Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney speaks with Ana Baillie , a former employment lawyer who built a successful career across Allen & Overy , RBS, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Accenture, and HSBC before making a remarkable career change. After more than twenty years in law, Ana retrained as a midwife and now works for the NHS in London...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Sunny Mann , Global Chair of Baker McKenzie and one of the world's leading international trade lawyers. With more than 26 years at the firm, Sunny shares his journey from accidental lawyer to global leader, discussing the skills that drive success in law, the importance of human relationship...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Jane Caskey , Global Head of Risk Advisory at Linklaters . Jane shares her journey from intellectual property litigation in Canada to leading a global risk advisory practice at one of the world's leading law firms. The conversation explores how client expectations are changing, why lawyers n...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney speaks with Julian Taylor , Senior Partner at Simmons & Simmons . Julian shares his unusual path into law, from studying history and working as a barrister to becoming a senior leader at one of the world’s leading international law firms. The conversation explores leadership, law firm culture, flexible...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney speaks with James Hacking , Co-founder and CEO of Kindleworth LLP . The conversation explores how and why top lawyers are choosing to launch their own firms, the realities behind law firm startups, and how the legal market is evolving. They also discuss private equity in law, the role of technology, and w...

In this episode of Beyond Billables, host Stephen Rodney speaks with Tom Cassels , Senior Partner at Linklaters , about how top litigators build and sustain successful careers. The conversation explores Tom’s unconventional path into law, the evolution of complex litigation, and how the profession is changing with funding models and AI. The episode also focuses on the human side of legal practice,...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Paul Thwaite , Senior Partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP . The conversation explores Paul’s journey from a non-academic background into law, his long career at a single firm, and his transition into leadership. They discuss what makes a successful law firm partner today, how the role has chan...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney interviews Darryl Cooke , Founder and Executive Chair of gunnercooke , a next-generation law firm that has grown to 16 offices across the US, Austria, Germany, Scotland, and England. Darryl shares his unconventional journey into law and how frustration with traditional law firm leadership pushed him to bui...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney speaks with Mike Francies about a remarkable legal career built across some of the world’s leading firms. From serving as Managing Partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP for over two decades, to now being a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP , Mike reflects on leadership, private equity growth, and...

In this episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney speaks with Richard Medd , Managing Partner at Browne Jacobson LLP , a leading UK law firm. Richard shares his journey from a corporate lawyer to managing partner, highlighting the firm’s growth and transformation over the years. He discusses leadership, the importance of ownership, and how to foster a one-firm culture as the firm expands....

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney sits down with Kirsten Hewson , Chair of Shoosmiths , the UK-founded full-service law firm with a growing international reach. Kirsten shares her journey from training at a local authority to becoming a planning specialist, partner, divisional leader, and now Chair of the firm. Kirsten began her career in...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney speaks with Aster Crawshaw , Senior Partner of Addleshaw Goddard . Aster shares his journey from studying history at university to leading a major international law firm with 21 offices across 16 jurisdictions. He reflects on his early career in private practice and in-house at EY, his path into partnersh...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney speaks to Dr. Sandie Okoro OBE , Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and previously Group General Counsel of Standard Chartered and also Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the World Bank. Dr. Sandie shares her inspiring journey from law student to a leading figure in international finance...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney sits down with Emma Slatter , Chief Officer - Legal, Regulatory and Compliance at Visa . Emma shares her journey from private practice at Slaughter and May to a 20 year career at Deutsche Bank, and then to Visa, where she joined just weeks before a major payments outage. Emma Slatter began her legal caree...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney speaks with Vicky Wickremeratne , senior employment partner at Simmons & Simmons . The conversation explores what it really takes to build a successful legal career across private practice and in-house roles. Vicky shares her non linear career journey, the skills that matter most for partners, and how...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Jeanette Burgess , Managing Partner at Walker Morris , one of the UK’s leading independent law firms. Jeanette shares her career journey from aspiring police officer to leading a top firm, offering candid insights into her time in-house, her return to private practice, and her transition int...

In this special episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney steps outside the usual realm of law firm partners to sit down with a senior King’s Counsel, Jeff Chapman KC . With decades of experience at the top of the commercial bar, Jeff brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to succeed as a KC in today’s complex legal landscape. The conversation explores Jeff’s professional journey, t...

In this episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney interviews Joanne Owen , Global Co-Head of the Real Estate Sector at DLA Piper . Joanne shares his career journey, leadership insights, and what it takes to be a successful law firm partner. With over 20 years of experience in law, Joanne talks about his transition from DLA to Proskauer and back, and the lessons he's learned along the way....

In this episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney sits down with Stéphane Lemarchand , Partner at DLA Piper in Paris, to explore what it truly means to build a successful and sustainable legal career at the top of the profession. With over 25 years of experience in IT and digital transformation law, Stéphane shares his journey from a curious law student to a globally respected partner and...

In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners , host Stephen Rodney speaks with Julian Stait , co-managing Partner and Head of the London Litigation & Arbitration team at Milbank . Julian shares his remarkable career journey, from his early days as a litigator to leading one of Europe’s top dispute resolution teams. With over 30 years of experience, Julian discusses t...

In this episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney sits down with Clare Murray , Managing Partner at CM Murray LLP , to explore what it really takes to build a successful legal practice. From founding her firm after a life-changing health event to leading with vision and heart, Clare shares candid insights into the inner workings of partnership culture, law firm leadership, and the evolving...

In this episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney speaks with David Stewart , Managing Director at Coriats Trust Company Limited . From his early legal roots in London to his transformative leadership at Olswang and current work with high-net-worth clients in the Turks and Caicos, David reflects on the dynamics of partnership, leadership, and building a successful career in law. This conve...

In this episode of Beyond Billables, Stephen Rodney speaks with Philip Rodney, former Chair of Burnes & Co, about his 40-year legal career and leadership journey. From his early days as a litigator to leading the transformation of a mid-market firm into a Scottish powerhouse, Philip shares his insights on what it takes to succeed in law and leadership. He reflects on the importance of integrit...

In this episode of Beyond Billables , host Stephen Rodney speaks with Sarah Lee , former Head of Disputes and Investigations at Slaughter and May , about her journey through the legal profession and what it takes to become a successful partner. Drawing from over two decades at one of the UK’s top firms, Sarah reflects on the evolving nature of leadership, diversity, and culture in law. From career...

In this episode, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Sarah Rees , a leading partner in the commercial litigation team at Blake Morgan , who shares her journey from trainee to partner. She reflects on key leadership lessons, navigating the challenges of work-life balance, and the future of law firms in an evolving legal world. With decades of experience, Sarah offers invaluable insights into managin...