BDO's Legal Tech Talk Podcast

BDO USA
  • 5.0 (8)
  • BUSINESS

BDO’s Legal Tech Talk is a podcast hosted by Daniel Gold, Principal, E-Discovery Managed Services Leader, and Eric Derk, Managing Director, Legal Operations. They are joined by judges and legal professionals for exciting discussions on the use of technology in the legal industry.

  1. APR 7

    The “Data Diva” Talks Privacy, AI, and Governance

    Debbie Reynolds | LinkedIn Guest Notes Debbie has more than 20 years of experience in digital transformation and data privacy with a background in library science and information management, which shaped her view of data flows. Widely published and quoted in outlets such as Bloomberg Law, Law360, PBS, Wired, and The New York Times, Debbie translates complex privacy law into practical business guidance. She was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Internet of Things (IoT) Advisory Board and has served in leadership roles with IEEE on cybersecurity and next generation connectivity systems. Host of the long running, award winning “The Data Diva Talks Privacy Podcast,” which reaches a global audience across 150+ countries. Key Takeaways 1. To be successful and achieve desired results, AI innovation requires governance and best practices in data management and strategy. Duplication is a huge problem, and it makes training AI more expensive. Data curation is the foundation of AI, and many organizations are missing it. They should understand why data exists, what data should be kept, and how it should be used. 2. Data deletion and end-of-life data strategy are major weaknesses. Data systems are created to save data, not delete it. Organizations are full of data generators, and they need to empower data curators. Without clear retention and disposal practices, data lingers often in neglected systems, which increases exposure. 3. Companies need end-to-end data ownership. Organizations should maintain a bird’s-eye view of the full data lifecycle. Most privacy failures aren’t malicious. They’re operational. Many incidents stem from mistakes, oversight, or poor governance, not intentional misuse. 4. Purpose and context get lost—and that’s where privacy risk happens. A key risk is data collected for one purpose is later used for another (e.g., phone numbers collected for multifactor authentication later being used for marketing), which can trigger compliance issues. 5. Old, unused data is vulnerable to attackers. Even if stale data has little business value, it can be highly valuable to hackers, and forgotten infrastructure (“old server in the back room”) becomes an easy target.

    39 min

  2. MAR 25

    PE, MSOs, and AI: The New Operating Model for Law Firms

    Key Takeaways AI market fear is real, but adoption momentum remains strong. Despite volatility and uncertainty, firms are unlikely to stop investing in AI.Innovation is leveling the playing field. Smaller legal tech companies can move faster, reach market quickly with limited sales resources, and win customers by solving specific, high-value problems—especially where larger vendors have over-focused on large law and enterprise.Firms are pursuing outside capital to fund differentiation. A major driver is the need to invest in technology and talent to compete in an increasingly commoditized market, defined by growth, profitability, and improved client service.Management Services Organization (MSO) structures are trying to balance capital and ethics. The MSO model helps “wall off” the learned profession—protecting duties like loyalty to clients—while still enabling meaningful investment in tech, expansion, and acquisitions.MSOs resemble outsourcing—strategically. The model can let law firms focus on their strengths while externalized services handle operational burdens.Other countries offer a preview of what’s possible. In markets where rules were liberalized earlier, Scott notes there are likely 15–20 PE-backed or public-company law firms in the UK, and 10–20 in Australia.Ownership separation is the key structural safeguard. The practicing law entity is owned only by lawyers, while a separate services organization sits alongside it—designed so third parties do not own the legal practice itself.Access to justice remains an opportunity area. Newer offerings can target unmet needs (e.g., lower-cost options for straightforward legal matters) that have often been underservedGuest Bio Guest Notes As a Co-CEO & Managing Director in New York, Scott brings over 25 years of M&A, capital markets and operating experience working with global organizations in the business information, technology, news distribution and B2B media industries. Scott has deep experience working with software, data and tech-enabled services businesses across the Legal, Compliance, Public Relations and Investor Relations verticals. Prior to joining JEGI LEONIS, Scott led Bloomberg’s legal market business, UBM Tech’s media, data & marketing services business and was general counsel and global co-head of M&A for UBM. Scott earned his BA from Williams College, and his JD degree from Fordham University School of Law. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit organization focused on using technology and innovation to close the access to justice gap.

