The Legal Helm

Эпизоды

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  TLH Ep.54 Why Technology Investments Fail Without Change Management 03.10.2026 48мин

  Hello, The Legal Helm listeners.Today’s episode explores a critical part of technology transformation that can often determine whether a major investment truly delivers value: change management.We’re pleased to welcome Emily Thomas, founder of Sync Consulting, a firm that helps law firms successfully implement and optimize financial and practice management systems, including platforms such as Elite 3E and Intapp.With expertise spanning system selection, implementation, project management, business analysis, integrations, training, change management, and go-live, Emily and her team work alongside firms throughout the transformation journey while remaining independent of software vendors and focused on the firm’s interests.In this episode, we’ll explore what happens beyond the technology itself—how firms can prepare their people for change, navigate complex implementations, and ensure new systems actually deliver the value they were intended to create.Stay tuned for an insightful conversation on the human side of legal technology transformation.Your hostBim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena.Today’s GuestEmily Thomas is the founder of Sync Consulting. We’re a legal technology consulting firm that helps law firms successfully implement and optimize their financial and practice management systems, particularly platforms like Elite 3E and Intapp.I work as the bridge between the law firm and the technology vendor, making sure the technology actually works for the people who have to use it. We support firms through everything from system selection and implementation to project management, business analysis, integrations, training, change management and go-live. What really differentiates Sync is that we understand both the technology and how law firms operate. We’re independent of the software vendors, so our focus is always on representing the firm and making sure they get the system, implementation and outcome they were promised.
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  TLH Ep.53 The Law Firm Model Is Changing—Here’s What Comes Next 29.08.2026 53мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners.Today’s episode explores a question that is becoming increasingly important across the legal industry: how will AI, technology, and changing client expectations reshape the future of legal services?We’re pleased to welcome Bjarne Tellmann, an internationally recognized legal and business leader, speaker, and author whose work sits at the intersection of legal services, technology-enabled transformation, and leadership.Bjarne is the CEO of Fjord Stream Advisors, a visiting clinical lecturer in law at Yale Law School, and a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics. Over three decades in the profession, he has held senior legal and leadership roles at organizations including Haleon, GSK, Pearson, Coca-Cola, Aramco, and Kimberly-Clark, as well as practicing at Sullivan & Cromwell and White & Case.He is also the author of Building an Outstanding Legal Team, and his forthcoming book, Law in the Era of AI: Clients, Firms, and the Future of the Legal Industry, explores how corporate legal departments could drive the next wave of disruption to the traditional law firm model.In this episode, we’ll discuss the changing role of in-house legal teams, the impact of AI on legal services, and what the future could look like for law firms and their clients.Stay tuned for an insightful conversation on the forces reshaping the legal industry.
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  TLH Ep.52 Building a Law Firm That Outlives Its Founders 20.06.2026 46мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners.In today’s episode, we’re joined by Ivy Slater, CEO of Slater Success—a consulting, coaching, and training company that helps business owners and leadership teams design strategic growth plans, scale with purpose, and build succession strategies that support long-term legacy.Ivy is also the author of Best of the Best: Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy, as well as a podcast host and TEDx speaker.In this conversation, we explore a topic many organizations delay until it becomes urgent—the intersection of strategic planning and succession planning—and why addressing both early is critical for sustainable growth and leadership continuity.Stay tuned for an insightful and practical discussion on building businesses that are designed to last.
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  TLH Ep.51 Rethinking Time in Professional Services: How AI Is Transforming Knowledge Work with Kourosh Zamani 23.05.2026 42мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners. Today’s episode features a conversation at the intersection of artificial intelligence, professional services, and the future of knowledge work. For this episode, we’re pleased to welcome Kourosh “KZ” Zamani, co-founder of Laurel, an AI platform helping professional services firms rethink one of the most fundamental aspects of their business: time itself. Laurel applies AI to automatically capture and understand work activity across devices and applications, helping firms improve profitability, client delivery, and operational insight. Prior to founding Laurel, Kourosh worked in investment management and strategic business development, where he developed a strong focus on operational efficiency, business growth, and the evolving dynamics of professional services. In this episode, we explore how AI is reshaping knowledge work, from how work gets done to how it is measured, valued, and monetized, and what these changes mean for the future of professional services organizations. Stay tuned for a thoughtful and insightful conversation on innovation, AI adoption, and the evolving relationship between technology and professional work.
