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Deeann Cropley has always wanted to use her legal skills for "purpose and good". Now running a Geelong-based charity while working as in-house counsel, she's found ways to not only make an impact on the community but also better serve as a corporate lawyer. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Barwon Water legal counsel and Pass the Snacks Geelong founder Deeann Cropley about her journey as a lawyer, wanting to use her legal skills for good, her Geelong-based charity and why she founded it, why its work is so important, its reach and further vision, and how she manages running a charity as a full-time in-house lawyer. Cropley also discusses why it's so important for corporate counsel to roll up their sleeves and be more involved in the communities around them, her sense of service, what she's learnt about herself as a lawyer and how it's made her more curious, agile, and adaptable, how in-house lawyers can make more impact, making the time rather than finding the time, and what excites her about her ongoing work. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Having spent years working at the intersection of where the law engages with the community, particularly vulnerable persons, Tania Wolff has seen the system at its best and at points where justice isn't accessible, leading to a loss of confidence in public institutions. Addressing that loss of faith in the system is essential, she says, both for the sake of justice and social cohesion. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Law Council of Australia (LCA) president Tania Wolff about her varied vocational journey as a practitioner and her work for legal member bodies, what motivates her to advocate for the legal profession, her concerns about the erosion of confidence in public institutions and the justice system, and the potential impacts of such a loss of confidence. Wolff also delves into LCA's priorities for her term as president, what the member body does, managing the health and wellbeing of the profession while pushing for societal change, professional opportunities created by new technologies, and the "extraordinary privilege" of being LCA president. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
In an age of sociocultural change, and against the backdrop of employers' positive duties to prevent sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct, preparing for workplace claims made against the backdrop of cultural traditions like Valentine's Day may not be so far-fetched. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Swaab partner Michael Byrnes to reflect on a recent blog he posted about the workplace relations issues inherent with Valentine's Day, the potential for workplace claims to arise in the wake of such cultural traditions, and whether employers need clauses in their policy for sexual harassment to account for such calendar dates. Byrnes also delves into employers' positive duty to prevent sexual harassment, changing social and cultural expectations for workplace behaviour, whether the inclusion of new clauses risks infantilising employees, catering to a multi-generational workforce, and what will constitute best practice for employers, HR professionals, and employment lawyers. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
For this GC, building the right law department involves looking more to a lawyer's attributes rather than their skill set, and following a step-by-step process to ensure challenges are being met and the business's growth trajectory is accounted for. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Linktree senior vice president, office of the founders, people, and legal Rosanna Biggs to discuss the need for law department leaders to think about how they resource for their teams, whether there are things that in-house teams are doing wrong with regard to hiring, the inherent recruitment challenges, and her process for ensuring any hire for the legal team is fit for the business's purposes. Biggs also delves into the critical importance of attributes rather than one's skills, the team leader's role in approaching department growth with the C-suite, how to convey the way you run the legal function, how individual lawyers can put their best foot forward, why curiosity is so essential, how in-house roles are changing, and how businesses can better identify and recruit the best in-house lawyers possible. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
As someone who co-founded a law firm while seven months pregnant, award-winning managing partner Danielle Snell is acutely aware of the need to create a culture and workplace whereby legal staff – lawyers and partners alike – do not feel as though their responsibilities outside of work come second. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Elit Lawyers by McGirr and Snell managing partner Danielle Snell to discuss the importance of reflecting on the need to balance the myriad roles one holds in life, how well the legal profession has done in accommodating idiosyncratic needs, and why the opinions and viewpoints of junior staff are incredibly important. Snell also delves into how being told that becoming a mother would stunt her legal career spurred her to create a better culture for her own staff, the need to seize opportunities to create a better environment, championing the idea of staff bringing their full selves to work, how she and her business partner inculcate such ideas across their firm, challenges inherent with such an approach, and how best other firm leaders can look to make practical changes in their own workplaces. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
While athletes across all disciplines have off-seasons, lawyers – like many professionals – do not get downtime, physically and mentally, to rejuvenate across the calendar year. Here, we discuss the need to meaningfully switch off (as best as possible) for the sake of optimal client service delivery and self-care. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Brisbane Family Law Centre director Clarissa Rayward to discuss the pursuit of happiness for lawyers, how lawyers sustain their careers, the extent to which she is able to switch off from work, the factors making it difficult for lawyers to disconnect, and what it means to properly detach one's self from work. Rayward also reflects on whether it's becoming more difficult for lawyers to switch off, her observations from conversations with colleagues in the family law space, structural issues preventing lawyers from switching off, the comparison of lawyers to professional athletes, practical ways that lawyers can disconnect, and why lawyers must appreciate the importance of disconnection, so that they may perform at optimal levels. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
According to the founder of AI Paralegal, the legal profession needs to realise that, instead of AI meaning more work with fewer people, the advent of such technology means that legal teams can do more, with more people. In this episode of LawTech Talks, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with the founder of adieu.ai and AI Paralegal, Andrew Wight, about how he got into legal tech, his journey with adieu.ai, how AI Paralegal came to be and what the future holds for the platform, and why lawyers need to discard the myth of AI taking jobs. Wight also discusses how lawyers can be thinking bigger about their AI vision, creating greater access to justice, results from AI Paralegal's beta stage, practical steps to reframe one's thinking on AI utilisation, impacts upon the charging for services, and the trial and error that is coming for legal of all stripes.
