This episode involves two people with very distinguished careers. Bridget M. McCormack who now heads the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and Colin Rule, the founder of ODR.com just acquired by The AAA. Bridget has served in just about every role you can in the legal industry. She started her legal career in legal aid and as a public defender handling trials and appeals. She then moved to teaching law school, first at Yale and then Michigan. After her stint as an educator, she decided she wanted to help foster even more change and won a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court where she ultimately ascended to the position of Chief Justice. Fast forward to 2023 and she took the helm of the AAA. One of Bridget’s biggest initiatives at AAA is bringing tech into the arbitration process and that is where Colin Rule comes in. He founded an online dispute resolution (ODR) company, about 15 years ago that ultimately became ODR.com which the AAA just announced it was acquiring. To say that Colin is an ODR OG is an understatement. He literally wrote the book on ODR way back in the early days of the internet. Ebay brought him on board in the early 2000s where he headed up the company’s ODR function. In this episode Bridget and Colin discuss:  AAA's acquisition of ODR.com: The strategic partnership between AAA and odr.com to revolutionize dispute resolution. AI's transformative role in dispute resolution: How AAA is using AI internally and through external tools to improve efficiency and accessibility. The future of dispute resolution: A vision for a more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly system that leverages technology and data.   Episode Credits Editing and Production: Grant Blackstock Theme Music: Home Base (Instrumental Version) by TA2MI

Daniel Rollingher, co-founder of Fabrica, discusses how blockchain technology is transforming real estate ownership. He explains how NFTs simplify buying, selling, and managing properties while enhancing transparency. Rollingher highlights a unique trust model that connects on-chain ownership with legal frameworks and explores the potential for blockchain to disrupt traditional processes like title insurance. He also addresses innovative lending mechanics for land and the benefits of democratizing trust agreements through open-source models.

Jack Weinberger, co-founder of Ajax and a former finance and private equity professional, shares his transition into legal tech. He recounts his journey from banking to entrepreneurship, driven by insights into lawyers' challenges. Highlighting Ajax's innovative AI timekeeping technology, he emphasizes data security and efficiency. Jack discusses the importance of understanding lawyer workflows and hints at exciting features like capturing spontaneous conversations, showcasing how legal tech can transform daily practices for lawyers.

This episode features Tom Dunlop, founder of Summize, a contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform. Tom discusses his unique path to founding Summize, from his background as a professional athlete and lawyer to his passion for solving real-world problems with technology. Key takeaways: The genesis of Summize: Tom explains how his experience reviewing hundreds of contracts manually led to the idea for Summize. Early challenges and the evolution of AI: Tom describes the initial challenges of summarizing contracts using AI in 2018 and how the advent of generative AI has revolutionized Summize's capabilities. Summize's unique approach: Summize differentiates itself by embedding its functionality within popular workplace tools like Slack, Teams, and Microsoft Word, allowing users to manage contracts without leaving their familiar workflows. How Summize works: Tom explains how Summize uses AI to curate contract data and provide summaries that are relevant and tailored to specific business needs. The future of Summize: Tom shares his vision for the future of Summize, including plans to further leverage AI, enhance native integrations, and incorporate validated content from the legal community.  Resources and Links: Summize Website: summize.com Connect with Tom on LinkedIn Keywords: legal tech, contract lifecycle management (CLM), AI, generative AI, contract summarization, legal technology, Summize, Tom Dunlop, Microsoft Word, Slack, Teams, Outlook, DocuSign

Lucas Moskowitz, General Counsel at Robinhood, sheds light on the company's mission to democratize finance, making investing accessible to all. He discusses his intriguing career transition from big law and the SEC to shaping digital finance at Robinhood. The conversation dives into the importance of data-driven regulation, balancing investor protection with innovation. Additionally, Moskowitz explores the potential of crypto and blockchain technologies, emphasizing the need for education in legal circles to navigate these emerging fields.

Scott and Digby Lee, co-founders of AltFee, revolutionize the legal billing landscape with their innovative app designed to replace the billable hour. They delve into the significance of alternative fee arrangements (AFAs), emphasizing the shift towards value-based pricing, especially in the age of AI. Their discussion touches on enhancing client relationships through transparency, the impact of COVID-19 on legal practices, and the integration of technology to streamline billing processes. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of legal pricing!

What does it take to build a successful legal tech startup?   In this Best of 2024 episode, we revisit our conversation with Zach Posner, co-founder of the LegalTech Fund, an investment fund focused on supporting innovative legal technology companies. Zach’s unique perspective on legal tech investing is rooted in his broad experience, including building an education tech company acquired by McGraw Hill. During our conversation, he shares valuable insights into what makes startups thrive. From the importance of transparent investor updates to fostering frequent, meaningful customer interactions that guide product development.   We also explore the LegalTech Fund’s investment focus: Tools leveraging contracting data for business insights Tech solutions expanding access to legal services Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor, or simply interested in the evolution of legal tech, this episode is full of practical advice and inspiring insights. Episode Credits Editing and Production: Grant Blackstock Theme Music: Home Base (Instrumental Version) by TA2MI   Want to keep up to date about new episodes? Technically Legal Update List. Want to learn more about Percipient (percipient.co)? Follow Chad on Linkedin: Chad Main | LinkedIn Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: Technically Legal | LinkedIn Follow the podcast on Instagram: Technically Legal | Instagram Follow the podcast on X: Technically Legal | X

John Grant, a lawyer and founder of The Agile Attorney consultancy, shares his innovative approach to legal project management. He advocates for Agile and Kanban methodologies to transform legal workflows, emphasizing flexibility and efficiency. Grant explains how traditional methods can hinder progress and highlights the power of Kanban boards in visualizing tasks. He also reflects on his unique journey from tech to law, discussing how blending legal expertise with technology enhances client satisfaction and optimizes team performance.

Conrad Everhart, founder of Flatiron Law Group, shares his journey from Georgetown grad to partner at major law firms like Jones Day. He left BigLaw to offer a cost-effective, tech-driven model for M&A services. The firm utilizes flat fees, low overhead, and custom software like Deal Driver to enhance client insights. Conrad also discusses his work with Stanford’s Codex project, where he's developing an AI negotiation simulator to train future lawyers, emphasizing the crucial blend of AI and human judgment in legal negotiations.

Stan Shepard, General Counsel of Atlassian, offers an engaging look into his career journey from finance journalist to legal leader at a major tech company. He reveals how Atlassian's legal team leverages internal tools like Jira and Confluence to enhance collaboration and streamline workflows. The conversation highlights the role of AI in automating legal requests and improving efficiency. Shepard also shares valuable advice on adopting AI responsibly within legal departments, emphasizing cultural shifts towards modern communication practices.