Building a Culture of Integrity: Lessons from Airbnb’s Former Chief Ethics Officer
Source: Above the Law In an era where corporate missteps can instantly become viral headlines, Robert Chesnut, former general counsel and chief ethics officer at Airbnb, offers a fresh perspective on transforming corporate integrity from a compliance checkbox into a strategic advantage. Breaking Away from Traditional Compliance Chesnut’s approach at Airbnb demonstrates how companies can […]
The Last Domino Falls: How Cleary’s Two-Tier Switch Signals the Death of Traditional Law Firm Structure
Source: Adam Smith Esq. The legal industry’s landscape is witnessing a historic transformation as Cleary Gottlieb, one of the last bastions of single-tier partnership, embraces the two-tier model. This shift marks more than just an organizational change—it signals the definitive end of an era in Big Law. The Numbers Tell the Story The statistics are […]
Biglaw’s 2025 Rate Hikes: The Great Pricing Puzzle
Source: Above the Law As 2025 approaches, general counsel are facing what can only be described as pricing whiplash from major law firms. Some elite firms are pushing for eye-watering rate increases exceeding 30%, while their equally prestigious peers are holding steady with no increases at all. “The market and variation is utterly bewildering,” says […]
The $2000/hr Paralegal Myth: A Wake-up Call for Legal Billing in the AI Era
Source: Above the Law When an AI executive claimed their technology could replace paralegals billing at $2,000 per hour, the legal industry collectively raised an eyebrow. The claim, while immediately dismissed by insiders, accidentally unveiled a deeper truth about the future of legal billing. Let’s address the obvious first: no paralegal bills at $2,000 per […]
AI in Law: Moving Beyond Hype to Practical Transformation
Source: Above the Law The legal industry’s adoption of AI has shifted from speculation to strategic implementation in 2024. With 75% of legal leaders now using generative AI tools, according to LexisNexis research, firms are seeing tangible results – including the reduction of document translation time from hours to minutes. Reshaping Legal Practice Today’s AI […]
Four Pillars for Successfully Implementing Legal Technology in 2024
Source: Above the Law The Foundation for Change The legal industry’s technological transformation demands more than just buying new software—it requires a strategic approach grounded in clear objectives and careful planning. While stakeholder alignment and leadership buy-in remain crucial across all organizations, the path to successful implementation follows four essential pillars that can adapt to […]
UK Legal Departments Pivot to Tech-Forward Budgeting for 2025
Source: Axiom The Recovery Trajectory After weathering severe budget cuts in 2023, UK legal departments are entering a period of strategic growth, with an overwhelming 79% of General Counsel (GCs) anticipating budget increases for 2025. This shift marks a decisive break from traditional approaches as legal teams prepare for an AI-driven future. Following widespread cuts […]
The Legal Landscape Shifts: Cleary Gottlieb Abandons Single-Tier Partnership
Source: Adam Smith Esq, Bruce In a move that signals the end of an era, Cleary Gottlieb has officially abandoned its single-tier partnership structure, embracing the two-tier model that now dominates Big Law. This decision, announced on October 15, 2024, leaves only a dozen single-tier firms in the AmLaw 200, a stark contrast to the […]
Crafting an Effective Supplier Contracting Policy: A Blueprint for Legal Teams
Source: Crafty Fox As organisations grow, implementing a robust supplier contracting policy becomes crucial for legal teams to manage operational risk and allocate resources efficiently. Chris Bridges, Partner & COO at Tacit Legal, outlines five essential ingredients for a successful policy. The foundation begins with clearly defining which contracts fall within the policy’s scope, often […]
Unlocking Cost Savings: The Cloud Revolution in LegalTech
Source: Legalfuture The legal industry is witnessing a paradigm shift in technology infrastructure, with cloud migration emerging as a cost-saving powerhouse for forward-thinking firms. A recent analysis reveals that the hidden costs of on-premises systems often outweigh their perceived benefits, making cloud solutions increasingly attractive. At the core of this transition is the elimination of […]