In the current climate, law departments should have established themselves as more strategic and business-facing and should no longer be pure legal gatekeepers. Continuing on that trajectory, and ensuring the team can balance all competing priorities, is a foremost challenge for GCs and their teams in 2026 and beyond. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Somerset Hoy, general counsel – deputy secretary, strategic services and advice at the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, about what she likes about legal work in the public service, how all law departments should already have transitioned to becoming more business-facing and less legal-focused, why the in-house legal team is no longer the "Department of No", and the questions teams must be asking of themselves in how to continue that transition in 2026. Hoy also discusses resolving the conflict between keeping more work in-house versus moving away from being a legal gatekeeper for a business, making the time to balance all duties, challenges standing in the way of legal teams moving away from gatekeeping, becoming all things to all teams within a business, the role of a GC in bringing their team along for the journey, and what the law department of 2030 could look like. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Law schools have a duty to create good citizens who uphold the rule of law, particularly at a time of significant sociocultural and political change (and unrest). Such duties cannot be ignored, one dean says, as universities balance all other aspects of students' legal education. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Professor Catherine Renshaw, dean of the law school at Western Sydney University, about her legal career, how her background in private practice serves her now in academia, the need for law schools to prepare the next generation to be good civic servants, and the decline of democratic principles across the globe. Renshaw also delves into the nexus between a law graduate's ability to serve to the best of their abilities and having trust and faith in the system as a citizen, how motivated Australian deans are to help graduates do their civic duty, how best they can create the right culture, how students can be "practice ready", ensuring students are upskilled on AI, and her optimism for Western Sydney University. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
More needs to be done, both by those at the Bar and the legal profession more broadly, to manage the idiosyncratic wellbeing issues faced by barristers – including, but not limited to, moving beyond performative, awareness-raising conversations about barristers' experiences. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Melbourne-based barrister Dr Michelle Sharpe about her two decades at the Bar and what she's learnt, her perceptions about barristers' wellness across the board, whether the Bar is lagging behind private practice, and moving beyond box-ticking exercises. Sharpe also reflects on her concerns about wellness conversations not being conducted in the most productive ways possible, pushback experienced when trying to advance specific wellness conversations, the flow-on consequences for barristers' wellness not being at optimal levels, how the whole profession can better cater to barristers' wellness needs, and why she is cautiously optimistic that the Bar can move forward constructively. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
In this special episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, produced in partnership with NROL, host Jerome Doraisamy sits down with NROL founder Jesse Shah to explore the future of the legal profession and the launch of LawUno, a new platform designed to better connect, support, and empower lawyers. Reflecting on the 2025 Women in Law Awards, hosted in November, Shah shares why his continued involvement in the awards remains deeply personal and professionally important, and how supporting women in law is inseparable from building a stronger, more inclusive profession. The conversation then turns to the real challenges lawyers are facing as the profession moves into 2026, from fragmented networks and limited access to information to the lack of meaningful community, training, and career visibility. Shah outlines why these issues have reached a critical point and how LawUno has been created to directly address them. Shah also discusses the importance of better connection "more than ever", the evolving ways lawyers present themselves professionally, reflections on the upcoming 30 Under 30 Awards, and his perspective on embracing change in an industry that is often sceptical or risk-averse. LawUno represents a new way forward for the legal profession, one platform, one network, built by lawyers, for lawyers. To learn more about LawUno, click here. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
In the face of voluminous market change, from privacy to technology, medical negligence work is perhaps more challenging than ever before. In the face of such a climate, there are myriad takeaways for practitioners in this space as the new year gets underway. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Arnold Thomas & Becker Lawyers principal and head of medical negligence Emily Hart about her background in personal injury law, perceptions about "what a lawyer is", her biggest takeaways from the last 12 months in medical negligence law and what has stood out to her, and why it's such a fast-growing practice area. Hart also delves into growing trends in this space, including medical technology and devices, and how such developments are changing the game for lawyers, the impact of AI and other emerging technologies, the extent to which cyber security hacks are influencing lawyers' work with clients, the difficulties that lawyers in this space will face in 2026 and beyond, and why prioritising lawyers' wellness will be so essential moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Hilton Misso once sold a law firm for $57 million. Here, he reflects on what it means to succeed as a lawyer and how best practitioners can achieve success – in whatever form that takes. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author Hilton Misso about drawing inspiration from his father to be a good legal practitioner, how technology aids guiding principles, what he believes constitutes success for lawyers, and whether what success looks like can evolve or if a North Star is needed. Misso also delves into the steps that must be taken in order to build an ethical, profitable practice, checking in on one's progress, overcoming challenges on the road to success, making time in the day in order to achieve, the lessons he learnt from selling his law firm for $57 million, how he learnt to be a leader, the power of discipline, and knowing when to walk away from what one has built. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
