Beyond Billable Podcast

In this episode our host Pim Betist is joined by Suzanne van der Klip, a lawyer who built her career in corporate practice before stepping into the world of legal innovation. At A&O Shearman she helped pioneer the firm’s first innovation team, explored the potential of legal tech from its early days, and was closely involved in developing tools like Contract Matrix that brought AI straight into the heart of contract negotiation.She brings both the perspective of someone who has lived the realities of law firms and the vision of someone shaping how AI can make legal work faster, more efficient, and more meaningful.Suzanne and Pim talk about what it takes to get lawyers to actually adopt technology, the opportunities and risks AI brings to firms and in-house teams, and how platforms and point solutions may coexist in the years to come. Suzanne also shares her thoughts on the changing leverage model in big law, the rise of boutique firms, and why trust and relationships remain at the core of innovation.So buckle up and enjoy Beyond Billable, Driving Conversations with Suzanne van der Klip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Beyond Billable: Driving Conversations, I sit down with Hans Albers, Director of Legal Management Consulting at Deloitte in the Netherlands. With senior roles at Juniper Networks and Cisco behind him, Hans has seen the in-house counsel role from every angle — balancing risk with growth, living with the consequences of legal advice, and navigating the unrelenting pressures of regulation and workload.Our conversation explores the crossroads where today’s legal departments find themselves: flooded with regulation, stretched by demand, and now confronted with AI tools that can transform not just efficiency, but the very way legal delivers value. Hans argues that adoption alone is not enough — true transformation requires rethinking processes, culture, and the role of the lawyer itself.Far from being the “easier” alternative to private practice, the in-house counsel role is more demanding and complex than ever before. Yet, as Hans makes clear, it is also one of the most rewarding. The lawyers who thrive will be those who broaden their skill set into technology, process, and operations, and position themselves closer to the business.We cover the following topics:Introduction: Driving Conversations in a NIOThe In-House counsel roleChallenges for legal departmentsFrom efficiency to strategyAdoption vs. transformationLaw Firms at riskFuture skills for lawyersWho should we interview next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Pim Betist sits down with Dick van Lankeren Matthes, founder of Shift Upgrade. With 18 years of experience as a finance lawyer, including as Head of the Transaction Innovation team at Loyens & Loeff, Dick knows the legal world inside out and he’s on a mission to change it.We discuss why he left big law to help firms and legal departments do things differently. His focus: making sure highly trained lawyers spend less time on low-value work and more time on what truly matters.We explore the core elements of meaningful change: people, process, and technology, but also the biggest obstacle to real innovation in the legal sector: the billable hour. Dick explains why this outdated model kills the incentive to improve and makes a compelling case for fixed or project-based fees.We cover:- Why the billable hour kills innovation - How to align people, process & tech for real change - How fixed fees drive better outcomes—for clients and firms- Why firms must rethink the traditional leverage model- Why pricing strategy is the gateway to real transformationIt’s a conversation packed with practical insights on pricing strategy and change management, delivered with Dick’s signature pragmatism.Whether you're in a law firm or a legal department, expect plenty of food for thought on how to deliver better legal services at lower cost and with higher quality. I hope you enjoy this candid and thought-provoking conversation with Dick van Lankeren Matthes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In deze aflevering gaat Pim Betist in gesprek met gedragsdeskundige en adviseur voor juristen Marloes ter Huurne over waarom verandering in de juridische sector niet alleen over technologie gaat, maar vooral ook over mindset.We bespreken:•Waarom in jezelf geloven een superkracht is voor juristen•De verborgen schade van motivatie door angst en hoe je echte veiligheid creëert•Hoe je een psychologisch veilige cultuur bouwt (en waarom dat leidt tot hogere kwaliteit)•Wat leiders kunnen leren van zeilen en Silicon Valley•Waarom sturen op werkplezier beter werkt dan sturen op declarabele uren•Hoe wandelen je EQ, creativiteit én declarabiliteit verhoogt•Waarom feedback zo vaak pijn doet•Wat het