Zach Abramowitz is Legally Disrupted

Zach talks with Jen Berrent, former WeWork executive and founder of Covenant, an AI-first law firm reimagining how deals get done. They dive deep into what it means to build a law firm from the ground up around artificial intelligence — not as a tool, but as the foundation. Jen shares her perspective on why too much work still runs through Big Law, how AI is transforming the middle tier of legal work, and what it takes to balance human expertise with machine efficiency. In this episode: What an “AI-first” law firm actually looks like How Covenant is redesigning legal workflows from scratch The problem with Big Law’s “too much work, too few alternatives” model Why reading comprehension is AI’s legal superpower Building client trust in the age of automation How AI can accelerate deals — without sacrificing rigor The difference between a “relationship ramp” and a “SaaS snowball” The challenges (and advantages) of raising funding in legal AI Lessons from Robin AI’s struggles — and why clarity of business model matters Why this is a once-in-a-generation moment for lawyers who want to innovate Learn More: Zach – legallydisrupted.com Jen – https://covenant.co/about Follow Along: Zach – linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz Jen – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferberrent

Zach sits down with Harvey cofounder Gabe Pereyra to talk about what changed after “Attention Is All You Need,” why partners - not juniors - are driving Harvey’s adoption, and how AI is teaching law firms to learn faster than ever.     In this episode: The origin story of Harvey and how it became the “Dallas Cowboys of Legal Tech” Lessons from the early days of AI at Google Brain and DeepMind Why the real opportunity isn’t automation — it’s amplification How top law firms are already using AI for high-level strategic work The emerging hybrid model of AI + human legal reasoning Why firm size and structure could shift dramatically in the next decade Rethinking ROI: morale, retention, and client trust as key performance drivers How Harvey is helping firms pitch, collaborate, and win new business The future of AI-first law firms — from pricing models to client partnerships Learn More: Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/ Gabe - https://www.harvey.ai/blog/author/gabe-pereyra   Follow Along: Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz Gabe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabepereyra

Zach and Richard delve into the recent challenges faced by Robin AI, a pioneering legal tech company that has laid off staff and is seeking a buyer due to disappointing growth. They explore the significance of this news within the broader AI and legal tech industry, discussing whether Robin AI's struggles signal larger issues in the AI market.   In this episode: Robin AI's Struggles  Personal Connections and Reflections  Speculations and Broader Implications  Comparing AI Legal Tech Companies  Legal Experts in Tech Companies Investment in AI-Driven Legal Services The Importance of Expertise with AI Legal Innovators London Event Preview The Future of AI in Law Firms   Learn More: Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/ Richard - tromansconsulting.com, artificiallawyer.com   Follow Along: Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz Richard - linkedin.com/in/artificiallawyer, https://x.com/ArtificialLawya

In Episode 30 of 'Legally Disrupted,' Zach engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Catherine Kemnitz, Axiom's Chief Strategy Officer. They address a LinkedIn debate on how AI will disrupt both Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) and Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSPs). Katherine offers insights from her extensive legal industry experience, including her tenure at Axiom and Thomson Reuters, highlighting major transactions and strategic pivots influenced by technological advancements.    In this episode: Catherine Kemnitz's Career Journey  Axiom's Strategic Moves and Innovations  The Impact of AI on Legal Services  Generative AI and Legal Tech Evolution AI Adoption in Legal Departments vs. Law Firms  Axiom's Approach to AI and Future Outlook  Learn More: Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/ Catherine - https://www.axiomlaw.com/about-us/our-team   Follow Along: Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz Catherine - https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinekemnitz

Zach sits down with Centari founder Kevin Walker to unpack the opportunities and obstacles of selling AI to law firms when it isn’t a generalized assistant like ChatGPT or Harvey. Kevin makes the case for why tackling highly specialized problems, such as Deal Intelligence, delivers unique, lasting value to firms.   In this episode: Understanding Centari's Vision  Unique Market Insights and Adoption Challenges and Opportunities in Legal Tech  Building Trust with Law Firms  Future of Legal Practices Fried Frank Partnership  Navigating Market Noise First Principles and Differentiation AI Adoption in Law Firms Reddit Thread Controversy  Building a Strong Company Culture   Learn More: Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/ Kevin - https://www.centari.com/about-us   Follow Along: Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz Kevn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpwalker1, https://x.com/_kevinwalker?lang=en

Richard Tromans, founder of Artificial Lawyer and expert in legal tech, joins Zach to explore the revolutionary landscape of AI in legal services. They dive into the implications of non-lawyer ownership, the potential of AI in transactional work, and the evolving business models of AI-first firms. Richard elaborates on how these new entities might disrupt traditional firms and the regulatory challenges surrounding them. The discussion also touches on the practical ROI of legal tech and what this shift means for future market dynamics.