At a time when practitioners across the board are increasingly expected to not only onboard new technologies but also elevate the client experience, family lawyers should be seeing such a shift as an opportunity to become truly hybrid operators. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Siobhan Mullins, author and founder of Separate Together and Paper Advocate, about her career in family law, how practitioners in this space are moving towards more collaborative ways of working in a changing landscape, and why a hybrid model makes sense for family lawyers. Mullins also delves into what family lawyers must ask of themselves in transitioning to a more hybrid model, the key outcomes to strive for, overcoming hurdles standing in the way, why such change is exciting, and what she's looking forward to as a practitioner. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Amid a time of voluminous market and professional change, corporate counsel will require a particular set of skills and traits, including, but not limited to, adaptability, curiosity, and vulnerability. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with fractional general counsel, board member, and keynote speaker Ivana Kovacevic and RMIT general counsel Alison Huitfeldt about what they love about in-house legal life, the biggest takeaways for corporate lawyers in the last 12 months, and the difficulties inherent with having so much on the shoulders of the law department. Kovacevic and Huitfeldt also delve into the biggest challenges and trends facing in-house lawyers as we come into the new year, leaning into people skills, the need for curiosity, adaptability, and vulnerability moving forward, best practice guidance for corporate lawyers in the new year, and what excites them both about the experience of in-house counsel moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Interest and investment in renewables is one of the fastest-growing areas of M&A in the current climate. For lawyers practising in this space, this brings various challenges in wading through a shifting landscape, but also myriad opportunities to best serve clients. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Holding Redlich partners Jeanne Vallade and Dhanushka Jayawardena about their respective work at the BigLaw firm, why renewables is such a fast-growing space for M&A, the tax implications, the headline challenges being experienced, political influences, making such developments work for foreign investors, and ensuring best practice in a fast-moving landscape. The trio also delves into early and integrated due diligence, following the life cycle of a project, the popularity of battery energy storage systems, regulatory hurdles to grapple with, how best to advise clients in the current climate, what excites them about their work in this space moving forward, and "bringing a little piece of [a] complex puzzle to the bigger, bigger picture". If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Here, the reigning Litigation Partner of the Year reflects on what makes her a successful litigator, including staying true to herself, appreciating what makes her tick, and placing importance on emotional intelligence. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Bowes Legal managing partner Jane Bowes to discuss her firm's recent expansion from northern Queensland into Brisbane and potential further expansion plans, how it felt to win the litigation category at the 2025 Partner of the Year Awards, how the win validated the approach she has taken in her career, and having the courage to stay true to one's convictions. Bowes also delves into how feeling underestimated has fuelled her growth and success as a litigator, why being underestimated is the "biggest fire" in her belly, EQ versus IQ, better managing one's burnout, what has helped her succeed, and her advice for other litigators out there. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
For award-winning lawyer Keith Redenbach, voluminous market change may bring challenges for practitioners, but – for those who bear in mind their ethical obligations and their professional duties – there is also a bounty of opportunity. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Redenbach Legal principal Keith Redenbach to discuss the volume of change being witnessed across the profession and how this compares to other times of change in the last three decades, why some lawyers are "vexed", ethical and practical dilemmas, and how and why certain staples of the past have gone by the wayside. Redenbach also reflects on how he is pivoting and adapting in a time of change, how he sees his role evolving, having a constant sense of service, what constitutes best practice in the current climate, and going deeper with one's use of AI. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