Zeigarnik-effect betekent voor juridisch werk en je brein•Concrete tips om je energie te managenPraktisch, persoonlijk en raak. Dit gesprek zet aan tot anders kijken en anders doen.Abonneer je op The Brief on AI om een seintje te krijgen zodra de aflevering live staat: https://pimbetist.substack.com/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Pim Betist sits down with behavioral expert and advisor to legal professionals Marloes ter Huurne to talk about why change in the legal sector isn’t just about tech, but also about mindset.We cover:- Why believing in yourself is a superpower for lawyers- The hidden damage of “stick” motivation and how to build real trust- How to create a psychologically safe culture (and why it leads to higher quality)- What leaders can learn from sailing and Silicon Valley- Why managing for enjoyment beats managing for billable hours- How walking boosts EQ, creativity—and even billing- The real reason feedback stings so much- What the Zeigarnik Effect means for legal work and brain health- Concrete tips to manage your energyThis is one of the most human-centered, practical conversations we’ve had and it might just change how you think about leadership.Subscribe to The Brief on AI to get notified as soon as the episode goes live: https://pimbetist.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I talk with Jeroen Plink, co-founder of Legal Tech Hub, recorded at Lexpo 2025. We explore why generative AI isn’t just another legal tech tool but a true game-changer for the industry.Jeroen explains how law firms can move from selling hours to building scalable legal products—and why that shift is both urgent and challenging. We discuss the cultural hurdles, the need for real sales skills, and the risk of being left behind as clients demand more tech-enabled solutions.Enjoy this sharp, honest conversation about the future of legal work and what it takes to stay ahead.Beyond Billable is a collaboration with NIO House Amsterdam and Lexpo, the legal innovation event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In deze aflevering van Beyond Billable zitten we bij Lexpo met Douwe Groenevelt om te praten over zijn confronterende korte film Barney, the End of Lawyers. Een project dat hij volledig met behulp van AI heeft gemaakt.Op het eerste gezicht lijkt Douwe de typische legaltech-evangelist: een oud-advocaat die AI promoot als de toekomst van het vak. Maar dit gesprek onthult een veel complexere waarheid. Douwe maakte Barney niet zomaar om technologische vooruitgang te vieren. Hij deed het uit urgentie en, zoals hij zelf zegt, zelfs uit angst.Hij spreekt openhartig over de razendsnelle opkomst van AI en hoe het grootste deel van de juridische sector zorgwekkend laks blijft. Voor Douwe gaat het omarmen van AI niet om hype of vrijblijvende innovatie; het is pure overlevingsstrategie. Hij waarschuwt dat advocaten die niet nú beginnen met het gebruiken en echt begrijpen van deze tools, straks volledig buitenspel staan.We praten ook over zijn creatieve proces: hoe zijn ervaring met het opstellen van juridische teksten verrassend goed van pas kwam bij het schrijven van AI-prompts voor film, en waarom leren prompten volgens hem een van de waardevolste skills is die een jurist vandaag kan ontwikkelen.Douwe’s boodschap is helder, al is die wat ongemakkelijk: kijk deze verandering recht in de ogen, want er is geen alternatief.Beyond Billable is een samenwerking met NIO House Amsterdam en Lexpo, the Legal Tech Event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Beyond Billable, we sit down with Douwe Groenevelt at Lexpo to discuss his provocative short film Barney, the End of Lawyers. A project he created entirely using AI.On the surface, Douwe might look like the archetypal legal-tech evangelist: a former lawyer championing AI as the future of the profession. But this conversation reveals a more complex truth. Douwe didn’t make Barney just to celebrate technological progress. He made it out of urgency and, in his own words, even fear.He talks candidly about the accelerating advance of AI and how most of the legal sector remains worryingly complacent. For Douwe, adopting AI isn’t about hype or optional innovation; it’s a survival strategy. He warns that unless lawyers start using and truly understanding these tools now, they risk being left behind entirely.We also dive into his creative process: how legal drafting skills surprisingly translated into writing AI prompts for film, and why learning to prompt effectively might be one of the most valuable skills any lawyer can develop today.Douwe's message is clear, if a bit unsettling: confront this change head-on because there is no alternative.Beyond Billable is a collaboration with NIO House Amsterdam and Lexpo, the Legal Innovation Event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.