Studying Law Around the World

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Brett Colvin, the Co-founder and CEO of Goodlawyer . Brett began his career at Canada’s largest law firm, BLG, but his entrepreneurial spirit eventually hit a wall with the traditional billable hour model. In 2019, he left the firm to build a platform that reimagines how legal services are delivered. We discuss why the "Three...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Felicia Harris Hoss, a distinguished mediator and arbitrator who spent over 28 years as a complex commercial litigator before pivoting her practice from the courtroom to the "conference room". We discuss why less than 1% of cases actually go to trial and why the smartest lawyers are now prioritizing Early Dispute Resoluti...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Jumi Odepe, the Principal at Jode Law Firm. Jumi is a dual-qualified lawyer (Canada & Nigeria) who describes herself as "the lawyer that stays with you", guiding founders from their first incorporation all the way to their exit. We discuss her incredible career pivot from practicing Criminal Law in Nigeria to becoming...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Lameck Kefala, a Recruitment Consultant at Smith Legal Search. Lameck shares his unique journey from articling at a firm and working in legal tech to becoming a legal recruiter. We break down the current state of the Toronto legal market for 2026, revealing which practice areas are heating up (Infrastructure & M&A) and whic...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World, we speak with Mónica Mora, an associate at Basham, Ringe y Correa in Mexico City, about building a meaningful legal career in corporate law and cross-border practice. Mónica shares her professional journey from working in-house at Nike to private practice, and how that experience shaped her approach to corporate law, M&A, foreign investment, an...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Aneka Jiwaji, a commercial and securities litigator who defied the status quo to build a brand on her own terms. Aneka was literally born into the profession, arriving just one day before her father's constitutional law exam, and she has navigated every corner of the legal market. We trace her journey from national insurance de...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Camila Motta, the founder of Revive Law. Camila shares her inspiring journey from immigrating to Canada and navigating the NCA process to launching her own firm during the height of the pandemic. We dive deep into the reality of "Fee Splitting" arrangements, why she chose the Law Practice Program (LPP) over traditional ar...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Dina Brewer, Managing Partner at Princeton Law Partners. With a career spanning Davis Polk & Wardwell, Morgan Stanley, and her own firm, Dina offers a masterclass on navigating the legal profession. We discuss why starting at a large firm can be the ultimate training ground for precision, the reality of the 94% startup failure...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I sit down with Eugene Matos De Lara, a lawyer with one of the most diverse resumes in the industry. From serving as a Combat Armour Officer to working at the International Court of Justice and now the Ministry of the Attorney General, Eugene explains why lawyers need to stop being roadblocks and start being "business enablers." We discu...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , Claudio Klaus speaks with Andrew Shaughnessy , partner in intellectual property litigation at Torys LLP in Toronto. Andrew shares his unconventional path from chemical engineering and sales into law, and how curiosity, patience, and storytelling shaped his career in IP litigation. The conversation explores what it really takes to build a sustainab...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , Claudio Klaus sits down with Amber Neumann, a skilled Ontario lawyer with experience in public service, adjudication, and client-focused practice. Amber shares her insights on navigating complex legal decisions, understanding capacity and consent, and providing practical guidance in sensitive cases. Listeners will learn how Amber applies wisdom, p...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World, Claudio Klaus speaks with Ana Paula dos Santos, a lawyer licensed in Brazil and New York. She is a JSD candidate and a fellow in Advanced Economic Studies, and she works with the California Victims of Crime Resource Center on projects related to cybersecurity and privacy education. This conversation looks at how different legal systems understand p...

Is it possible to move in-house without spending years in Big Law? What is the difference between being a "risk-averse" lawyer and a true business partner? In this episode, I sit down with Ruben Camacho , Associate Corporate Counsel at RSA Security . Ruben shares his unique journey from working in sales and his family’s business to managing complex commercial transactions in the fast-pac...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World, corporate attorney Priscilla Bonsu shares her journey from Germany to the United States and how she built a cross border career in corporate law, private equity, and venture capital. She talks about moving from a civil law system to a common law system, building strong teamwork habits, and finding mentors who shaped her career path. Priscilla also...

Toronto lawyer Yonida Koukio works at Oziel Law helping startups from idea to exit. She blends corporate, tech, and IP work with hands-on legal innovation. In this episode, Yonida shares her path from Athens to Toronto, how she carved a hybrid role as a corporate tech lawyer and innovation lead, and what founders really need from counsel beyond templates. We talk about fixed fees, productized serv...

In this episode, Billy Rusteen , a former Microsoft, GitHub, and Databricks lawyer, shares how he transitioned from litigation to in-house and built My In-House Coach to help others do the same. Billy explains what hiring managers really look for, how to write resumes that stand out, and how to make your first 90 days as an in-house counsel count. We discuss in-house legal strategy, career pivots,...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , host Claudio Klaus speaks with Carlos Romero , University of Chicago Law LLM graduate and international arbitration fellow at White & Case in Washington, D.C. Carlos explains how international lawyers can use an LLM to build real professional experience in the United States. He shares his story from Mexico to UChicago , the process of joining...

Managing Partner at Loopstra Nixon, former Shearman and Sterling associate, corporate lawyer focused on transactions and healthcare, U of T Law grad. Peter Saad joins me to unpack a career that began in New York during the 2008 financial crisis and led to firm leadership in Canada. Peter explains how the capital markets freeze shaped his approach to execution, why soft skills determine client trus...

Appellate Litigation, Motion Practice, Legal Writing that Wins In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , Toronto litigator Gabriel Latner breaks down a decade of motion-heavy practice across jurisdictions. We cover: US vs. Canada litigation culture: page and time limits, deadlines, and how procedure shapes strategy How to simplify complex facts: causation chains, narrative clarity, and cu...

Rebecca Lockwood is a lawyer, mediator, educator, and founder of Grammatika International , an organization dedicated to helping lawyers and law students worldwide improve their legal writing and professional skills. In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , Rebecca shares her journey from articling under Barbara Jackman and appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada, to building her ow...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , host Claudio Klaus speaks with Tomas Ballarati , an Argentinian and American lawyer licensed in both Argentina and California. Tomas shares his journey from studying law in Córdoba, Argentina, to earning an LL.M. at George Mason University , passing the California Bar Exam , and building a unique cross-border legal practice . We discuss: How to pr...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , Claudio Klaus speaks with Emil Abedian, founder and CEO of Council CPAs, an accounting firm dedicated to serving law firms. Emil shares his journey from Ernst & Young in Sweden to building a specialized practice in California that helps lawyers run their firms like businesses. We discuss: How Emil built Council CPAs and why he chose to special...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , host Claudio Klaus speaks with Talita Krenk, an attorney whose career bridges Brazil and the United States. Talita began her legal journey as a prosecutor in Brazil before moving to the U.S., where she earned both an LL.M. and a J.D. in Indiana to qualify as a lawyer again. Today she works as Immigration Counsel and Manager at a multinational comp...

In this episode of Studying Law Around the World , I speak with Sunny Kim , lawyer and founder of Resonance Guide, about how lawyers can use LinkedIn to build an authentic personal brand that attracts real opportunities. Sunny’s path took her from Columbia Law School to practicing tax law at Davis Polk, advising startups at Gunderson Dettmer, and working in-house at Pathway Capital. Despite her su...

Adriana Aguena is the Assistant Director of Graduate and International Programs at McGeorge School of Law. A Brazilian-trained lawyer and McGeorge alum, she has built her career supporting LLM, SJD, and exchange students from around the world. In this episode, we talk about McGeorge’s new online LLM in U.S. Law and Policy and what it means for global legal education. Adriana shares: Why online pro...