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  TLH Ep. 50 Building Legal Teams for Growth: Lessons from Nextdoor’s CLO 18.04.2026 45мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners.Today’s episode marks a special milestone as we celebrate the 50th episode of The Legal Helm, where we explore the evolving intersection of law and technology.For this milestone conversation, we’re pleased to welcome Sophia Contreras Schwartz, Chief Legal Officer at Nextdoor. Sophia oversees Nextdoor’s legal function across product, regulatory compliance, commercial operations, intellectual property, litigation, employment, and corporate matters.Prior to joining Nextdoor, Sophia was a partner at Donahue Fitzgerald, where she focused on corporate transactions and intellectual property law.In this episode, we explore the evolving role of legal leadership inside technology-driven organizations and how legal teams support innovation while navigating regulatory and operational complexity.Stay tuned for a thoughtful and insightful conversation as we mark this milestone episode of The Legal Helm.Your hostBim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena.Our Guest Sophia Contreras Schwartz is Nextdoor’s Chief Legal Officer and oversees the legal function, including product, regulatory compliance, commercial operations, intellectual property, litigation, employment, and corporate matters. Prior to Nextdoor, Sophia was a partner at Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, focusing on corporate transactions and intellectual property law. Sophia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from UC Law San Francisco (fka UC Hastings). Sophia is from Sebastopol, California, and lives in the Bay Area.
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  TLH Ep.49 Elite CEO Mark Dorman on The Strategy Behind Modern Legal Transformation 14.03.2026 32мин

  Today on The Legal Helm, we’re joined by Mark Dorman, CEO of Elite.Mark’s career has been shaped by leading large-scale transformation across global organizations—helping businesses navigate complex market change while scaling SaaS platforms and driving innovation through technology.At Elite, he is currently leading one of the most important evolutions in legal technology, guiding the company through a cloud-first transformation and helping law firms rethink how they approach financial management, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision making within a modern legal ecosystem.In this conversation, we’ll explore the changing expectations of law firms, the realities of cloud adoption at scale, and how technology leaders like Elite are shaping the next generation of legal operations and financial systems.Mark, welcome to The Legal Helm. It’s great to have you with us.
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  TLH Ep. 48 AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Law Firms. Are You Ready? 14.02.2026 49мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today’s episode explores one of the most transformative forces shaping the legal industry today—artificial intelligence. AI is no longer a distant concept or industry buzzword; it is actively redefining how law firms hire, train, structure their teams, and deliver value to clients.We’re pleased to welcome Michael McCready, Managing Partner of McCready Law, a nationally recognized personal injury firm with over 30 years of service. Michael has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to legal technology adoption and is widely regarded as a thought leader on AI integration within law firms.In this episode, we’ll discuss what practical AI adoption really looks like, how firms can move beyond experimentation into implementation, and what leaders must consider as technology reshapes the business and practice of law.Stay tuned for an insightful and forward-looking conversation.
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  TLH Ep.47 Hamid Kohan on The New Blueprint for Law Firm Growth 17.01.2026 39мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re excited to welcome Hamid Kohan, President and CEO of Legal Soft, a company helping law firms scale through virtual staffing, automation, and modern operational support.With a background in software engineering and extensive experience in Silicon Valley, Hamid brings a unique perspective to legal industry transformation. Since founding Legal Soft, he has focused on equipping law firms with the people, processes, and technology they need to grow efficiently, while enabling attorneys to spend more time serving their clients. Under his leadership, Legal Soft has become a trusted partner for firms seeking to modernize their operations.In this episode, we’ll explore how technology and operational innovation are reshaping legal services, the future of scalable law firm models, and what it takes to drive meaningful change in a traditionally complex industry. Join us for an insightful conversation on building smarter, more efficient legal organizations. Stay tuned!
