Legal 500 Podcast

Marie Johansen Nordland speaks to Michael Bowsher KC and Jenn Lawrence of Monckton Chambers on the current and future state of space law, emerging legal issues in Outer Space, and why space matters - and why lawyers should care. 

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of Legal 500, speaks with Christina Blacklaws – chair of the Lawtech UK panel and former president of the Law Society in England and Wales – about the uses and abuses of artificial intelligence in the legal world, how technology will shape the legal profession, and the ideas that fell by the wayside.

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of Legal 500, speaks with Christina Blacklaws – former president of the Law Society of England and Wales and chair of the Lawtech UK panel – about her roles in pioneering legal practices, steering the profession through tumultuous times, and the evolution of the solicitors’ profession.

Harry Vercoe (MENA Editor at Legal 500) speaks with guests about the International Lawyers for Africa program and its impact on law firms across the globe.

Legal Business and Legal 500 data editor Ben Wheway speaks to Grant Thornton UK’s Tom Townson and Emma Young about the UK’s new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent fraud, which coming into force on 1 September 2025. They discuss how prepared UK businesses really are and what steps companies must take now to put appropriate protections in place.

Will Tolcher, global Bar editor, speaks with Guy Morpuss KC – commercial barrister-turned-crime fiction author, about his journey from the Bar to the literary world, as well as the surprising cross-overs and parallels between the two worlds.  A Trial in Three Acts by Guy Morpuss is out now (Viper, £16.99)

Barnaby Merrill speaks to Angelo Paparelli of Vialto Law US on the history of US immigration law, anti-immigration sentiment, and expected changes to the immigration regime during the second Trump administration

In a conversation recorded before the January 20th inauguration, Barnaby Merrill speaks to Mark Bini and Tom Suddath, partners at Reed Smith and former federal prosecutors, about what Donald Trump’s second term means for FCPA enforcement and the enaction of cross-border regulatory legislation more broadly.

Sophie Chan speaks to Alyssa Jarvis, Director of Mansfield & Strategic Innovations at Diversity Lab, and Jo Dooley, UK Head of DEI at A&O Shearman, about the process of Mansfield certification and its value to law firms. The panel discusses the challenges of measurable action on diversity, and the dangers of looking for a 'magic bullet' to the DEI issues affecting law firms.

Barnaby Merrill is joined by Joe Sellers, founder and co-chair of the Civil Rights & Employment team at Cohen Milstein. In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Joe explores one of its lesser-known provisions – Title VII, which outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex. Utilising case studies from throughout his career, Barnaby and Joe explore the development...

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of Legal 500, speaks with Rachael Muldoon, a member of Maitland Chambers, one of the Bar’s leading experts on crypto. In this episode, Rachael and Will discuss the potential of the blockchain - including the much-maligned NFT, differences in regulatory philosophy between the US and the UK, as well as the challenges in litigating to secure digital assets.

Will Tolcher, global Bar editor speaks with Lord Edward Garnier KC, a member of 4 Pump Court, about his twinned and intertwined careers in law and politics as one of England's leading defamation barristers, as well as a member of parliament for two and a half decades and Solicitor General for England and Wales. This episode makes reference to the case of Dr Mike Lynch; it was recorded prior t...

In the first-ever live episode of the Legal 500 podcast, global Bar editor Will Tolcher speaks with Alex Gunning KC, the chair of Combar, to discuss international practice at the commercial Bar, the relationship between in-house, private practice and the self-employed Bar, and the talent pathway from academia through pupillage to tenancy.

Will Tolcher, global Bar editor of Legal 500, speaks with Amrit Kaur Dhanoa, chair of the Young Barristers Committee and a member of 4-5 Gray's Inn Square about legal education in England and Wales and issues affecting emerging talent at the Bar today.

Barnaby Merrill speaks to Katherine Mateo, a counsel in Olshan’s litigation team, about her career, including her work as a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion committee. Also discussed are the challenges of a firm-wide approach to D&I, and the importance of firm culture in long-term planning.

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of Legal 500, speaks with Jacob Turner, a member of Fountain Court Chambers, one of the Bar’s leading experts on artificial intelligence. In this, the first half of a two-part episode, Jacob and Will discuss what lawyers need to know about the fundamental technologies of AI, and take a look at the global landscape of competition in this space.

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of Legal 500, speaks with Jacob Turner, a member of Fountain Court Chambers, one of the Bar’s leading experts on artificial intelligence. In this, the second half of a two-part episode, Jacob and Will discuss use cases for AI, the philosophy behind different regulatory approaches, and how common law adapts to emerging technologies.

Sophie Chan, Legal 500’s Deputy Editor for the UK regions and EMEA, speaks to Stephanie Hamon, Head of Legal Operations Consulting at Norton Rose Fulbright, about her role at the firm, the importance of having law-adjacent, in-house expertise at a law firm, and the future of legal ops more broadly.

Sophie Chan, deputy editor for the UK regions at Legal 500, speaks to Guy Longhurst, managing partner of Ellisons Solicitors, about his legal career and the challenges of maintaining access to a legal career across different levels of educational attainment in the UK.

Barnaby speaks to two members of the corporate team at Romano Law: Rishi Sehgal, a corporate partner, and Robert Kleinfeldt, a senior corporate counsel. Rishi and Robert discuss the environment for start-ups and small businesses in the United States, and the challenges of advising growth clients.

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of The Legal 500, speaks with Tana Adkin KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association and a King's Counsel at 15NBS. In this episode, Tana and Will discuss the state of the criminal justice system in England and Wales from courts to prisons, the health of the criminal Bar, English criminal law's adjustment to a post-COVID and higher-technology world, private...

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of The Legal 500, speaks with Sir Max Hill KC, director of public prosecutions from November 2018 to October 2023. In this, the second part of a two-part episode, Sir Max and Will discuss Sir Max's term as DPP, covering the challenges of running the Crown Prosecution Service through lockdowns and the interaction between public and private prosecutions, as well...

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of The Legal 500, speaks with Sir Max Hill KC, director of public prosecutions from November 2018 to October 2023. In this, the first part of a two-part episode, Sir Max and Will discuss Sir Max's career as a self-employed barrister, covering his route to the Bar, leadership of the Criminal Bar Association and involvement in terrorism and murder cases.

Barnaby Merrill speaks to Jason Levin, an outplacement, career management, business development coach and speaker, and the founder and CEO of ReadySetLaunch. Barnaby and Jason discussed issues including the importance of relationships, the art of maintaining weak connections, and how introverts can succeed in what’s seen as an extrovert dominated-world.

Will Tolcher, Global Bar Editor of The Legal 500, speaks to Liz Dux, chambers director of Littleton Chambers. This, the second part of a two-part episode, covers Liz's move a career in chambers management from partnership in the solicitors profession. Will and Liz discuss the differences between chambers and law firms, leadership over a clerks room, managing the self-employed nature of barris...