psychology to help high-performing law firms (and other professional services organisations) drive meaningful, sustainable change.

Gavin began his career as a lawyer with Allen & Overy before founding SSQ, a leading international legal search firm. He played a pivotal role in launching the London offices of several U.S. law firms and led some of the most prominent partner and team moves of the decade. After selling his shares in 2010, Gavin retrained as an executive, team, and group coach, as well as a psychotherapist.

In 2016, he founded Riviera Wellbeing, a practice dedicated to executive coaching, organizational development, and wellbeing.

Gavin is a sought-after speaker, having appeared at global events including TEDxMonteCarloSalon, and he has reached international audiences through his radio show, The Wellbeing Window on 106.5FM Riviera Radio.

Based in Monaco, Gavin works with elite performers—including Formula One drivers, billionaires, and C-suite executives—guiding them to unlock their full potential and live their best lives. He lives in Monaco with his husband and their three dogs.

Connect with Gavin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinsharpe/

www.rivierawellbeing.com

How do you grow when the traditional path no longer fits?

In this episode of This Legal Life, Ben Chiriboga sits down with Susan Seah to chart her journey through big law, in-house life, entrepreneurship, and now a leadership role at Latitude Legal. Susan opens up about starting The Koa Club to empower women, redefining her identity beyond “lawyer,” and why being fearless often starts with asking new questions.

If you’ve ever felt the urge to step outside your comfort zone, this episode offers the insight—and the encouragement—you need.

Meet Our Guest:

Susan Seah is a Partner at Latitude Legal, where she connects law firms and corporate legal departments with exceptional legal talent tailored to their evolving needs. With a strong background as both a practicing attorney and legal executive, Susan brings deep insight into the business of law and talent strategy.

She is also the founder of The Koa Club, a professional community dedicated to empowering women to lead bold and authentic lives through skill-building, knowledge-sharing, and connection.

In addition to her legal and leadership roles, Susan is the author of the award-winning Poetry for Pups, a heartfelt collection of poetry celebrating the joy and companionship of dogs.

She is passionate about supporting professionals and creating spaces that inspire growth, creativity, and community.