File Notes

Scott Moran shares his journey of making the hard decision to leave Duncan Cotterill, one of New Zealand’s largest law firms, after 28 years to establish his own boutique law firm, Moran Law. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned from opening the Duncan Cotterill office in Wellington and offers insights into effective leadership and maintaining a positive law firm culture. Scott also provides his perspective on the impact of AI on the legal profession and IP law, the challenges of harmonizing IP laws across jurisdictions, and the importance of personal branding for lawyers. Additionally, he talks about his governance roles, what he has gained from them, and advice for lawyers aspiring to join boards. The episode provides valuable takeaways for legal professionals considering starting their own firm or looking to grow within their current roles. This episode is brought to you by VXT - the fully integrated legal phone system.

In this episode, we sit down with Renika Siciliano, the Executive Director of McCaw Lewis. Renika leads the firm's exceptional and passionate lawyers in the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and workplace law areas. Renika provides legal and strategic advice to clients across Aotearoa, New Zealand and has extensive experience in matters relating to Treaty settlement negotiations, Māori governance and iwi disputes. ‍ Growing up in a tight-knit community of just 3000 people, Renika shares her journey into law and why she's remained dedicated to McCaw Lewis throughout her career. We explore her remarkable rise to Executive Director in just 12 years and the pivotal matters she's been involved in, including the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act. ‍ Renika offers fascinating insights into negotiating with the Crown, shedding light on common misconceptions about treaty settlements. ‍ Renika has been recognized as one of NZ Lawyer's Most Influential Lawyers and Elite Women, as well as a Doyles Leading Māori Law practitioner. ‍

Joshua Reimer In this episode, we sit down with Joshua Reimer, the managing director and founder of Johnston Reimer Lawyers, for an insightful conversation about building and scaling a successful law firm from the ground up. Starting with just a small corner office 8 years ago, Joshua and his team at Johnston Reimer Lawyers have grown exponentially over the years, now boasting a team of 50 employees. Rapid growth comes with it's own unique set of challenges. Joshua's shares his insights on navigating these hurdles from managing cash flow, selecting technology to maintaining a positive workplace culture. One of the firm's key areas of focus is providing justice and support to victims of crime, a mission that drives much of their work. Joshua shares the unique challenges and rewards of this practice area, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in serving clients who have experienced trauma. A core pillar of Johnston Reimer Lawyers' success lies in their innovative approach to technology. By putting in place cloud-based systems right from the very start, Joshua and his team are at the forefront of leveraging technology to streamline legal processes and better serve their clients. We explore their tech stack, including tools like Actionstep and VXT and discuss the potential impact of AI on the future of the legal industry. As the firm continues to grow, Joshua reflects on the challenges ahead and shares valuable advice for aspiring lawyers. His insights into maintaining workplace culture, embracing innovation, and prioritizing personal growth offer invaluable lessons for anyone on the path to success in the legal world. This episode is brought to you by VXT, the leading VoIP phone system for lawyers.

In this episode, we speak with Sarah Salmond, a commercial lawyer and Partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts. Sarah found her calling in the world of international trade through a chance encounter while waitressing. Sarah gives us an insider's view of her intriguing journey, from her first exposure to World Trade Organization meetings in Geneva, to her stint at the OECD in Paris, and her transformative decision to retrain as a lawyer in her early 30s. She shares her experiences of establishing new law firm practices and advising clients on the full spectrum of public, regulatory and international trade law matters. A significant portion of our discussion addresses the tightrope women walk as they juggle work and family responsibilities. Sarah emphasizes the critical role of mentorship and strategic support systems in fostering women's advancement in the legal profession. She candidly discusses the pressing issue of burnout and overwork, underscoring the need for organizations to monitor work patterns and enforce policies to prevent burnout. As we navigate the complexities of international trade, Sarah sheds light on emerging trends and challenges, including the proliferation of sanctions, the imperative for businesses to diversify and hedge risks in the current geopolitical climate, and the need for innovative market access strategies to supplement traditional trade agreements. Sarah speaks about shares her active governance roles with the New Zealand International Business Forum and AmCham New Zealand, and her passionate advocacy for law reforms that will deliver widespread benefits for New Zealand businesses, like enabling paperless trade.

Bob Ambrogi discusses the merging of law and journalism, the challenges of monetizing content in the digital age, and the impact of AI on legal services. He shares practical advice for starting a legal podcast, emphasizing quality content and guest selection. Join him as he navigates the intertwined worlds of law, journalism, and technology.

Delving into legal tech trends, CIO Matthew Vaughan shares Tompkins Wake's shift to cloud-based tools, overcoming COVID-19 challenges, selection of vendors, and the importance of understanding internal processes. The discussion covers balancing systems and intuition in problem-solving, navigating large-scale projects, and addressing technological advancements in law firms through AI integration.