    32 min

  3. MAR 9

    Building Better AI Programs Together

    Guest Notes Stephen Dooley works with a diverse team of professionals that are responsible for supporting various data management needs, including the discovery process. He has over 25 years of experience advising attorneys, clients, and colleagues on a gamut of complex e-discovery and technical topics, including data governance, data privacy, and GenAI. He tries to remain a resource and thought leader to practitioners throughout the industry through active participation with ILTA. Guest LinkedIn: Stephen Dooley Key Takeaways Design for efficiency by eliminating duplication: Look for redundancies and reuse what you build across multiple workflows (e.g., apply lessons from budget summary generation to preservation and legal hold processes).Create a single, transparent source of truth for AI development: A shared program repository keeps everyone educated on what’s new, what people are trying, and—crucially—where things don’t work.Share more to become a stronger team: Competitive instincts can reduce knowledge sharing, but teaching others makes the whole team better.Keep it grounded in real experience—and keep it human: Improve from lived results rather than “we think it can do this,” and remember that tech is “just tech”—the most powerful outcomes come from human purpose and meaning.

    44 min

  4. FEB 19

    How Private Equity Is Reshaping Legal Services: Tech-Enabled Growth and “People-First” Value

    Guest Notes Lee Minkoff is managing director at Renovus Capital Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm specializing in the Knowledge and Talent industries. From its base in the Philadelphia area, Renovus manages over $2 billion of assets across its several sector focused funds. The firm's current portfolio includes over 25 U.S. based businesses specializing in education and workforce development and services companies in the technology, healthcare and professional services markets. Renovus typically makes control buyout investments in founder owned businesses, leveraging its industry expertise and operator network to make operational improvements, recruit top talent and pursue add-on acquisitions. Guest LinkedIn: Lee Minkoff Key Takeaways 1. Renovus invests in the legal services ecosystem, not pure legal tech. Their focus is on founder-owned businesses delivering legal technology services and tech-enabled legal services, with a services-investor lens.2. Private equity value creation in legal often comes from disciplined growth and M&A. Building platforms through acquisitions can rapidly scale capability and market presence, illustrated by Harbor’s expansion via 10 acquisitions in three years.3. Digital transformation is a major driver of investment opportunity in legal. Demand from large law firms and corporate legal departments supports businesses providing transformation and operational modernization services.4. The “people-first” operating formula is central to sustainable returns. Lee emphasizes a culture-led approach: happy employees create happy clients—ultimately producing happy investors.

    47 min

  5. FEB 11

    Privacy and AI in Practice: Asking Better Questions, Smarter Consent, and Stronger Compliance

    Guest Notes Hannah Ji-Otto advises on data privacy, technology transactions and the use of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). Hannah is a partner at Quarls & Brady LLP. She also counsels clients on preparing for and responding to data breaches, network intrusions, ransomware attacks and email compromises. With a particular focus on emerging technologies and innovative business models, Hannah helps companies navigate the full breadth of information governance challenges, guiding them in creating and maintaining comprehensive privacy compliance programs. Her clients, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies and including both for-profit and nonprofit, come from industries such as: Manufacturing, Consumer products and e-commerce, Health care, Insurance, Fintech, Education, and Marketing and retail. Guest LinkedIn: Hannah Ji-Otto Key Takeaways 1. “Ask the right questions” is a privacy and AI skill. Better legal strategy (and better AI outputs) starts with asking the right questions and designing effective prompts. 2. AI requires professional judgment—and strong soft skills. Being able to evaluate whether AI is hallucinating or accurate, distill large volumes of information, and collaborate well with others is increasingly essential as AI “takes over the world.” 3. Privacy compliance is an ongoing program, not a one-time policy. Tabletop exercises can help prevent incidents and reduce mitigation costs, and privacy policies should be improved every year to keep pace with changing laws across jurisdictions. 4. Build for speed of change: invest in people and culture. Technology moves fast, but people who can use technology and adapt are the sustainable resource—so building a strong team and a good culture is central to long-term success.