In this episode of 'Legally Disrupted,' host Zach Abramowitz introduces a new recurring segment called 'Zach and Richard's Legal AI Adventure' with Richard Tromans from Artificial Lawyer. They discuss the rapid evolution in the legal tech sphere, particularly focusing on big deals and announcements from legal AI companies like Harvey and Legora. The duo debates the impact of generative AI productivity platforms on the legal market, the notion of a 'land grab' as firms race to adopt AI, and the potential for AI to become universally adopted in legal workflows. They also touch on the pricing dynamics of legal tech and the challenges faced by legacy companies in incorporating AI.   In this episode: Summer Surge in Legal AI Deals  Generative AI Platforms for Lawyers Market Share and Productivity Tools Global Legal Market and Pricing Strategies Emerging Competitors and Market Dynamics  The Battle for Legal AI Dominance The Future of Legal Tech Giants: Mergers and Acquisitions  The Role of Investors in Legal Tech  The Importance of Specialization in Legal Tech  The Future of AI in Legal Tech: Assistants vs. Automators Learn More: Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/ Richard - tromansconsulting.com, artificiallawyer.com   Follow Along: Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz Richard - linkedin.com/in/artificiallawyer, https://x.com/ArtificialLawya

In episode 26 of 'Legally Disrupted,' host Zach Abramowitz brings us a live conversation from the Legal Innovators California Conference in San Francisco. The discussion features Chris Fisher of Myriad Ventures and Jonathan Levy of Y Combinator, two prominent investors in the legal tech space. They delve into the shifts in legal tech investments from the pre-ChatGPT era to the post-ChatGPT world, the impact of AI on legal services, and the emerging talent in the field. The investors also share insights on their investment strategies, the importance of domain expertise, and their vision for the future of legal tech.    In this episode: Investing in Legal Tech: Pre and Post ChatGPT The Talent Surge in Legal Tech AI's Impact on Legal Practices  Future of AI in Legal: Opportunities and Challenges  AI in Legal Apprenticeship AI as a Junior Associate Investment Strategies in Legal Tech   Specialized Legal Tech Solutions   VC Model and AI Startups   Evaluating Legal Tech Startups  Productizing Legal Services Learn More: Chris - https://www.myriadventures.com/profile/chris-fisher Jonathan - https://www.ycombinator.com/people Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/   Follow Along: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fisher-111a9025 Jonathan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-levy-b98986b3 Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

E25 - Are Lawyers Adopting AI? With David Wong and Raghu Ramanathan   In episode 25 of 'Legally Disrupted,' host Zach Abramowitz sits down with David Wong, Chief Product Officer at Thomson Reuters and Ragunath (Raghu) Ramanathan, President of Legal Professionals and Government at Thomson Reuters, to discuss the 2025 Future of Professionals Report. The conversation explores AI's increasing adoption and its impact on the legal industry.    In this episode: Discussing the Future of Professionals Report AI Adoption and Productivity Insights  Comparing In-House Legal Departments and Law Firms  AI Strategy and Leadership in Law Firms   Understanding the ROI in Law Firms   Time Savings and Efficiency Gains  Quality Improvements and Creative Benefits   Adoption Strategies in Small vs. Large Firms  Thomson Reuters' AI Strategy and Market Position Domain-Specific AI vs. General AI  References: 2025 Future of Professionals Report - https://www.thomsonreuters.com/content/dam/ewp-m/documents/thomsonreuters/en/pdf/reports/future-of-professionals-report-2025.pdf   Learn More: David - https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/about-us/executive-team Raghu - https://www.trust.org/people/ragunath-ramanathan/ Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/   Follow Along: David - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dfwong Raghu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raghunathr Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Tara Waters, founder of TLW Consulting and former Chief Digital Officer at Ashurst, shares her insights on the rise of Harvey in legal AI. She reflects on the journey of adopting AI tools within global firms and how skepticism has shifted to practical use. Tara emphasizes the need for law firms to rethink their business models and workflows instead of merely selecting new tools. The discussion highlights the balance between excitement for innovation and the challenges of integrating AI into legal practices.