The Hearing – A Legal Podcast
Thomson Reuters
The Hearing is a legal podcast from Thomson Reuters. Listen to insightful discussions with lawyers, legal experts, and other interesting people connected to the legal industry. We delve into anything and everything – trailblazers in the law, the latest insights on legal innovation and trends, and how the profession is evolving. With hosts based in the UK and the US, we cover issues around the globe. Our current hosts: Becky Annison – Trained at a London law firm before moving in-house. Spent 12 years as a senior solicitor in a large international company, before joining Practical Law's In-house practice area team. Now, as Head of Engagement for The Chancery Lane Project, Becky uses her knowledge of contracting and law to help tackle the climate crisis. Janelle Wrigley – An attorney based in California. As head of the Antitrust & Competition team at Practical Law, leads a team of lawyers producing practical guidance for competition lawyers worldwide. Previously, Janelle was a litigator at the US Federal Trade Commission and at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York. Teneé Frazier – An attorney, editor, and speaker based in Alabama. As a member of the State and Local Government team at Practical Law, she uses her expertise in municipal law to produce substantive content for local government attorneys. Previously, Teneé was Assistant General Counsel at the Alabama League of Municipalities. Yasmin Sheikh – Executive coach, trainer, consultant, and speaker, with a background as a lawyer – practising for 12 years in a large international law firm. Founder of Diverse Matters – which helps promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity within organisations. Yasmin is also a former vice chair of the Disabled Solicitors Network at the Law Society of England and Wales. Find out more about The Hearing and other Thomson Reuters podcasts at tr.com/thehearing.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 8, 2021 • 56min
EP. 73 – Federico Ast (Kleros)
Here at The Hearing HQ we've really missed travelling. So being whisked (virtually) to Buenos Aires for this week's episode was a real treat! Meet Joe's guest, Federico Ast, the CEO and founder of Kleros. He's deeply intelligent, thoughtful and one hell of an aggravator in the world of justice. Federico has a philosophy-centred approach to improving judicial systems around the world, and talks to Joe about how deliberative democracy can fast-track access to justice. Kleros is an online dispute resolution system based on blockchain, crowdsourcing and game theory. We hear how Federico has used his experience of the Argentinian economic collapse of the 90s to problem-solve dispute resolution for the internet age.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Feb 22, 2021 • 38min
EP. 72 – Joeli Brearley (Pregnant Then Screwed)
Imagine being fired, by voicemail, after telling your boss that you're pregnant. It seems like something from a different era, or at least, akin to a bad dating story. Yet this is exactly what happened to this week's guest, Joeli Brearley, the CEO and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. Joeli sits down with Yasmin to talk about how her high-risk pregnancy prevented her from taking legal action and how this lit the fuse for Pregnant Then Screwed. They talk about taking the government to court for discriminating against women in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and the (very relatable) stress dreams that came with it. Joeli is a powerhouse with a huge social media following, and this episode also looks at what it’s like dealing with trolls and how she wants to change the workplace for mothers, no matter how messy it gets or how many people it upsets.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Feb 8, 2021 • 57min
EP. 71 – COVID-19 vaccines: will they unite or divide us?
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is giving many of us hope right now. But are vaccines about become the next divisive issue to affect our professional and personal lives? Companies might well see vaccines as the golden ticket to getting staff back to a normal working environment, or indeed back to work full stop. But what happens when employees choose not to receive the vaccine, or refuse to disclose their vaccination status? In this episode, Becky talks to Joe Nicholls, from Wards Solicitors, and GoodCorporation’s Debbie Ramsay about this new wave of legal and ethical issues that businesses, and society as a whole, must grapple with. CONTRIBUTORS:- Debbie Ramsay, Director, GoodCorporation- Joe Nicholls, Partner & Head of Employment, Wards Solicitors
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jan 25, 2021 • 51min
EP. 70 – Karim Sabbidine (Thompson Hine)
On The Hearing, we've talked to people at the top of their game about their experiences of lockdown. We've gained advice from experts on how businesses can best weather these unprecedented times. And this week Joe chats to Karim Sabbidine, an associate at Thompson Hine, about what COVID-19 means when you're at the legal coalface. Pre-pandemic, life as a New York litigator was a heady mix of high pressure and excitement – tiring yet fun. But for Karim it quickly transitioned to being cramped in a small apartment with two equally busy flatmates, while trying to navigate a virtual trial. Karim has an international and multicultural background, and has an enviable résumé of on-the-job training. He talks to Joe about the realities of being a litigator, the benefits of writing every day, and why it's important to always dress the part.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Jan 11, 2021 • 31min
EP. 69 – Lady Hale