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  TLH EP.46 Justice, Technology, and Second Chances: Expanding Access with LegalEase 20.12.2025 46мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re pleased to welcome Roger Roman, co-founder and COO of LegalEase, a company operating at the intersection of justice, technology, and opportunity by helping individuals clear their criminal records and move forward with their lives.Roger began his journey at Howard University and has since become a serial entrepreneur and creator who brings together design, technology, and storytelling. His work has been backed by organizations such as Google and Techstars, and he serves on the board of Starting With Today, a nonprofit supporting wealth-building and mental wellness in Black communities, alongside his leadership role at LegalEase.In this episode, we’ll explore how product innovation can expand access to justice, the role of technology in creating meaningful second chances, and what it takes to build solutions that truly meet people where they are. Join us for an insightful conversation on impact-driven legal innovation. Stay tuned!Your hostBim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena. Our Guest Roger Roman is a Howard alum and serial entrepreneur focused on building tools that unlock second chances and expand access to justice. An ecosystem builder by nature, his ventures have been backed by Google and Techstars, and he serves on the board of Starting With Today, a nonprofit promoting mental wellness in Black communities.
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  TLH EP.45 IP Strategy, Legal Innovation, and the 5th Industrial Revolution 15.11.2025 42мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re honored to welcome David Carstens, founding partner at Carstens, Allen & Gourley, and a nationally recognized leader in intellectual property law. With dual engineering degrees, a law degree, and an MBA, David brings a truly rare mix of technical, legal, and business insight to the world of IP strategy. Over the years, he’s helped clients across technology, medical devices, telecom, and cosmetics turn their intellectual property into powerful competitive assets.At The Legal Helm, we’re passionate about exploring how innovation, leadership, and technology are redefining modern legal practice. In this episode, we’ll dive into how AI, digital transformation, and the fifth industrial revolution are reshaping the very foundation of legal strategy—and how forward-thinking firms can adapt to stay ahead.Thanks for tuning in!
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  TLH Ep.44 From Chaos to Clarity: Rethinking Law Firm Finances with Ben Hokema 18.10.2025 49мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Ben Hockema, founder and lead financial advisor at Illuminate Wealth Management. Ben works closely with entrepreneurs and small business owners—especially law firm leaders—to help them achieve financial clarity, sustainable profitability, and long-term growth.At Illuminate Wealth Management, Ben combines strategic planning with proven systems like his Profit First model, guiding clients to shift from reactive bookkeeping to proactive financial leadership. Acting as a virtual CFO and accountability partner, he helps business owners align their firms’ success with their personal life goals.In this episode, we’ll dive into how law firm leaders can take control of their financial future, build smarter strategies for profitability, and develop a healthier relationship with money. Stay tuned for an insightful and practical conversation!Your host Bim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena.  Our Guest  Ben Hockema, CFP, is the Founder and Lead Financial Advisor atIlluminate Wealth Management, where he helps small business owners—especially law firm founders—create financial clarity and long-termprofitability through virtual CFO services rooted in the Profit First model.At Illuminate, Ben partners with entrepreneurs who are excellent attheir craft but want expert guidance on building a thriving business thataligns with their personal goals. His work blends strategy and systems,helping clients implement consistent cash flow habits, reduce taxsurprises, and finally pay themselves what they’re worth.
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  TLH Ep. 43 The Blind Spots in Legal Tech: Lessons from 30 Years of Transformation 13.09.2025 52мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners! Today, we’re thrilled to welcome David Langdon, Founder of Blind Spot Consulting. With over 30 years in legal technology, David has guided firms worldwide through consulting, implementation, and sales. He’s also the author of Beyond the Features and a strong advocate for workplace accessibility. At The Legal Helm, we’re committed to exploring how innovation and technology are transforming the practice of law—and today’s discussion is a powerful example. Together with David, we’ll dive into how firms can embrace change, rethink their approach to legal tech, and create more inclusive, future-ready workplaces. Thanks for joining us!
