Cracking Legal Innovation

From services to solutions: How design-thinking is rewiring legal work - Jana Blount, Director of Client Solutions and Digital Strategy at Norton Rose Fulbright

What if the client's real problem isn't the legal problem at all? In this episode, Anthony Seale and Daniel Porus are joined by Jana Blount, Director of Client Solutions and Digital Strategy for EMEA and APAC at Norton Rose Fulbright. Jana has spent her career embedding design thinking into legal organizations — building the radical change team at DLA Piper before taking on her current role at NRF. We explore what design thinking actually looks like in practice inside a global law firm, and why asking "why" three times can completely reframe a client brief. In this conversation we cover: - What design thinking is and where it came from.  - How to uncover what a client actually needs vs. what they ask for.  - Why most "client-centricity" in law firms is really just assumption-making.  - The matter number story - a cautionary tale about testing assumptions before you build.  - How to win over senior partners when challenging the status quo.  - What GenAI means for the value lawyers create - and the massive opportunity most firms are ignoring.

The non-lawyer skills firms need to hire and train for - Ilona Logvinova, Chief AI Officer at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Ilona Logvinova, Global Chief AI Officer at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, joins Daniel Porus and Anthony Seale to explore the non-lawyer skills law firms need to stay competitive. From hybrid intelligence and systems thinking to AI oversight, inductive reasoning, and celebrating tech talent, Ilona shares how firms can rethink delivery, mindset, and culture to build the legal workforce of the next decade.

The role of data in law firm innovation - Michelle Mahoney, Chief Innovation Officer at Mallesons

In this episode of Cracking Legal Innovation, we sit down with Michelle Mahoney, Chief Innovation Officer at Mallesons (formerly King & Wood Mallesons), to explore how a truly data-driven approach is transforming legal practice. From designing experiments with measurable impact to aligning incentives with innovation, Michelle shares how her team uses data, storytelling, and behavioural insights to drive real change—unlocking adoption, proving ROI, and rethinking how legal services are delivered. A must-listen for anyone serious about legal tech, GenAI, and the future of law.

Inside the client-firm partnership for legal tech success - Kerry Westland, Partner - Head of Innovation Group at Addleshaw Goddard

Kerry Westland, Partner & Head of Innovation at Addleshaw Goddard, leads nearly 80 people transforming legal service delivery.  In this episode, she discusses the practical factors that influence legaltech adoption, and how firms and clients can align to ensure innovation succeeds.  The answer often surprises: cloud restrictions that persist years later, AI panel terms repeating past mistakes, and the gap between procurement requirements and innovation goals. Kerry explores how to prove value beyond traditional metrics, the client capabilities that drive success, and why honest collaboration beats overpromised transformation.  📍 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.  Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes.

The ideal law firm and technology provider relationship - Andrei Salajan, Director Legal Tech & Innovation at Schoenherr

In this episode of Cracking Legal Innovation, Andrei Salajan, Director of Legal Tech & Innovation at Schoenherr, shares insights on what makes a truly effective partnership between law firms and legal technology providers. He dives into: - The three pillars of successful collaboration - Product, People, and Partnership - How to create trust and transparency between firms and vendors - What law firms can do to drive adoption and creativity in their tech stacks - How AI, document automation, and transaction management are reshaping legal practice - Why mindset and culture matter more than the tools themselves  📍 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.  Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes.