

Zach Abramowitz is Legally Disrupted
Zach Abramowitz
My name is Zach Abramowitz and I am Legally Disrupted. This podcast covers the trends disrupting the legal profession.
Once a mild mannered practicing attorney, I now am an entrepreneur and investor in disruptive legal startups. My company, Killer Whale Strategies, helps law firms, legal departments, and anyone else capitalize on the wave of disruption sweeping over the legal industry. Join me as I spotlight key players, significant trends, and innovative companies who are shaking up an age old profession.
Once a mild mannered practicing attorney, I now am an entrepreneur and investor in disruptive legal startups. My company, Killer Whale Strategies, helps law firms, legal departments, and anyone else capitalize on the wave of disruption sweeping over the legal industry. Join me as I spotlight key players, significant trends, and innovative companies who are shaking up an age old profession.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 10, 2025 • 35min
E18 - Why You Should Come to ILTA EVOLVE This April with Ogletree’s Josh Smith and Tanenbaum Keale’s Ken Jones
Zach, Ken and Josh talk about the upcoming three day conference in Myrtle Beach focusing on AI, Cybersecurity and Data Governance. Attendees will have opportunities to interact with cutting-edge AI companies and products.The event features specific presentations, including those by startup community members, covering practical AI applications in fields like legal finance, pricing, collections, and timekeeping.
Register - https://www.iltanet.org/live-events/evolve#speak
Follow Along:
Josh Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadsmithcissp/
Ken Jones https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethejones/
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz
Learn More:
https://www.legallydisrupted.com/

Feb 27, 2025 • 26min
E17 - How AI Has Tech Companies Pivoting with Eleanor Lightbody, CEO of Luminance
In this episode, Zach interviews Eleanor Lightbody, the CEO of Luminance, about her journey from working at Darktrace to leading Luminance, a legal tech company. Eleanor shares insights from her four years as CEO, highlighting the transformative impact of AI in the legal tech space. They discuss Luminance's growth strategy, the development of their contract lifecycle management tool, and the shift from M&A-specific uses to a broader, more inclusive approach. Eleanor also delves into how generative AI is changing user expectations and behaviors, and emphasizes the importance of balancing current customer needs with future innovations through a specialized 'blue sky thinking' team. Follow Luminance's developments on LinkedIn, their website, and at key industry conferences like Legal Week.
Eleanor's Background
Journey at Darktrace
Transition to Luminance
Growth and Strategy at Luminance
Evolution of Luminance's Focus
Impact of Generative AI
Future Vision and Blue Sky Thinking
Learn More:
Eleanor - https://www.luminance.com/team.html
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Eleanor - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-lightbody-69a6b784/
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Feb 13, 2025 • 42min
E16 - How Biglaw Can and Should Partner with Early Stage Startups, with Ilona Logvinova and Evan Shenkman
In this engaging conversation, Ilona and Evan discuss their roles and experiences in leading innovation within their respective law firms, Cleary Gottlieb and Fisher Phillips. Ilona, the Director of Practice Innovation at Cleary, shares her journey from McKinsey to leading a transformation journey at Cleary. Evan, the Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Fisher Phillips, talks about his shift from labor and employment law into knowledge management and legal technology. The discussion covers their strategies for partnering with early-stage companies, the impact of generative AI on the legal industry, the importance of being thought leaders, and the challenges and opportunities of incorporating AI into legal practices. They also delve into the long-term benefits of working with startups, AI governance, and the future trajectory of AI in redefining the value proposition of the legal profession.
Topics discussed:
IIona's Journey and Role at Cleary
Evan's Career Path and Role at Fisher Phillips
The Impact of Generative AI on Legal Tech
Pre-Generative AI Adoption Strategies
Evaluating Startups and Early Partnerships
Risk Management and AI Governance
Learn More:
Ilona - https://www.pli.edu/faculty/ilona-logvinova-i2002979
Evan - https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/people/evan-shenkman.html
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Ilona - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilonalogvinova
Evan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-shenkman-5445123
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Jan 22, 2025 • 49min
E15 - Could “AI For Lawyers” Catch on Faster with In-House Attorneys? Katya Fisher, CEO and Founder of Aracor
Katya Fisher introduces her journey from a practicing attorney to a tech entrepreneur. She shares her experience of building a successful law practice during the Great Recession and how she acquired a unique set of legal skills. Katya talks about the inefficiencies in the legal world that led her to build Aracor.ai, a legal tech product tailored for in-house counsel of investment firms such as venture capital funds, private equity groups, and family offices.
Learn More:
Aracor - https://www.aracor.ai/
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Katya - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katyafisher/
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Dec 2, 2024 • 29min
E14 - Are the Lines Blurring Between DMS and AI? NetDocuments CPO Dan Hauck
In this episode recorded at the NetDocuments Inspire EMEA conference in London, Dan Hauck outlines the strides made in integrating AI into legal document management. The discussion begins with a reflection on a previous webinar and the decision to avoid common, simplistic AI solutions like chatbots, instead focusing on using LLMs for intelligent document tagging. The development and features of NetDocuments' AI suite, ndMax, are detailed, emphasizing automated processes like semantic search, document metadata enrichment, and contract summarization. The conversation also touches on the importance of embedding AI seamlessly into existing workflows to enhance the work experience for attorneys, improve client service, and retain top talent. Additionally, they explore future enhancements, the integration of custom legal applications, and the overarching strategy of simplifying AI use within the platform.
AI in Legal: A Thoughtful Approach
Developing ndMax: Tackling Legal Challenges with AI
The Shift to Semantic Search
Building Legal Apps with ndMax
AI Integration and Lawyer Experience
Simply Intelligent: The New Messaging
Learn More:
Dan - NetDocuments.com
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Dan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danhauck
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Nov 28, 2024 • 19min
E13 - Are Law Firms Succeeding with GenAI? Joe Cohen, Director of Innovation at CRS
In this episode, Joe Cohen, Director of Advanced Client Solutions at Charles Russell Speechlys, discusses his recent career change and the establishment of a new department at the firm focusing on legal tech, generative AI, legal project management, and process improvement. Joe details the triggers for creating the innovation department and the rapid adoption of generative AI platforms within the firm. He shares insights from the recent Legal Innovators conference panel, the impact of AI on value-based pricing, and its transformative potential on both the practice of law and business models. Joe also explores the challenges and future possibilities of AI in the legal sector, including data limitations and evolving regulatory landscapes.
Creating an Innovation Department
Generative AI Implementation
Value-Based Pricing and AI
Future of Legal AI and Data Challenges
Learn More:
https://www.legalinnovators.co.uk/
Joe - https://www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com/en/people/j/joe-cohen/
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Joe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecohen13/
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Aug 27, 2024 • 34min
E12 - AI and the Future of Legal Ops with LegalOps.com Founders Jeff Franke and Connie Brenton
In episode 12 of Zach Abramowitz is Legally Disrupted, Zach interviews Jeff Franke and Connie Brenton, co-founders of LegalOps.com, ahead of their upcoming conference, "Running Legal Like a Business," in Las Vegas from September 3-6. The discussion highlights the evolution of legal operations, emphasizing the need for community and industry standards, which they aim to foster through their platform.
Learn more about the conference "Running Legal Like a Business" - https://event-2024.legalops.com/
Learn More:
Legal Ops - legalops.com, lawvision.com
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Aug 22, 2024 • 53min
E11 - Is Harvey.ai All Hype? Giupedi CEO Edward Bukstel
In this episode of Zach Abramowitz is Legally Disrupted, dive into the world of digital health and legal technology with a seasoned entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of healthcare technology since the late 1980s. The discussion covers the evolution of electronic health records, the intersection of digital health and legal tech, and the challenges faced by lawyers in adopting new technologies. Edward Bukstel shares insights on his current venture, which aims to streamline the process for personal injury cases and improve communication between clients and lawyers. The conversation also touches on the competitive landscape of legal tech, particularly the emergence of companies like Harvey.ai and the implications of AI in the legal field.
Learn More:
Edward - https://medium.com/@Connected_Dots, https://www.giupedi.com/
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
Edward - https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-bukstel-33987a2/
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Aug 9, 2024 • 31min
E10 - GPT Wrappers with James Lee, CEO & Cofounder of LegalMation
This episode of Zach Abramowitz is Legally Disrupted delves into the importance of using specialized tools for professionals, drawing an analogy between Snap-on tools at a motorcycle shop and purpose-built applications in the legal industry. It discusses why general-purpose tools like GPT and Claude may not meet the specific needs of professionals, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions that provide confidence and efficiency. The conversation highlights the philosophy of building platforms that cater to the precise requirements of professional users, particularly in legal settings.
The Snap-On Tools Philosophy
The Professional's Preference
Purpose-Built Applications vs. Swiss Army Knives
Optimizing for Legal Professionals
Learn More:
James - https://www.legalmation.com/about/
Zach - https://www.legallydisrupted.com/
Follow Along:
James - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lee-9468b64
Zach - linkedin.com/in/zachabramowitz

Jul 10, 2024 • 25min
E9 - How is AI Impacting Law Firm Subsidiaries? Bryon Bratcher, MD of Gravity Stack
Bryon Bratcher, MD of Gravity Stack, discusses how AI is transforming law firm subsidiaries. Topics include AI impact on legal services, rebranding initiatives, evolution of AI in law firms, using AI in due diligence, and challenges in scaling AI usage.