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  TLH EP.42 The New Face of In-House Legal: Strategy, Growth & Human-Centered Delivery 16.08.2025 39мин

  Welcome back to The Legal Helm! In this episode, our host Bim Dave sets sail into the future of legal leadership with a guest who knows exactly how to navigate it—Sarah Clark, Chief Revenue Officer at The Legal Director.Sarah’s career spans over 20 years as both a barrister and general counsel, guiding fast-growth companies and embedding legal strategy directly into the heart of business success. At The Legal Director, she helps organizations scale smarter, delivering senior legal expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire.This episode explores how Sarah and other forward-thinking leaders are reshaping the general counsel role, blending legal insight with business acumen to meet the challenges of today’s market.So, grab your coffee and let’s dive in, you won’t want to miss this conversation!Your host    Bim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena.    Our Guest   Sarah Clark is a barrister and former-GC who has worked with fast-growth companies to embed legal thinking into their business from the inside out. With twenty years under her belt spanning private practice and in-house roles, she brings a no-nonsense, commercial approach to legal support. At The Legal Director, she helps companies get the strategic legal insight they need, without the overheads of a full-time legal hire.
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  TLH Ep. 41 Turning Revenue into Competitive Advantage: A Conversation with Milan Bobde 12.07.2025 46мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners! Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Milan Bobde, CEO and co-founder of Oddr, the legal industry’s first true revenue intelligence platform. With nearly two decades of experience helping law firms modernize their financial and operational systems, Milan is widely recognized as an innovator in legal technology.At The Legal Helm, we’re passionate about exploring how innovation, leadership, and technology are transforming the legal landscape. In this episode, we’ll dive into how law firms can rethink and redefine revenue operations—turning challenges in billing, collections, payments, and forecasting into real competitive advantages.Thanks for tuning in—we’re excited to have you with us!
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  TLH Ep.40 Educating for Impact: Law, Technology and AI Regulation with Jeanne Eicks 14.06.2025 36мин

   Hello, Legal Helm listeners! Today, we’re delighted to welcome Dean Jeanne Eicks, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at the Colleges of Law. Dean Eicks is a nationally recognized expert at the intersection of law and technology, with a unique background as both a former Chief Information Officer and current law professor. At The Legal Helm, we’re committed to exploring how innovation is reshaping the legal industry—and today’s conversation does just that. We’ll be diving into the evolving legal frameworks surrounding AI regulation and discussing how emerging technologies are transforming legal education and expanding access to justice. Thanks for tuning in!
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  TLH Ep. 39 Scaling Up: Clio’s Mid-Market Momentum and the Future of Legal Tech 17.05.2025 55мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re thrilled to have Joshua Lenon join us—Lawyer in Residence at Clio, a leading practice management platform trusted by over 150,000 lawyers worldwide. Joshua brings a unique blend of legal expertise and technological insight, actively bridging the gap between legal practice and tech innovation. He works tirelessly to educate lawyers on leveraging technology to enhance their practice, while also guiding tech companies on understanding the legal industry's distinct needs.In this episode, we’ll explore Clio’s remarkable journey from revolutionizing solo and small firm management to confidently stepping into the mid-market legal space.Join us for an insightful conversation on the evolution of legal practice management and the role technology plays in shaping the future of law. Stay tuned!Your hostBim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena. Our Guest Joshua Lenon is the Lawyer in Residence at Clio. An attorney admitted to the New York Bar, Joshua brings legal scholarship to the conversations happening both within Clio and with its customers. Joshua has worked extensively to educate lawyers on technology’s capability to enhance their practice, while also teaching tech companies about the unique needs of the legal system.