Your host for this episode is ⁠Sophie Svenson⁠ and⁠ Luke Campbell. ‍ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Colin Levy⁠⁠ Colin Levy, a prominent figure in the legal tech field, has a compelling story that weaves together his lively upbringing in Boston with his current roles as Director of Legal at Malbec, a legal tech company, and as a notable legal/tech personality on social media. His journey is marked by passion, resilience, and purpose. In his early career, Colin discovered his inclination toward in-house counsel work focused on technology, diverging from the traditional norms of law firm culture. Reflecting on his experiences in law school and an exchange program at the London School of Economics, he shares pivotal moments that shaped his perspective, emphasizing a practical and tech-centric approach to legal practice. As the Director of Legal at Malbec, Colin not only navigates the complexities of contract lifecycle management but also actively engages in content marketing and relationship-building. His goal is to showcase the dynamic landscape of legal tech through insightful interviews. The episode explores a crucial aspect of professional life—addressing mental health challenges. Colin candidly shares his experience with burnout early in his career, highlighting the importance of normalizing discussions around mental health and actively listening to issues before they escalate. Colin then guides us through his strategic approach to building a thought leadership presence. From intentional growth on social media by engaging with others' content to crafting his own focused content on legal tech, Colin explains how he cultivated an online personal brand and community. This journey culminated in the authorship of a book introducing the legal tech landscape. Mentorship and networking play a pivotal role in Colin's journey as he actively forges relationships within the legal tech community. The conversation touches on the crucial need for industry-wide discussions on mental health, advocating for breaks and humanity in the workplace for sustained success. Join us for this insightful conversation with Colin Levy, where career decisions, mentorship, mental health advocacy, and thought leadership converge in a narrative that offers valuable lessons for all. This episode is brought to you by VXT, the leading VoIP phone system for lawyers.

Episode 11 with ⁠Maria Sopoaga. Your host for this episode is Sophie Svenson and Ella Cleary. In this episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with Maria, as she shares her inspiring journey navigating the legal landscape. Join us as Maria candidly shares the reality of inequality and the lack of representation in the legal profession, delving into her isolating law school experience, her transition from in-house to private practice, and the critical importance of mentors and networks. The heart of our discussion revolves around the significance of mentors in Maria's journey. Maria advocates for the power of starting small with quality mentoring relationships and cherishing multi-industry perspectives from individuals in different life stages. Maria candidly addresses diversity issues within the legal profession, expressing skepticism about performative efforts focused solely on numbers. She advocates for blind spot awareness and active listening as transformative tools to foster genuine inclusivity. The episode also explores Maria's candid approach to speaking out on diversity issues, particularly on LinkedIn, where she invites people to reflect on blind spots, fostering a safe and inclusive dialogue rather than confrontational debates. As Maria shares her motivation for community service, we delve into the empowering aspects of volunteering and governance roles. Closing our conversation, Maria imparts wisdom on achieving work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of boundaries, celebrating small wins, and distinguishing between her job and a richer life purpose outside of law. Join us in this thought-provoking conversation with Maria, where her journey serves as a beacon for addressing diversity challenges and moving beyond performative efforts toward genuine cultural change in the legal profession. This episode is brought to you by VXT, the VoIP phone system built for lawyers.

Episode Ten Your host for this episode is Sophie Svenson and Ella Cleary. ‍⁠Josh Seidenfeld⁠ In this episode, we sit down with Josh Seidenfeld, a partner at Cooley, a prominent Silicon Valley law firm deeply entrenched in the startup ecosystem. Join us as Josh unravels his captivating journey from college athlete to holding dual MBA/JD degrees, delving into pivotal experiences that have shaped his trajectory in the world of startups. Our conversation kicks off with Josh's athletic and academic background—his initial pursuit of a professional athlete's career, a college sports journey, and a resilient shift to academia and law school. Josh navigated his way to a dual MBA/JD degree, setting the stage for a multifaceted career. Josh recounts the twists and turns that led him to Cooley from his summer associate role, and a subsequent deferral to join a startup during the 2008 financial crisis. Josh takes us through his transition back to Cooley, exploring the considerations of sacrificing startup leadership opportunities for Big Law training and credibility. He provides an inside look into Cooley's partnership process, shedding light on practice group focus, internal feedback, and the formal review that propelled him to partnership. The heart of the conversation revolves around Josh's current role advising startups and high-growth companies. He shares insights into guiding companies through the entire lifecycle—from formation to IPO—focusing on critical areas like employment, expansion, and strategic financing decisions. Josh provides valuable perspectives on avoiding common startup mistakes and the importance of long-term client relationships. Delving into the innovative side of legal practice, Josh shares his approach to creatively interpreting regulations to foster innovative business models while demonstrating good faith efforts to comply. He underlines the dynamic intersection of legal compliance and innovation. As we wrap up, Josh reflects on the rewarding aspects of long-term client relationships, drawing parallels to his inspiration in advising founders over the years, witnessing product launches, and contributing to the success of startups. This episode is brought to you by VXT, the leading VoIP phone system for lawyers.

Episode Nine Your host for this episode is Sophie Svenson and Ella Cleary. ‍ ⁠Anna Ryan⁠ In this episode, we speak with Anna Ryan, the brilliant mind and seasoned competition law expert at Lane Neave, one of New Zealand's top law firms. Anna takes us through her career and shares insights and pieces of advice you can only gain from 16 years in the legal trenches. Our conversation kicks off with Anna's early days at Lane Neave as a graduate, initially planning a two-year stint before global events reshaped her career trajectory. Instead of heading abroad, she found herself rising through the ranks, becoming partner, and developing a passion for cultivating enduring client relationships—a hallmark of her time at Lane Neave. Anna shares the story of her academic pursuits, particularly her Masters in competition law at Melbourne University. This academic venture laid the groundwork for founding Lane Neave's competition law practice, where Anna advises on complex issues related to cartels and misuse of market power under New Zealand's Commerce Act. Beyond the legal nuances, Anna emphasizes the crucial role of soft skills and relationships in a lawyer's success, especially as they progress into senior roles. Drawing from her wealth of experience, she shares practical insights into understanding diverse personalities and adapting one's approach for maximum effectiveness. The episode also explores alternative career pathways for lawyers not aspiring to traditional partner roles. From special counsel to consultancy, in-house positions, or becoming a barrister, Anna provides a nuanced perspective on the diverse avenues available within the legal profession. This episode is brought to you by VXT, the leading VoIP phone system for lawyers.