    33 min

  6. FEB 3

    Legacy Data, AI, and the Chasm of Risk: Reimagining Digital Content Management

    Guest Notes: Brendan Sullivan blends four decades of deep tape-storage expertise with a forward-looking vision for use of artificial intelligence in the legal sector. As founder and chief executive of S2 | DATA, he has built a company whose mission is to give law firms and corporations “total command of their legacy data,” turning what was once a liability into an analytic asset. Guest LinkedIn: Brendan Sullivan | LinkedIn Key Takeaways: 1. The Unpredictability of Data Evolution: Even with the best intentions and knowledge at the time, IT administrators could not have predicted the regulatory and operational challenges that would arise decades later, especially regarding privacy and legacy data. 2. Classification and Control at the Source: Early and effective classification, categorization, and control of data are crucial, but future compliance requirements are often unforeseeable, making perfect foresight impossible. 3. AI’s Role in Unlocking Legacy Data Value: Technologies like AI can provide targeted insights into legacy datasets, transforming static information into actionable stories and value, especially when paired with intelligent curation layers. 4. Balancing Risk and Opportunity: Organizations must weigh the risks of legacy data management against the potential value that can be mined from non-litigation datasets, signaling a shift from risk mitigation to value creation in data strategy.

    40 min

  7. 12/15/2025

    Harnessing AI for Smarter Legal Workflows

    Guests’ Notes Angelic Benavidez and Joanne Liu are senior litigation paralegals within the legal department at Hyundai Motor America. Angelic oversees e-discovery, legal holds, and manages the Relativity database, working primarily in the class action and intellectual property group, and occasionally supporting product liability matters. She brings extensive experience from big law, particularly in employment litigation, and has played a key role in transforming Hyundai’s e-discovery processes. Joanne also focuses on e-discovery and is involved in managing class action and intellectual property cases, with additional responsibilities in product liability. Her background includes private practice and big law, and she is dedicated to streamlining legal workflows and bridging the gap between outside and in-house counsel. Guests’ LinkedIn Joanne Liu Angelic I. B. Key Takeaways 1. AI-powered tools are streamlining contract analysis and document comparison, reducing reliance on manual and traditional translation services. 2. Closed systems for document review offer enhanced confidentiality, making it safer to analyze sensitive materials without using public platforms. 3. Adopting Gen AI in legal workflows requires a learning curve, and professionals must balance efficiency with maintaining critical thinking skills. 4. Embracing AI is essential for staying competitive in legal operations, and organizations risk falling behind if they do not adapt to these technological advancements.

    14 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    Democratizing Law: Generative AI, Ethics, and the New Legal Landscape

    Guest Notes Niki Black is Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8am, the team behind LawPay, MyCase, CasePeer, and DocketWise. She operates at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation strategy. Inside the company, Niki provides insight on the legal market, law firm operations, and how AI is impacting the practice of law. Niki advises on AI implementation within our products, author legal industry reports, and guide teams on how to communicate with lawyers so that our technology solutions and messaging align with their needs and realities. Niki’s role bridges market knowledge, product strategy, and effective engagement with the legal profession. Guest LinkedIn Nicole Black | LinkedIn Key Takeaways: 1. Generative AI is Accelerating Change in Law: The adoption of generative AI in the legal profession is happening at an unprecedented rate, with exponential growth in use cases and potential for disruption. 2.Ethical Obligations Remain Paramount: Legal professionals must uphold rules of professional responsibility, ensuring that AI-generated work is thoroughly reviewed for accuracy, validity, and ethical compliance before submission to courts. 3. Democratization of Legal Knowledge: AI is leveling the playing field by making legal information widely accessible, potentially changing how both attorneys and pro se litigants approach legal matters. 4. Accuracy and Commercialization Challenges: While AI offers abundant knowledge, concerns about the accuracy of its outputs and the emergence of paid, promotional responses highlight the need for vigilance and critical evaluation in legal practice.

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

BDO’s Legal Tech Talk is a podcast hosted by Daniel Gold, Principal, E-Discovery Managed Services Leader, and Eric Derk, Managing Director, Legal Operations. They are joined by judges and legal professionals for exciting discussions on the use of technology in the legal industry.

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