Join Yasmin, fresh from our short Christmas hiatus, as she gets to know Lady Hale – often described as the UK’s answer to the USA’s late, great Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Former President of the Supreme Court and an advocate for diversity in the legal profession, Baroness Hale of Richmond (as she’s formally known) can leave people rather starstruck. And Yasmin is no exception. Lady Hale chats to Yasmin about the impact teachers can have on the lives their pupils, and what it's like being famous for so many firsts. The pair also discuss that headline-grabbing prorogation case, as well as some of the other landmark judgments that she is particularly proud of.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Dec 21, 2020 • 52min
EP. 68 – Doug Pepe (JHA)
You may have watched as Mark Zuckerberg explained the internet to Congress in a way that felt a bit unnecessary. Well, this episode is sort of the opposite of that. Joe Raczynski is joined by legal and mathematical macroeconomics genius Doug Pepe, to take us through blockchain, tokens and cryptocurrency in a way that’s genuinely enlightening. The legal industry is sometimes accused of not keeping up, but we know that’s not true. Lawyers are occupying this space now. Their clients are very active and they have a crucial role to play in the serious policy issues being debated. Doug, a partner at Joseph Hage Aaronson, started his blockchain journey by building gaming computers with his young children, and then teaching them how to mine bitcoin. Fast forward and Doug is now an expert on blockchain privacy, smart contracts and digital identity.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Dec 4, 2020 • 35min
EP. 67 – Brexit in the time of Covid
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION – Although we're being playful with the title, there are some comparisons to be drawn between this episode and Gabriel García Márquez's classic novel Love in a Time of Cholera. We're covering issues of epic proportions, and it does feel like Brexit and Covid have both spanned several lifetimes. Our host Becky Annison isn't one to romanticise, but she does look at the positives and opportunities for legal teams with her guest experts, Moni Mannings and David Thorneloe. At the time of recording, we're a few short weeks away from the final Brexit deadline. There's been good news globally about potential COVID-19 vaccines and many are looking forward to the end of the year that was 2020. This episode aims to help businesses bring the year safely into the Brexit harbour in the face of depleted resources and unknown challenges. Contributors: - Moni Mannings, FTSE100 Independent Non-Executive Director - David Thorneloe, Legal Director, Pinsent Masons
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Nov 23, 2020 • 44min
EP. 66 – Christina Blacklaws
Star Trek gave us prototype mobile phones. In Back To The Future, Doc Brown and Marty McFly predicted voice recognition technology. And, as this episode discusses, it was Minority Report in 2002 that foresaw predictive policing. This week, Yasmin chats to Christina Blacklaws – a strategic consultant and the 174th president of the Law Society. Christina is also an expert on legal technology and chair of the MoJ's LawTech Delivery Panel. She describes the transformation happening in the legal sector and how computer algorithms are already being used in profound ways that impact our justice system. Legal tech aside, Christina and Yasmin discuss how a majority of women entering the profession becomes a minority of leaders, and the work being done to address this. They also examine how COVID-19's impact has made technology, flexible working and mental wellness even better companions.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Nov 6, 2020 • 45min
EP. 65 – Special *US Election* Episode
In this special US election instalment of The Hearing, Sanaz Asgharzadeh talks politics with Joe Raczynski. Sanaz used to be an attorney at a major firm and now heads her own practice, Atlas Law Firm. With the caveat that at the time of recording a victor had not yet been chosen, and with the votes continuing to be counted in several swing states, Joe and Sanaz describe the current mood of the US as it waits to find out who will emerge victorious. Sanaz talks about her background as an Iranian immigrant in the US, and how that shaped her interests in the law and political process. She takes us on a deep dive of the US electoral college system and discusses the potential for post-election litigation and the impact it could have on the outcome. Sanaz also takes us through hypothetical scenarios involving the incumbent that might once have seemed unlikely, but in these unprecedented times are worthy of consideration. Finally, she discusses the importance of counting all of the ballots and the need for transparency in the process.
Find out more at tr.com/TheHearing
Nov 2, 2020 • 43min
EP. 64 – Daniel Winterfeldt (InterLaw Diversity Forum)
How is sexual orientation considered in the modern workplace? How has the LGBTQ+ community been affected by COVID-19? What practical steps can people take to be an active ally beyond Pride and rainbow lanyards?This week Yasmin talks with Honorary QC, MBE, and Founder & Chair of InterLaw Diversity Forum, Daniel Winterfeldt.Yasmin and Daniel talk about how the InterLaw Diversity Forum focuses on cultural change in the workplace to foster inclusion for diverse talent in the legal sector and promote meritocracy across all sectors.They also discuss the need for law firms and businesses to follow through on their commitments to cultural change in the legal workplace and how this can lead to wider systemic change for all.
Find out more at TR.com/TheHearing
