Counsel Culture: The Business of Law Podcast

Episoder

• What happens when trust starts to break down? 18.05.2026 24min

  In this week’s episode of Counsel Culture the team returns to a question sitting behind many of the biggest stories in politics, business and the legal market: what happens when trust starts to break down? Linzi Goldthorpe, Ben Girdlestone and Alex Novarese discuss Keir Starmer’s communication challenge, the gap between personal integrity and public perception, and why authenticity can be difficult to project even when the underlying story should be strong. The episode also looks at the insid...
• From values to behaviours: what “good” looks like in practice 10.04.2026 24min

  A firm's values are meant to guide decision-making and lay the foundation for its culture but sometimes they can end up trying to do too many jobs at once. In this episode, Linzi speaks to marketing director and consultant Hayley Brooksbank who argues for an evolution: moving from values as statements to behaviours as standards. Thank you for listening.
• AI ambition, private equity influence and the fight to prove value 27.03.2026 21min

  In this episode of Counsel Culture, Linzi and Ben explore the forces reshaping the legal market. They discuss private equity’s growing influence on firms, the gap between AI ambition and real-world adoption, and new research revealing a stark disconnect between general counsel and the C-suite on legal’s value. They also reflect on geopolitical uncertainty, insights from the US market, and Byfield’s work supporting former Vodafone franchisees. Thank you for listening.
• Dana Denis-Smith OBE on the Next 100 Years for Women in Law 06.03.2026 28min

  Just ahead of International Women's Day, Linzi speaks with Dana Denis-Smith OBE — solicitor, entrepreneur and a leading campaigner for gender equality in the legal profession. Dana is the founder and CEO of Obelisk Support, a legal services business designed to retain experienced lawyers through flexible and remote work, and the founder of the First 100 Years and Next 100 Years projects. They discuss the progress women have made in law and the structural challenges that still remain.&nb...
• Patrick McCann on the Future of City of London Law 27.02.2026 33min

  This week, Linzi is joined by Patrick McCann, Chief Executive of the City of London Law Society, to explore what principled leadership looks like in City of London law right now, and how the profession can lead with both profit and purpose. They discuss City Century (solicitor apprenticeships), Patrick’s award-winning LGBTQ+ leadership programme #TheLLP!, and the culture shifts shaping modern firms, from confidence and care to collaboration over competition. Read more about: ...
• Private Prosecutions, Runaway Mergers and the Race for Space 20.02.2026 24min

  This week, Linzi and Ben unpack claims that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest was triggered by a report based on media coverage compiled by Republic, as the campaign group pushes for a private prosecution of the former royal and questions swirl over the evidential and political backdrop. They also examine Taylor Wessing’s hunt for external investors to back its start-up funding vehicle Outpace, and what it signals about law firms’ growing appetite for alternative capital and tech-enabled gr...
• Happy Associates, Mega Paydays and the Magic Circle 06.02.2026 20min

  This week, Linzi is joined by Alex Novarese, former Legal Business Editor and Head of Content and Digital Marketing at HSF Kramer. The pair discuss the latest RollOnFriday Best Law Firms to Work At 2026 survey, which shows improving morale across the profession despite ongoing frustrations around pay, before turning to Taylor Wessing’s financials, where a £10.3m top-earner figure highlights widening partner pay gaps ahead of the firm’s approved transatlantic merger with Winston & Strawn. ...
• Private Equity in Legal, European Alliances Unravel, and Faster Merger Clearances 23.01.2026 19min

  Linzi and Ben explore the growing role of private equity investment within the legal sector and what it could mean for the future shape and ownership of law firms. They also examine the unraveling of a decade-long alliance between four leading European firms, Gide Loyrette Nouel, Chiomenti, Gleiss Lutz and Cuatrecasas, spanning 27 offices and around 2,000 lawyers across the continent. The pair also discuss how the UK’s merger clearance process is being sped up with government backing and what...
• Georgina Bennett-Warner on the Strategy, Process and People Behind a Rebrand 15.01.2026 34min

  Linzi is joined by Georgina Bennett-Warner, Head of Marketing at Wedlake Bell, to unpack what it really takes to deliver a successful law firm rebrand - from recognising the early signs that your brand is no longer fit for purpose to managing the internal change that comes with it. They explore how Georgina and team built an inclusive branding committee spanning all levels of the firm, the tools and tactics that helped bring people along during the launch, and how Wedlake Bell balanced its he...
• A Conversation with Kindleworth 19.12.2025 37min