There is, one BigLaw partner says, a "huge amount of opportunity" looking ahead for practitioners in the insurance space, from finding solutions to the risk of natural disasters to the management of cyber threats. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clayton Utz partner Sophy Woodward about why insurance law is so engaging at this point in time, the "soft market" currently being experienced and the opportunities that climate presents for better terms for clients, what's surprised her about the insurance space this past year, and how client expectations have been set higher in 2025. Woodward also discusses how insurance lawyers have to collaborate across practice areas more than ever before, managing team dynamics and wellness at a time of voluminous work and change, the need for creativity in contractual clauses, the ripple effects coming from current developments in the cyber space and natural disaster space, the myriad opportunities on the horizon, and why emerging practitioners should consider insurance law as a vocational pathway. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Sam Burrett and Chelsea Gordon recently travelled to the UK to learn more about international approaches to AI governance and business strategies of global law firm counterparts. Their observations and lessons learnt offer guidance for practitioners and firms alike Down Under. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with MinterEllison AI Advisory consulting lead Sam Burrett and legal lead Chelsea Gordon about the work they each do in the BigLaw firm's AI operations, their recent travels to the University of Oxford to learn more about how law firms internationally are approaching governance and strategy considerations, and how well Australian firms are performing relative to global counterparts. Burrett and Gordon also delve into what Australian firms need to be doing more of, what is being done well, the lessons firms Down Under can learn from those overseas, what best practice objectives must be moving forward, practical steps that should be taken, mindset shifts required, and guidance to take into the new year. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
While Philip Colman has seen enormous professional change in more than four decades as a legal practitioner, there are certain values and traits that have consistently guided him over the years. For example, he tries to answer every email he receives on the day of receipt – even if just to acknowledge it – to showcase care and respect for clients. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with MST special counsel and former principal Philip Colman about his legal career to date, the values he was taught early on that have served him over the course of his career, some of the most surprising professional shifts he's witnessed, what optimal client service delivery means to him, and his reflections on his time as a leader. Colman also delves into the challenges of business management, whether what constitutes a good law firm leader has changed over time, his guidance to aspiring leaders, how AI will impact the ways that people practice, whether client interactions need to be adapted, how the experience of the emerging generation differs from his own experiences, and his sense of service as a practitioner. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Here, the new managing partner of national law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley reflects on his journey as a practitioner, optimal client service delivery, why the firm is in a "great place" in the market, and what lawyers of the future need to look like. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Colin Biggers & Paisley's managing partner, Dr Andrew Murray, about his unintended entry into and journey in law, the driving force for him as a practitioner, the presence of impostor syndrome, his leadership approach, and how one learns to become a managing partner of a national firm. Murray also delves into the firm's position in the market, his vision for it moving forward, why the firm will continue investing in particular practice areas, balancing growth with maintaining the right culture, headwinds on the horizon, managing a multi-generational workforce, why diversity is so essential, lessons from 2025 and predictions for the year ahead, and what it means to be a great lawyer. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
The proliferation of negative sentiment around migration into Australia, both politically and socioculturally, can take a toll on legal practitioners in this space. To this end, migration law can be seen as a potential bellwether for the legal profession's role in ensuring access to justice and our national identity. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with BDO national leader in migration law Rebecca Thomson about her background in this legal practice area and why it's so rewarding, the sociocultural and political discourse surrounding migration and its disconnect to the realities on the ground, the impact on practitioners like herself, and whether now is the most challenging time to be a migration lawyer. Thomson also delves into the numerous roles that such lawyers have to play in the current climate, bringing a holistic viewpoint, staying on top of a shifting regulatory and legislative landscape, having a community, the importance of migration law moving forward, and lawyers' role in ensuring access to justice. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Here, an executive general manager discusses how legal counsel can make the vocational transition to business leadership, whether it's a general manager, chief executive, or managing director role. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Australian Unity Trustees executive general manager Kirstin Follows about her legal career and how she came to AUT, supporting that business through both the COVID-19 pandemic and the aged care royal commission, what she found stimulating about in-house legal life, and why work in the aged care sector is so important. Follows also delves into how the transition to the EGM role came about, how she has found the jump to her current role, the skills she needed to develop, how her approach to the EGM role differs to what she was doing as law department leader, how and why heads of legal should be aiming to lead what's happening in the boardroom, not just being a participant, and why such lawyers are well placed to take on executive roles. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Space law “doesn't fit into a neat box”, spanning multiple legal disciplines. For those practising space law, this brings not only myriad challenges but also opportunities. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Bartier Perry associate Samantha Pacchiarotta about how she became passionate about space law, the state of affairs in this area and how the volume of work will only become bigger, the legal issues pertaining to the proliferation of space junk, and legal questions around incapacity, death, and inheritance in space law. Pacchiarotta also discusses how the law is slow to respond to space technology, governance concerns regarding space law, the commercialisation of space and its legal implications, what constitutes best practice in the face of the myriad challenges, and why others should consider working in space law. