The Non-Billable Podcast

Non-Billable
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The Non-Billable Podcast takes UK legal professionals beyond the billable hour, bringing you interviews with top lawyers, law firm leaders, industry experts and legal tech innovators to uncover actionable insights on the business of law, career growth and the future of the industry. Hosted by Oliver Attinger, a former finance lawyer at a leading City law firm, and brought to you by Non-Billable, the legal media platform for City lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals.

  1. 2d ago

    Jeanette Burgess on taking Walker Morris beyond £100m and saying no to private equity

    Walker Morris has nearly doubled in size over the past seven years while holding on to a model that looks increasingly distinctive: one office in Leeds and no international network of its own. Revenue reached a record £90.2m last year, leaving the firm within reach of its £100m Ambition 27 target. Managing partner Jeanette Burgess explains why she believes the single-site model still works. The bigger question is what happens beyond £100m. Burgess says Walker Morris can continue scaling from Leeds for now, although the firm is reviewing its options as it develops its post-2027 strategy. She also discusses why the firm is attracting lawyers looking for greater autonomy than they may find at larger City and national firms. In relation to AI, Burgess expects firms may need “fewer, better people” in some areas and anticipates a gradual move away from hourly rates for routine work. But she rejects private equity as an answer to the investment challenge, arguing that surrendering control would cut against Walker Morris’ partnership model. The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Thomson Reuters. Request a demo of CoCounsel Legal, visit: https://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.co.uk/en/products-services/cocounsel-legal-uk.html Chapters 00:01 Introduction 01:35 Record growth and Jeanette’s path to leadership 05:13 Evolution, innovation and leading the firm 07:33 Walker Morris’ position in the market 09:13 The advantages of a single office in Leeds 16:01 How far can the model scale? 18:51 AI, talent and the future law firm pyramid 28:13 Why private equity is not right for Walker Morris 33:02 What comes after Ambition 27? About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    Jeanette Burgess on taking Walker Morris beyond £100m and saying no to private equity

  2. Sep 9

    Charles Russell Speechlys boss Simon Ridpath on building a law firm around private capital

    Charles Russell Speechlys has expanded rapidly under managing partner Simon Ridpath, opening in Milan and Singapore before making a defining move into the US this year. The strategy is built around the firm’s ambition to become the world’s leading adviser to private capital – following wealthy individuals, families and entrepreneurs as their lives and investments become increasingly mobile globally. In this episode, Simon explains why the US had become an unavoidable gap in the firm’s network, what he learnt during two-and-a-half years studying the market and why CRS resisted the temptation to accelerate its launch simply by “opening a chequebook”. We also go inside the 2014 merger that created Charles Russell Speechlys. Simon reflects on the unusual challenge of combining two genuinely equal firms, why he prefers to talk about behaviours rather than culture and why mergers pursued principally for scale should make law firm leaders nervous. Finally, we explore one of the biggest questions facing the profession: how partnerships will fund international expansion, AI and the increasingly complicated business of running a law firm. Simon explains why private equity ownership remains difficult for Big Law, where external investment could work on a project basis and how technology may force firms to overhaul traditional pay and reward structures. Chapters 00:01 Introduction 00:55 Leading through constant disruption 03:08 From legal aid work to City law 04:59 Inside the Charles Russell Speechlys merger 09:18 Why Simon became managing partner 11:18 Building the firm around private capital 17:09 Why CRS finally entered the US 23:15 Following private capital into Milan and Singapore 26:23 Funding growth, private equity and the impact of AI About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    Charles Russell Speechlys boss Simon Ridpath on building a law firm around private capital

  3. Sep 2

    Christian Bartsch on Bird & Bird’s path to €1bn

    Christian Bartsch is the CEO of Bird & Bird, the international law firm built around technology, IP and regulation. He joined the firm in 2007, became CEO in 2022 and was recently re-elected for a second term. In this episode, Bartsch explains how he followed a leader who had run the firm for 26 years and why he involved the wider partnership in shaping Bird & Bird’s first five-year strategy. He discusses the firm’s target of reaching €1bn in revenue by 2029, its recent expansion into Tokyo, Riyadh and Lisbon, and why India remains a market he watches closely. He also addresses law firm consolidation, external capital and the circumstances in which Bird & Bird might consider a merger. The conversation then turns to AI, why Bartsch believes generic firms are vulnerable, how the traditional law firm pyramid may change and why training partners matters just as much as giving associates new tools. Chapters 00:01 Introduction 01:02 Christian’s journey from tech partner to CEO 02:51 Taking over after David Kerr’s 26-year tenure 04:59 Building a five-year strategy with the partnership 07:29 Bird & Bird’s sector focus and competitive edge 12:15 The €1bn revenue target and why growth isn’t the strategy 17:43 International expansion, Saudi Arabia and India 20:34 Big Law consolidation, US mergers and external capital 27:11 AI, the law firm pyramid and why generic firms could struggle About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    Christian Bartsch on Bird & Bird’s path to €1bn

