Lawbalization

Kirton McConkie

Join attorney Jonathan Bench as he sits down with attorneys and business leaders from across the globe to explore the intersection of law, business, and innovation. Each conversation dives into diverse areas of expertise, offering practical insights to thought-provoking perspectives on challenges and opportunities shaping today's legal industry.

  1. Mexico’s Rising Role in Global Supply Chains: FDI, USMCA, and Industry Growth with Vidaur Mora

    16/12/2025

    Mexico’s Rising Role in Global Supply Chains: FDI, USMCA, and Industry Growth with Vidaur Mora

    Jonathan Bench speaks with Vidaur Mora, a Mexico-based managing partner at Rivadeneyra Treviño, about Mexico’s rapidly evolving investment and manufacturing landscape. Vidaur provides on-the-ground insights into nearshoring, USMCA renegotiations, and how global supply chain realignment is reshaping foreign direct investment—from automotive and aerospace to data centers and advanced electronics. He explains why reinvestment is outpacing greenfield projects, how infrastructure gaps in water and energy affect site selection, and what foreign companies must understand about Mexico’s multilayered regulations, labor reforms, and customs environment. They also explore the growing influence of Chinese companies, regional competitiveness across Latin America and Asia, and why Mexico’s integration with North America continues to define its long-term economic outlook.

    31 min
  2. Building the Future of AI Policy and Business in Utah with Dr. Zach Boyd

    09/12/2025

    Building the Future of AI Policy and Business in Utah with Dr. Zach Boyd

    Jonathan Bench speaks with Dr. Zach Boyd, Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence for the State of Utah, about the state’s pioneering approach to AI governance and innovation. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI capabilities, how Utah balances pro-business regulatory clarity with consumer protection, and what effective public-private partnerships look like in an era of fast-moving technology. Zach shares insights from his academic career in applied mathematics, his work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and his team’s efforts to build future-proof policy frameworks such as regulatory sandboxes and safe harbors. They also explore national and global regulatory contrasts, the sociological challenges of AI adoption, and what Utah’s AI landscape could look like in the next decade—plus a few personal stories, including how AI is reshaping everyday workflows.

    32 min
  3. Exploring AI Governance and the Creator Economy in Brazil with Julia Pazos

    02/12/2025

    Exploring AI Governance and the Creator Economy in Brazil with Julia Pazos

    In this episode of Lawbalization, Jonathan Bench speaks with Julia Pazos, partner at Cescon Barrieu Advogados and a leading voice on technology, AI, and intellectual property in Brazil. Julia shares her journey into IP law, what fuels her passion for the fast-moving innovation economy, and why Brazil is at a pivotal moment as it shapes its AI and tech governance landscape. She and Jonathan discuss Brazil’s emerging risk-based AI framework, the evolving debates around training data, authorship, and copyright, and how courts are increasingly embracing blockchain as evidence of creative ownership. Julia also offers an inside look at how Brazilian companies—and her own firm—are adopting AI, the challenges of training young lawyers in responsible use, and the growing role of self-regulation as technology outpaces legislation. Together, they explore the creator economy, Web3, and Brazil’s expanding data-center ecosystem, offering a candid and energetic view of innovation in one of Latin America’s most dynamic markets.

    29 min
  4. Inventing Blockchain and Reinventing Trust – Digital Identity and SureMark with Dr. W. Scott Stornetta

    25/11/2025

    Inventing Blockchain and Reinventing Trust – Digital Identity and SureMark with Dr. W. Scott Stornetta

    Jonathan Bench speaks with Dr. W. Scott Stornetta, widely recognized as the co-inventor of blockchain technology and CEO of SureMark Digital, about the evolution of trust in the digital age. They trace the origins of blockchain from its early research roots at Bell Labs to its modern implications for data integrity, digital identity, and the fight against deepfakes. Dr. Stornetta explains how decentralization principles can help verify authorship and authenticity without relying on central authorities—extending blockchain’s legacy into AI-era identity verification. He also shares insights on mentorship, innovation, and the mindset entrepreneurs need to build lasting value.