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Having taken the time to be more deliberate about what her vocational journey should look like, this senior lawyer has better positioned herself for success in ways that make sense to her, rather than what others may want or demand from a practitioner like herself. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Australian Public Service principal legal officer Rachael Karlyl to discuss having worked in so many Australian jurisdictions, how she's found the transition from being a firm owner to working for the public service as a team leader, how and when she started to design her career in more deliberate ways, and how the age of the pandemic has influenced lawyers' thinking on what their careers should look like. Karlyl also delves into what it means to design one's legal career, the important questions that lawyers need to ask of themselves (even if those questions are confronting), her advice to those who might be scared to undertake such vocational changes, whether it's incumbent upon lawyers to take such steps, and why she's a better lawyer for having done so. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Here, the head of arbitration at a BigLaw firm reflects on the proliferation of digital infrastructure projects globally, together with treaty considerations and protections for Australian investors, and how the combination of a “massive” expansion of data needs in the age of AI and elevated national security concerns makes this area one of the most consequential in the coming 10 years. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Corrs Chambers Westgarth head of arbitration Nastasja Suhadolnik to discuss why she's so stimulated by arbitration work, why there is such a proliferation of projects regarding digital infrastructure at present, the myriad challenges arising from such developments, why Australian investors need protections for investments in such projects, and how lawyers can and should look to navigate the regulatory and legislative hurdles to ensure optimal outcomes for clients. Suhadolnik also delves into the three overarching rules she advises clients to consider in such matters, how best to stay on top of voluminous change in the space, her approach to successful collaboration, why digital infrastructure will be such a defining feature in years to come, why arbitration teams may grow in stature in Australian law firms, and what excites her about ongoing developments in this space. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Earlier this year, award-winning sole practitioner Claire Styles worked from Europe for two months. That working holiday allowed her time to reflect on what was working and not working in her business, and since then, she's moved to not only adapt her approach and home in on what she truly wants to do, but she has also started a side hustle – all of which is providing greater personal and professional meaning for her. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back C Legal founder and principal Claire Styles (a former winner of the Sole Practitioner of the Year category at the Women in Law Awards) to discuss living out her personal values in her business, why she did a working holiday and what she learnt, undertaking a new firm structure, and why working holidays can be a happy medium for practitioners who are afraid to step away from the business. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
In the current climate, maintaining psychological safety in law departments requires much more than box-ticking – a stronger focus on culture, and use of AI to ensure greater focus on human issues, is paramount moving forward, says an Award-Winning and GC Powerlisted Group General Counsel. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back former group GC of Tabcorp, Ivana Kovacevic, who now serves as a fractional GC and advisory board member for Thomson Reuters Practical Law, and keynote speaker, to discuss the importance of building psychological safety in legal teams in the current climate, her perception of what constitutes psychological safety for law departments, and how well the in-house sector is faring when it comes to ensuring such safety. Kovacevic also delves into the need to move beyond compliance box-ticking, the urgency is prioritising psychological safety, the starting point for in-house teams in creating and maintaining psychologically safe working environments, catering to idiosyncratic needs within one's team, practical steps she has taken within her own teams and what has worked, making time to implement changes, using AI to take a more human approach, leading by example, and the need to be curious and vulnerable. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Dion Barber, a former ward of the state, recently won a “seismic” judgment for $2.85 million against Western Australia over sexual abuse suffered as a child in state care. Here, his lawyer Hugo Seymour reflects on the significance of the proceedings and the implications for survivors moving forward. (Content warning: This episode contains references to child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.) In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maurice Blackburn associate Hugo Seymour about his work as a historical sexual abuse lawyer and how he manages the subject matter, Dion Barber's proceedings against the state of Western Australia, the issues that the court had to resolve leading up to judgment, and why the judgment awarding Barber $2.85 million is so significant. Seymour also delves into what the future might hold for such proceedings, how lawyers can and should interpret the significance of the judgment, and his broader thoughts about the future of such litigation, and what can be learnt from Barber's bravery in coming forward. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has resources available on their respective websites. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