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  TLH Ep. 38 This is The New Age of Testing! We talk Automation & AI with Nikao's QA Director Prav Gudipalli 19.04.2025 25мин

  Hello everyone, and welcome to The Legal Helm! We’re excited to have you with us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the legal tech space. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Prav Gudipalli, Director of Quality Assurance at Nikao. Nikao has been a leader in implementing cutting-edge wealth platforms for major financial institutions, migrating billions in assets and hundreds of thousands of client accounts with minimal disruption.Prav brings over a decade of expertise in financial technology, specializing in platform quality engineering and wealth management systems. He has successfully led enterprise-scale migrations and built testing frameworks that enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth. In this episode, we’ll discuss how automation and AI are revolutionizing quality assurance in financial services, tackle key challenges, and look ahead to the future of testing. Stay tuned for an insightful conversation on the evolving world of legal tech!Your hostBim Dave is Helm360’s Executive Vice President. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena. Our Guest Praveen Gudipalli is an ISTQB® Certified Test Manager with over a decade of experience in platform quality engineering and wealth management systems within the financial technology sector. He has led enterprise-scale migrations and developed robust testing frameworks for investment platforms, incorporating cutting-edge digital interfaces and white-label solutions that boosted operational efficiency and generated significant revenue across the wealth management industry. Praveen consistently redefines quality standards through strategic automation frameworks, leveraging tools like Playwright, Cypress, and AI-powered technologies.
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  TLH Ep. 37: Patsnap’s Matt Veale on AI and the Future of Intellectual Property Law 22.03.2025 28мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re excited to have Matt Veale join us—an experienced European Patent Attorney and UPC Representative at Patsnap. With a PhD and a background in computer science, Matt offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and intellectual property. At Patsnap, he helps businesses harness patent intelligence and AI-powered insights to shape successful IP and R&D strategies.In this episode, we’ll explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping IP law, the challenges, and opportunities it brings, and its impact on the daily work of IP professionals. We’ll also take a closer look at Patsnap’s cutting-edge AI solutions and how they are driving innovation in the field. Stay with us for an engaging and insightful conversation!Your hostBim Dave is Helm360’s CEO. With 20+ years in the legal industry, his keen understanding of how law firms and lawyers use technology has propelled Helm360 to the industry’s forefront. A technical expert with a penchant for developing solutions that improve business systems and user experience, Bim has a knack for bringing high quality IT architects and developers together to create innovative, useable solutions to the legal arena. Our Guest Matt Veale is a European Patent Attorney and the current lead patent lawyer at Patsnap. With a PhD and a background in computer science, he specializes in intellectual property strategies for software, bridging the gap between technology and IP. At Patsnap, Matt works to unlock detailed insights, helping to plan and create profitable IP and R&D strategies based on patent data - allowing organizations to drive innovation, optimize research, and enhance development strategies.
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  TLH Ep. 36 Making Court Data Actionable: A Conversation with Nicole Clark from Trellis 22.02.2025 39мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners! Today, we are thrilled to have Nicole Clark, CEO and co-founder of Trellis, a leading provider of state trial court data and analytics. Nicole’s extensive background as a business litigation, labor, and employment attorney, coupled with her experience handling complex cases in both state and federal courts, has positioned her as a key innovator in the legal space.Frustrated by the fragmented nature of court data, Nicole founded Trellis with the vision of making accessible, actionable insights available to legal professionals at the state trial court level. Today, she’ll share with us how law firms can harness the power of AI and state court data to streamline and automate litigation tasks, improving efficiency and strategic decision-making. Join us as we dive into this fascinating conversation with Nicole Clark on transforming legal work through technology.#legaltech
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  TLH Ep. 35: Marie-Claire Le Houerou of Intapp on Transforming Legal Operations, Compliance, and the Quote-to-Cash Journey 25.01.2025 59мин

  Hello, Legal Helm listeners!Today, we’re thrilled to welcome Marie Claire Le Houerou, also known as MC, the Senior Client Experience Director at Intapp. Intapp is revolutionizing the way leading firms across industries like legal, accounting, consulting, investment banking, and private capital operate by leveraging applied AI and industry-specific SaaS solutions to modernize operations, enhance compliance, and drive growth.MC brings over 15 years of expertise in risk and operational roles. Before joining Intapp, she served as the Global Director of New Business Intake at Baker McKenzie, where she led transformative client onboarding operations, including conflicts management, new business intake, client terms management, and AML KYC compliance.Today, MC will share insights on how Intapp’s innovative solutions are helping firms revolutionize their legal operations, from compliance to the wider quote-to-cash journey. Stay tuned as we dive into her impressive career and discover how these strategies can empower your organization! #legaltech #legalops