May 2026 – Zaven Newsletter
This month, the legal market crossed a threshold. Anthropic formally launched Claude for Legal. Days later, OpenAI announced plans for “Codex for Legal.” Meanwhile, Revolut’s CLO publicly tore up the traditional panel model in favour of performance metrics and competitive rates. And an open-source project called Lavern shipped 67 specialist AI agents that run an […]
April 2026 – Zaven Newsletter
This month, the signals couldn’t be louder. Anthropic’s top lawyer declared that AI will end the billable hour. Simmons & Simmons’ senior partner predicted some firms won’t survive the next two to three years. Big Law posted another record year (revenue up 13%, billing rates up 10%), while AI-native firms like Crosby raised $60 million […]
February 2026 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Rock & Roll Interview: Virgin Atlantic’s Julian Homerstone on why the new age isn’t about AI – it’s about people, purpose, and heart. GC Survival Guide: Zentiva’s Tereza Ber on navigating 30+ markets, regulation as existential threat, and why legal now shapes investment decisions. The Billable Hour’s Death: Why AI […]
October 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! The Modern GC Reality: From Legal Gatekeeper to Strategic Everything The general counsel role has exploded beyond recognition. Once confined to compliance checks, today’s GC needs enough skills to fill a wardrobe – from strategic planner to tech expert to crisis manager. […]
September 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! Big Law’s Half-Century Party: Why the Music’s Finally Stopping For fifty years, Big Law’s business model has been bulletproof: leverage junior lawyers like medieval serfs, charge by the hour regardless of efficiency, and maintain a pyramid where 80% of associates eventually leave. […]
May 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! McDermott Will & Emery and Schulte Roth & Zabel Plan Major Merger to Create $2.8 Billion Legal Giant Key Takeaway: When law firms start feeling lonely at the top, they don’t get therapy—they get bigger. You either scale up or get left […]
March 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! General Counsel navigate treacherous waters as law firms become political battlegrounds Rob Chesnut, former Airbnb General Counsel, reveals how political pressures are transforming the once-simple selection of outside counsel into a high-stakes strategic decision. Key Takeaway: The selection of outside counsel has evolved […]
February 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! The Merger Paradox: Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better in Big Law Bloomberg Law pulls back the curtain on why the merger mania sweeping Big Law might be more smoke than fire. Key Takeaway: The numbers don’t lie – most law firm mergers fail […]
January 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! Zaven Rock-and-roll interview Series: Chris Combs, Co-Founder at LinkSquares Chris Combs, Co-Founder of LinkSquares, dishes out the real scoop on why legal tech isn’t just another passing fad. Key Takeaway: Legal tech isn’t just having a moment – it’s here to crash the […]
December 2024 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! The Last Domino Falls: How Cleary’s Two-Tier Switch Signals the Death of Traditional Law Firm Structure Key Takeaway: The last giant of single-tier partnership has fallen, marking the end of an era in law firm structure. Michael Gerstenzang, Managing Partner of Cleary Gottlieb […]