More Than A Lawyer with Holly Cope

In this episode, I'm joined by three leaders working at the highest levels of legal practice and regulation. Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a long-time advocate for access to justice, legal innovation, and procedural reform. William Findlay, Head of Legal Regulatory at Revolut. James Smither, Global Head of Risk Management at Freshfields. James is a self-de...

In this episode, I'm talking with Alexandre Verrien. He used to be the legal director of France for Dell Technologies, but now he works for himself as a legal executive. With decades of experience at the intersection of law and technology, Alex offers a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping legal departments, law firms, and the future role of lawyers themselves. We explore what an AI-first leg...

In this episode, I'm talking with Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a long-time advocate for access to justice, legal innovation, and procedural reform. Brett brings a unique perspective from both frontline legal practice and legal policymaking, offering a thoughtful view on how AI should - and shouldn’t - be integrated into the justice system. We explore one...

In this special compilation episode, I am joined by a powerhouse lineup of legal innovators, practitioners, and tech leaders who are actively reshaping the industry: Zack Shapiro, founder of an AI-native law firm, Rains LLP.  Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters. Sandy MacDonald, the Senior Director and Head of Legal Operations at DocuSign. Dharshi Harindra, a tech lawyer, Ass...

In this episode, I'm talking with Anna Popowicz - Pazdej , Global Senior Data Privacy Lawyer at Dentons. Anna walks us through the heavy-lifting required to move a firm from a "proof of concept" to full operational readiness, ensuring that innovation never comes at the cost of client confidentiality. We talk about the meticulous process of implementing AI—starting with the Privacy Impact Assessmen...

In this episode, I'm talking with Dharshi Harindra, a tech lawyer, Assistant General Counsel, and Executive Coach. She is the founder and host of the Unbiased podcast, a platform dedicated to exploring the legal industry through the lens of curiosity and leadership. We first met at Legal Tech Talk in London in 2025, and after a brief chat for my show, she invited me onto hers to dig deeper into th...

In this episode, I'm talking with James Smither, Global Head of Risk Management at Freshfields. James is a self-described "risk geek" dedicated to redefining how law firms perceive uncertainty as both a massive upside and a critical downside. We talk about the "apocalyptic spectrum" of AI risks - from the common trip-ups like hallucinations and citation errors to the looming threat of quantum comp...

In this episode, I'm talking with Sandy MacDonald, Senior Director and Head of Legal Operations at DocuSign. Sandy is recognised for building an "ahead of the curve" team that treats AI not just as a tool, but as a collaborative digital assistant embedded into the very fabric of their workflow. We talk about the cultural shift of AI adoption and how focusing on individual "pain points". You’ll hea...

In this episode, I'm talking with Zack Shapiro, founder of an AI-native law firm, Rains LLP. Zack is a corporate lawyer focused on startups and business law who has transformed his two-person practice into a high-leverage powerhouse serving over 200 clients. Despite describing himself as "uniquely bad at using tech tools," he has pioneered a "Claude-native" workflow that uses agentic AI to handle...

I'm talking with: Peter Boyce, one of the legal deputy directors in the civil service and AI lead for his agency. Amy Cronin, senior director of legal at Skyscanner. Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters.  David Mazur, Vice President, General Counsel & Compliance Officer for Nestle. In this episode, we explore how AI is reshaping entry-level roles in law firms and what it m...

In this episode, I'm talking with William Finlay, Head of Legal Regulatory at Revolut. He leads the group regulatory team within the legal department. A global fintech powerhouse that is leading the charge in integrating AI into both customer-facing products and internal back-office workflows. We talk about the "top-down" vs. "bottom-up" approach to AI adoption and how Revolut balances its dual ro...

In this episode, I’m talking with David Mazur, Vice President, General Counsel & Compliance Officer, who leads efforts in Intellectual Property and R&D contracts at Nestlé , a global organization that is pioneering AI-driven patent drafting and legal innovation. David brings a "maverick" perspective to the table, viewing AI not as a threat, but as an empowering technology that democra...

In this episode, I’m talking with Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters. He is the former founder of a specialised AI research company, acquired by Thomson Reuters, that developed Large Language Models (LLMs) for law from the ground up. His team is now focused on building the Thomson LLM, a specialized model designed to achieve the high-stakes reliability that generic AI models lack...

AI is transforming the legal world, but how do legal teams navigate a landscape overflowing with tools, evolving risks, and shifting workforce dynamics? In this episode, we go  behind the scenes with a UK government lawyer and an in-house legal director  to explore how top teams are actually approaching AI. I'm talking with Peter Boyce, one of the legal deputy directors in the civil serv...

Most lawyers talk about career progression as if it’s a straight line. But the reality looks a lot more like a series of pivots, risks, and moments you can’t predict. And sometimes the bravest move… is stepping away from the thing that once defined you. This episode is about those moments — and what happens when you follow them. Today I sit down with Sahar Farooqi (CEO and founder of Legalencia),...

Credibility doesn’t come from your credentials. It comes from how you show up. Most lawyers still believe their degrees and titles speak for themselves. But clients don’t buy credentials, they buy clarity, confidence, and connection. And that starts with visibility. The right kind. In this episode, I’m joined by Tasleem Ahmad Fateh, founder of the LinkedIn Creators Club and the Robinhood Course —...

Most lawyers can give advice on six-figure deals. But many can’t say, with confidence, how much they actually earn. Silence around money isn’t just awkward — it’s expensive. And for many lawyers, it’s keeping them financially stuck. Today’s episode digs into a quiet cultural norm in the legal profession that shapes careers, mental health, and long-term financial stability: salary secrecy. I’m join...

Most lawyers wait for the “right time” to take a leap. But what if that moment never comes? The legal world is changing faster than ever and those who redefine success, rather than chase security, are the ones shaping its future. From fear of failure to the rise of AI, this episode dives into what it really means to evolve as a modern lawyer. Ari Mike Varjabedian, founder of E-Legal Councel, a tec...

Most law firms say they’re “exploring AI.” At Linklaters, they’re living it. Resistance is real, but so is the momentum. Because the lawyers who embrace change won’t just survive the AI era, they’ll define it. In this episode, I’m joined by Sonia Cisse, Partner and Head of AI & Technology at Paris office, Linklaters, one of the world’s leading international law firms. Sonia is h...

What you wear isn’t just fashion, it’s strategy. In law, perception shapes power. And for women lawyers, style can be the silent language of authority. So what if your wardrobe could build confidence, and your brand? Today, we're speaking to Estelle Winsett, a former lawyer turned personal stylist for women attorneys. After seven years in practice, she pivoted from legal briefs to wardrobe briefs...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders. And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing. In this episode, I'm talking with: Richard Macklin, ex-Global Vice Chair for Dentons and now, world-class coach for leaders at the Alexander Partnership and on the training committee for the City of...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders. And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear.  In this episode, I'm talking with Merlin Bey...

The Legal Industry Is Changing Faster Than Ever Most law firms think the “AI revolution” is coming someday. But it’s already here and it’s reshaping everything from hiring to billing models. The question now isn’t if lawyers will adapt. It’s how fast and who will get left behind. In this episode, I dive into the massive transformations happening in law right now from junior lawyers quitting in rec...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders. And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear. In this episode, I'm talking with Caleb Harris,Fou...

Too many law firms are still guessing what their clients actually care about. They talk about themselves. Their credentials. Their features. But not their clients’ real fears, needs, or goals. And in law, where trust is everything, that’s a costly mistake. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Alana Sparrow, Chief Branding Officer and Co-Founder of The Foundry for Art Design + Culture, a creative...