    28 min
  5. Decoding China Risk and Corporate Exposure with Isaac Stone Fish

    18/11/2025

    Decoding China Risk and Corporate Exposure with Isaac Stone Fish

    In this episode of Lawbalization, host Jonathan Bench speaks with Isaac Stone Fish, founder and CEO of Strategy Risks and author of America Second. A leading expert on China risk and geopolitics, Isaac shares insights on how companies can identify and manage their exposure to China, the complexities of decoupling, and what global executives often overlook about political and ethical risks. He and Jonathan explore Beijing’s influence abroad, the realities of doing business under Communist Party oversight, and the fine line between engagement and dependency. Isaac also reflects on his years as a journalist in China, how his perspective has evolved, and what corporate leaders should prepare for in an increasingly unpredictable U.S.–China relationship.

    30 min
  6. From Southern Utah to the World – International Law, Reinvention, and Rural Impact with Timothy B. Anderson

    11/11/2025

    From Southern Utah to the World – International Law, Reinvention, and Rural Impact with Timothy B. Anderson

    Jonathan Bench speaks with Timothy B. Anderson, senior attorney in Kirton McConkie’s International Section based in St. George, Utah, about his remarkable 47-year career in international commercial law and rural economic development. They explore how Anderson built a global legal practice from southern Utah—handling deals across Europe, Asia, and beyond—while remaining deeply involved in local community growth, higher education, and public service. Anderson shares stories from his early work with Soviet clients during the fall of the Iron Curtain, his unexpected link to Rocky IV through the landmark Anderson v. Stallone copyright case, and his philosophy of professional reinvention every six years. He reflects on balancing law, writing, and leadership, offering timeless advice for lawyers: stay curious, serve your community, and never stop adapting.

    30 min
  7. East Africa’s Innovation Engine—Kenya’s Fintech Inclusion, ESG, and Venture Trends with Evelyne Mbula Nzuki

    04/11/2025

    East Africa’s Innovation Engine—Kenya’s Fintech Inclusion, ESG, and Venture Trends with Evelyne Mbula Nzuki

    Jonathan Bench speaks with Evelyne Mbula Nzuki, Nairobi-based founder of MN Legal and co-founder of Tenakata Enterprises, about Kenya’s rise as East Africa’s innovation hub at the intersection of fintech, sustainability, and law. They discuss how a young, tech-driven population, shifting compliance priorities, and AI-fueled disruption are reshaping business and legal practice across the region. Mbula shares her journey from lawyer to multi-industry entrepreneur and offers advice for global investors: enter Africa with cultural humility, trusted local partners, and an openness to rapid change.

    30 min
  8. Latin America’s Fintech Landscape and Brazil–Mexico Venture Trends with Julia de Luca

    14/10/2025

    Latin America’s Fintech Landscape and Brazil–Mexico Venture Trends with Julia de Luca

    Jonathan Bench speaks with Julia de Luca, São Paulo–based Business Development lead at Banco Itaú and former tech investment banker, about Latin America’s tech ecosystem—where a maturity gap with the U.S. coexists with abundant real-world problems to solve. They unpack why fintech still dominates, how Brazil’s pro-competition Central Bank and the instant-payments system Pix—along with “payment institution” rules—accelerated financial inclusion, and where AI wrappers and stablecoins are gaining traction. Julia offers an investor playbook (visit the region, build trusted on-the-ground networks, and avoid treating LATAM as a monolith), contrasts Mexico’s recent venture surge and U.S. proximity with Brazil’s scale and stronger institutions, and reflects on founder challenges, women’s underrepresentation, and her Sunday newsletter (~14k subscribers) syndicated by Nasdaq.

    31 min
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About

Join attorney Jonathan Bench as he sits down with attorneys and business leaders from across the globe to explore the intersection of law, business, and innovation. Each conversation dives into diverse areas of expertise, offering practical insights to thought-provoking perspectives on challenges and opportunities shaping today's legal industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Kirton McConkie
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kirton McConkie
  • Show Website
    Lawbalization