Following COVID-19, there has been an “e-sports winter” – however, there are murmurs, one lawyer says, of a looming spring, which could see a proliferation of legal work in this space. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Game Legal principal Mat Jessep to discuss what it means to be an e-sports lawyer, why there has been a “winter” regarding legal work in this space and the impact of such a downturn, where the sector could be headed in the future, and the green shoots that he is seeing moving forward. Jessep also delves into why he remains bullish about this legal space, the untapped potential for investment and regulatory oversight in this space, how lawyers like himself can advocate for driving this space forward, adapting and pivoting to best serve client needs for a looming spring, and his predictions for the e-sports law space. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Litigation, like all other areas of legal practice, continues to undergo substantive environmental and technological change. Here, we unpack how best to ride those waves of change, and correspondingly, better manage evolving client expectations and regulatory scrutiny alike. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Buchanan Rees Dispute Lawyers co-founder and principal Luke Buchanan about his belief in law being at the core of our society and making meaningful contributions, the increased regulatory focus on corporate activity, challenges presented to litigators, evolving client expectations, and lessons he's learnt over his years as a litigator. Buchanan also delves into the nature of settlement agreements and whether they might shift over time, best practice in reaching a settlement agreement, hurdles to overcome, understanding that clients want any dispute to be resolved in totality, adapting to technological change, the increasing cost of litigation, and how his views on what constitutes best practice for litigators have evolved over the years. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
For Irene Chrisopoulidis, having tunnel vision helps her stay the course with long-term objectives, rather than getting sidetracked. Here, she unpacks why this approach is so critical, and the ways she successfully employs it. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Chrisopoulidis & Associates principal Irene Chrisopoulidis about how and why she applies tunnel vision in both her professional and personal lives, how it applies to her work as a family lawyer, what success means to her, being able to compartmentalise, and why tunnel vision is actually good. Chrisopoulidis also delves into the need for certain experience under one's belt to be able to make decisions to be concerted about staying true to a particular vision, being clear in your purpose, keeping the train on the tracks with tunnel vision, the practical ways to ensure that she doesn't lose sight of the long-term vision, how taking time out from work helps her stay focused, and what other lawyers can learn from her experience.
There is much that Craig Green – who has been a partner-level lawyer for over 40 years – has learnt from his vocational journey, including that practitioners should always be fully engaged in their clients' transactions, give 100 per cent, and the need for substantive communication. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Green Mortgage Lawyers managing director Craig Green about his journey in the legal profession and experience as a firm head, setting up a new specialist banking firm in mid-2024, what he finds so motivating about being in the mortgages and diversified banking space, and the headline challenges facing practitioners in this space. Green also delves into the pace of change of the years lawyers like himself have had to grapple with, evolving client expectations in mortgages and banking, training and managing offshore staff, opportunities for lawyers in mortgages and banking, lessons he's learnt along the way, and what excites him about his continued, storied journey in the law. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au
There is much that BigLaw partner Martina Storgato has learnt about cultivating one's place in the legal profession – chief among those lessons is that, when building a network and one's reputation, it is better to view others as colleagues, not the competition. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Mills Oakley partner Martina Storgato about her work in family law, how she's managed that practice area while also having a family of her own, at what stage of her career she realised the importance of building a network and reputation, whether she has a guiding principle for doing so, and taking a nuanced approach to generating business in idiosyncratic practice areas. Storgato also delves into whether the advent of AI and other emerging technologies supports the idea of being nuanced in one's approach to clientele and business generation, the biggest lessons she's learnt about building and maintaining a good network and professional reputation, the questions lawyers should be asking of themselves in such a building process, remaining a good leader, and her broader guidance to lawyers coming through the ranks.
For many lawyers, being a practitioner can become the dominant part of one's identity. Here, Christina Yi reflects on how a girls' trip helped remind her to do the things that bring joy and fulfillment, so that one can ultimately better be of service to clients. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Allegra Family Lawyers legal practitioner director Christina Yi about the “urgency” involved with family law and the flow-on impacts for lawyers in this space, how being a lawyer can shape how others perceive you, how lawyering can become part of your identity, and what this means for one, both personally and professionally. Yi also discusses a recent holiday she took to revitalise and relax, the positive impact the trip had on her, why she'll be making more time for future getaways, the warning signs lawyers should look out for when it comes to having lawyering become too big a part of one's identity, and what excites her about the new parameters she's set up for herself as a practitioner. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Mel Storey is one of Australia's most prominent online legal personalities. Here, she reflects on why she recently left her general counsel role to focus on other projects at this stage of her vocational journey, and why it's OK for legal practice to not be one's forever job. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back former general counsel Mel Storey – a keynote speaker, podcast host, and “corporate big sis” – to discuss her various roles as a legal practitioner, how and why she got to a point where she felt she had to chase other passion projects, and the thought process that goes into making such a decision. Storey also delves into the identity that comes with being a practising lawyer, navigating the change in her day-to-day from being reactive to now being able to be proactive, why it's okay to consider that law may not be the forever job, the steps to take ensure vocational satisfaction, and what she's excited about moving forward about her own journey. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Amid myriad professional and technological changes, practitioners need to change how they service clients – for this litigator, there is much to look forward to in being proactive about offering broader, more holistic advice to clients, rather than reacting to traditional needs. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers partner Melissa Care about her work in disputes and litigation, how she's adjusted to her recent promotion to partner, why lawyers need to be thinking more about transitioning from simply being service providers to decision-makers and business advisers, and why this is necessary. Care also delves into whether private practice lawyers need to think of themselves as external in-house lawyers, how one's sense of service can be retained in this transition, the challenges inherent with the transition, how lawyers can get started, the need to upskill, fitting such a transition into one's schedule, whether we risk losing the traditional understanding of what it means to be a lawyer, and how her own journey is reshaping her view of herself as a litigator. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Here, two award-winning lawyers reflect on how they broke away from traditional legal vocational pathways to find success in ways that made sense to them – while noting that, for anyone seeking progression, it does not come easy. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Bowes Legal managing partner Jane Bowes and Nova Entertainment group general counsel Danielle Keyes about their early years as “baby lawyers” and how they met, how and why they each chose to explore non-traditional pathways and how they felt about it at the time, and having to redefine what it meant to succeed. Bowes and Keyes also reflect on the idiosyncratic challenges that face women in law, recalibrating expectations of what a lawyer can reasonably achieve when there are other life responsibilities, overcoming cultural expectations, being empathetic as leaders in law but also pragmatic, their guidance for lawyers coming through the ranks about how to forge one's own pathway, and recognising that success is often, if not always, hard-fought. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
With India looking to be the world's third-largest economy by 2030, and with significant shifts occurring in its legal landscape and how it sees foreign investment, there are boundless opportunities not just for firms with an Australian presence but also for Australia-based practitioners. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Baker McKenzie's Asia-Pacific investigations, compliance, and ethics group head Mini Menon vandePol, who also chair's the global firm's India practice, about how she utilises her name in the course of practice, her reflections on three decades with Bakers, what's happening with the firm's India practice, and how she is leading at a time of significant change for India. She also delves into the challenges that global firms like Bakers face in gaining stronger footholds in India, as well as the inherent opportunities, what such changes to the landscape mean for Australia and its practitioners, how Australians should view the evolving legal landscape in India, and why she's so excited by such change.
The unlawful termination of journalist Antoinette Lattouf by the national broadcaster, which resulted in high-profile proceedings in the Federal Court, has shone a spotlight on workplace policies for social media use by employees, and the need for such frameworks to be fit for purpose. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with McCabes principal Melini Pillay about her journey from being a prosecutor to representing defendants in employment and safety matters, how her background in criminal law offers perspective for her current work, the difficulties of managing five generations in the workforce for businesses, and what happened in the Lattouf v ABC proceedings. Pillay also discusses what the court found and the employment law implications moving forward from these proceedings, the difficulties inherent with striking the right balance with a social media policy, what might constitute bringing one's employer into disrepute, the questions that employers should be asking as a starting point, why policies need to appreciate the prevalence of and place for social media in the modern landscape, and practical steps to take in ensuring the right balance is struck when revamping workplace policies. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
When it comes to marketing, Rex Afrasiabi has learnt that people resonate more with a person than they do with a business. Leaning into his own branding has resulted in exponential growth for his firm, which is now allowing him to expand nationally through a capital raise and a retail share offering. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Bond Property Lawyers founder Rex Afrasiabi to discuss how and why he works with the real estate sector (and targets this sector rather than a particular niche area of legal practice), creating a marketing strategy that allows for growth without spreading one's self too thin, and his views on the importance of personal and professional branding. Afrasiabi also delves into the investment of time and labour for such strong marketing, how his business success has been aided by such marketing, how he plans to take his operations to the next level nationally, reflections on private equity in law firms, why he is looking to raise capital and undertake a retail share offering, and what excites him about such business growth moving forward.
Late last year, the chief people officer for national law firm Gilchrist Connell was announced as the BigLaw player's new chief executive - a role she assumed in July. Here, she reflects on her vocational experience and details how coming from an HR background and wearing “many, many hats” lends well to leading a large legal practice. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Gilchrist Connell chief executive Belinda Cohen about her career prior to joining the BigLaw firm five years ago, the work she did as CPO, balancing the proactive and reactive as an HR professional, and how she came to be the firm's CEO. Cohen also discusses the firm's vision as set out by her predecessor, Richard Wood, and how her HR background will assist in furthering that vision, how and why HR professionals are well placed to step into such senior leadership roles, how HR professionals can create such vocational pipelines for themselves, and what excites her moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Here, a managing partner and former law society president discusses the experience of delivering a premature baby, what it taught her, and the support offered by the broader legal profession. (Content warning: This episode contains content that may be disturbing or distressing to some listeners. Discretion is advised.) In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with DBH Lawyers managing partner Amy Nikolovski, who formerly served as the president of the Law Society of South Australia and now sits on the society's wellbeing and resilience committee, about the work she and her firm undertakes, how she came to deliver a premature baby and how she was supported by colleagues at the time, and the personal and emotional toll of such an experience. Nikolovski also reflects on the support mechanisms that the broader legal profession has in place and offers for working parents in law dealing with premature delivery, and how individual lawyers can be more comfortable talking about such personal and family matters with their colleagues. Help is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Each law society and bar association also has resources available on their respective websites. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
A recent Fair Work decision noted that a primary carer doesn't have to be the sole carer in order to receive primary carer parental leave. Here, a BigLaw special counsel unpacks the decision and what it means for employers and lawyers moving forward. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Maddocks special counsel Meredith Kennedy about her work in the BigLaw firm's employment, safety, and people practice, the case of Metro Tasmania Pty Ltd v Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (and what happened at first instance and then in front of the full bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC), how “primary carer” was defined in the proceedings and relevant enterprise agreement, and how and why the FWC full bench reached its conclusions. Kennedy also delves into why this matter is so significant, the takeaways for employers nationwide, the need to ensure that workplace policies and frameworks account for all circumstances, overcoming collective biases, riding the wave of sociocultural shifts, best practice for lawyers in this space, and what else such lawyers need to be looking out for.
Marianne Marchesi's firm had a hugely successful 2024–25 financial year. She credits a lot of that success, she says, to how she and the business responded and adapted to certain difficult periods the year prior – without which, such success may not have been possible. In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Legalite founder and managing principal Marianne Marchesi to discuss her evolving views on disrupting the traditional law firm model, how her firm performed in FY24–25, the challenges faced in the prior financial year, how those hardships have led to certain successes, and how she navigated her way out of wanting to throw in the towel as a business owner. Marchesi also discusses how the firm realigned in such difficult periods, how those experiences have shifted her view on what it means to be a good lawyer and business owner, how she has grown personally and professionally, what other firm owners can learn from her experience, and what excites her moving forward. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
James was lucky enough to sit down and chat with the legendary leader of Lawyers Weekly, Jerome Doraisamy in 2025 and had an in-depth conversation and life, law, and where Gravamen is still a side-hustle...You can find a link here https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/podcast/42265-the-boutique-lawyer-show-unique-branding-charitable-donations-and-the-firm-as-a-side-hustle?utm_source=LawyersWeekly&utm_campaign=05_06_2025&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Boutique-Podcast&utm_emailID=55716e27c79db04faaa6ed1f3d3988938ab8fa86ca99f7fc2679bf363ed418c8
Earlier this month, new regulations for buy now, pay later (BNPL) services in Australia came into effect. Here, a BigLaw partner explains how and why this has come to pass and what the implications are for consumers and practitioners alike. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Dentons partner Yechiel Belfer about the circumstances, including the banking royal commission, that have led to the introduction of the BNPL laws, the headline takeaways from the new regulations, and what it all means for providers, customers, and professionals as a result. Belfer also touches on whether the laws strike the right balance, the challenges for lawyers moving forward, how practitioners can move forward, and whether there are opportunities to grasp to better service clients. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
While there are myriad risks inherent with silent AI, one BigLaw partner also feels there are opportunities to develop risk controls and garner business. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clyde & Co partner Darryl Smith about the concept of silent AI and its implications for insurers and businesses, why the issues surrounding it are “very quiet” right now, the perfect storm that is brewing, and the potential challenges coming for the insurance space. Smith also discusses the inherent opportunities with these challenges, the possibility for group claims or class actions, preparing for the unknown, practical ways to better support clients, why he's such a big proponent of using AI, and how and why he's learnt to code. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!
Given that one of the most common gripes clients have about their lawyers is (perceived) high fees, it is essential that practitioners get this right – as “it'll save us a lot of time”. In this episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Gale Family Law director David Gale to discuss the importance of addressing costs concerns, how urgent a priority it is amid other urgent priorities for practitioners, whether pressure to get costs right is getting more burdensome, and how commonly clients will walk away from their lawyers over costs. Gale also delves into his thinking around the setting of costs, how costs arise in fixed-fee arrangements, being transparent across the board about costs arrangements, the questions lawyers must ask of themselves in reducing the risk of disputes, whether too many lawyers are getting costs wrong, and his suggested practical steps. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!