  This week, Linzi was joined by Michael Estill and Sam Nicholls from Kindleworth to explore why more partners are leaving big law to launch boutique firms — and what it really takes to make a successful spin-out work. Drawing on Kindleworth’s experience supporting dozens of new firm launches, they unpack the motivations behind going independent and the realities partners need to confront before taking the leap. The conversation also looks at how to assess whether a spin-out is genuinely viable...
• PE Expansion, Merger PR Challenges and AI Redefining Roles 05.12.2025 22min

  In this week’s episode, Linzi and Ben explore the rise of private equity investment in the legal industry and what it signals for the future of law firm ownership. They also break down A&O Shearman’s first post-merger accounts and discuss just how challenging it is to manage PR around major legal mergers. The pair also discuss Clifford Chance’s move to cut around 10% of its London business services roles, before turning to the 2025 Budget and the government’s decision to scrap planned nat...
• McDermott’s PE Play, Karp Heckled & Treasury Retreats 14.11.2025 14min

  In this week’s episode, Linzi and Ben unpack McDermott Will & Schulte’s exploration of outside private equity investment, and the rowdy reception Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp received while discussing the Trump deal at a New York Bar Foundation event. They also dive into news that the Treasury’s proposed tax move on partnerships may be softer than originally feared, and more. Thank you for listening.
• AI Law Firms Emerge, Regulators Step In and Transparency Takes the Stand 24.10.2025 25min

  In this week’s episode, Michael and Eleanor discuss AI law firm Garfield taking on a trainee in Channel 4’s latest experiment, the rise of a New York-based law firm operating fully remotely without associates and powered by AI, new moves toward greater tax regulation transparency, the FCA’s decision to take on responsibility for anti-money laundering in the legal sector, the court transparency pilot, and more. Thank you for listening.
• Law Firms Push Back, AI Transforms the C-Suite and Private Equity Expansion 17.10.2025 22min

  Exciting news! Our Associate Director, Linzi, will be hosting the podcast going forward, bringing insights and conversations from across the legal industry. In this week’s episode, Linzi is joined by Joint Managing Director Ben to discuss law firms pushing back on the latest lawmaker letters, the impact that AI has had on big law’s C-Suite, Setfords receiving private equity backing and the impact it’s had, the latest ALM 200 results, and more. If you'd like to read any of the stor...
• Rebrand, Risks and the End of the UK Legal Market 26.09.2025 20min

  This week, Ben is joined by Account Director Eleanor to explore Clifford Chance’s recent rebrand, reflect on how Charlie Kirk’s passing highlights the risks for lawyers sharing views online, and discuss whether the UK legal market still exists. Thank you for listening.
• Innovative Lawyers, Tech Deals and New Strategies 19.09.2025 24min

  This week Joint Managing Directors Ben and Michael discuss the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards and supplement, the UK's £31 billion tech deal with the US, Mishcon de Reya's new strategy and what Charlie Kirk's passing might mean for the legal sector. Thank you for listening.
• Office Attendance, Bonus Promises and Inflated Bills 29.08.2025 18min

  This week, Olivia speaks with Byfield Joint Managing Director Ben Girdlestone about the latest shifts in the legal industry, from four-day office policies and Addleshaw Goddard’s pay freeze to concerns over inflated billable hours and Burford Capital’s move to buy into US law firms. Thank you for listening.
• US Firms, London Moves, and Lateral Hiring Trends with Habiba Cullen-Jafar 22.08.2025 41min

  This week, Olivia is joined by Habiba Cullen-Jafar, Senior Reporter at Law.com International, to discuss her beat and what makes a compelling legal story. Their conversation also explores US law firms expanding into London, how their profitability compares to UK counterparts, and the latest trends shaping lateral hiring. Thank you for listening.
• Financial Success, Bonus Adjustments and Class Actions on the Rise 15.08.2025 24min

  This week, Olivia is joined by Joint Managing Director Michael Evans to explore law firm profit announcements, the changing landscape of bonus systems, the rise of UK class action values to £155 billion despite fewer filings, the Law Society’s taxpayer-funded push into the US, and the leadership changes at Pogust Goodhead following the appointment of a new management team. Thank you for listening.
• Hiring Slowdowns, AI Tributes and a Vegas Fortune Fight 08.08.2025 18min

  This week, Olivia is joined by Ben to explore why private equity partners in New York are making fewer moves despite an uptick in lateral market activity - and what this might signal for the sector. The conversation then turns to Rod Stewart’s AI-powered tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, examining how technology continues to blur the lines between performance, nostalgia, and intellectual property. They also dive into a remarkable Las Vegas inheritance dispute, where two women - both married to the sa...