  4. Aug 19

    Lewis Silkin’s Jo Farmer on why two managing partners are better than one

    Jo Farmer, joint managing partner of Lewis Silkin, joins the podcast to discuss the firm’s rapid growth and the strategy behind it. She explains why Lewis Silkin has resisted chasing revenue for its own sake, instead focusing on organic growth, its core strengths and expanding into locations where it sees opportunities for both clients and talent. Jo also talks about her own route into law, from growing up without any lawyers in the family to building a career in IP and advertising and eventually becoming joint managing partner. She discusses why social mobility matters so much to her, and why she believes Lewis Silkin’s distinctive history continues to shape the culture of the firm today. We get into leadership too, including why Jo never originally planned to become managing partner, what she learned from studying leadership at Cambridge and Harvard, and why she is a big believer in sharing the top job with fellow joint managing partner Richard Miskella. Finally, Jo shares how Lewis Silkin is approaching AI, from its early adoption of Harvey to building its own employment product, Delphius. Chapters 00:01 Introduction 00:50 Jo’s journey to Lewis Silkin and managing partner 03:46 What makes Lewis Silkin different 08:06 Social mobility and opening up routes into law 10:02 Why Jo never planned to become managing partner 12:25 The case for joint managing partners 16:37 What Harvard taught Jo about leadership 22:47 The strategy behind Lewis Silkin’s rapid growth 30:34 AI, Harvey and the future of the law firm model About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    Lewis Silkin’s Jo Farmer on why two managing partners are better than one

  5. Aug 5

    How David Beech built Knights into a £200m law firm

    David Beech, CEO of listed law firm Knights, joins the podcast to discuss how he has built one of the UK's largest regional legal businesses since buying the firm in 2012. He explains why Knights has prioritised people and cash over traditional law firm metrics, how the business has grown through almost 30 acquisitions, and why he believes law firms should separate ownership from management. David also shares the thinking behind Knights' distinctive strategy. He discusses why the firm has no fee targets, why it manages through regional leadership rather than practice groups, and why culture is the first consideration when assessing acquisitions. The conversation explores external investment in law firms, drawing on David's experience of private equity backing and taking Knights public in 2018. He reflects on what it is like running a listed law firm, why he believes corporatisation is the long-term direction of the legal industry, and why minority investment may prove a more natural model for traditional partnerships than outright buyouts. Chapters 00:01 Introduction 00:50 Building Knights into the UK's largest regional legal business 05:47 Why people and cash matter more than fee targets 15:44 Rainmakers, culture and leading a collaborative law firm 21:34 Why Knights has no ambition to open in London 24:03 The acquisition playbook behind nearly 30 deals 33:58 Lessons from private equity and taking Knights public 38:42 Why more law firms won't follow Knights onto the stock market 42:44 The future of external capital in the legal industry About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    How David Beech built Knights into a £200m law firm

  6. Jul 28

    Inside Mayer Brown’s London private capital push

    Dom Griffiths, London managing partner of Mayer Brown, joins the podcast to discuss the strategy behind one of the firm's strongest years in London. He explains why Mayer Brown has invested so heavily in private capital, how targeted lateral hiring is reshaping the practice and where he believes the firm can differentiate in an increasingly competitive transatlantic market. Dom also reflects on more than two decades at Mayer Brown, his journey from structured finance partner to London managing partner, and what he's learned about leading a large international partnership. He shares why consensus-building matters, how he approaches recruitment and why culture and client relationships remain at the heart of sustainable growth. The conversation also explores the changing shape of the legal market, from AI and private capital to transatlantic competition and law firm mergers. Dom explains why he believes technology will enhance, rather than replace, trusted advisers, and shares his views on what will separate the most successful firms over the next decade Chapters 00:01 Introduction 00:59 From structured finance partner to London managing partner 05:18 Mayer Brown's place in the global legal market 11:53 Building a private capital powerhouse in London 18:46 The firm's approach to lateral hiring and growth 22:11 Leading a global law firm partnership 30:21 Transatlantic mergers and Mayer Brown's strategy 33:21 AI, private capital and the future of Big Law About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    Inside Mayer Brown’s London private capital push

  7. Jul 22

    Richard Medd on Browne Jacobson’s growth strategy

    Richard Medd, managing partner of Browne Jacobson, joins the podcast to discuss how the firm has doubled revenue over the past six years - revenue for the most recent financial year came in at a record £149m - and the strategy behind its recent growth. He explains why Browne Jacobson has invested heavily across its UK and Ireland network, the thinking behind its expanding London presence, and why he believes firms can be both ambitious and culture-driven. The conversation explores the firm's approach to lateral hiring, its growing private equity, technology and real estate practices, and why Medd sees London as an increasingly important part of the firm's long-term strategy rather than simply a shop window for clients. He also discusses Browne Jacobson's expansion into Ireland and how the firm thinks about international growth. We also discuss AI and legal technology, including the firm's rollout of Legora, how AI is changing the delivery of legal services, and why judgment and commercial context will remain critical skills for lawyers. Finally, Medd shares his views on external investment in law firms, why private capital is unlikely to transform the upper end of the UK legal market overnight, and what the next phase of growth looks like for Browne Jacobson. Chapters 00:01 Introduction 00:40 Richard Medd's journey to managing Browne Jacobson 01:26 The strategy behind Browne Jacobson's rapid growth 06:33 Why London has become central to the firm's ambitions 15:01 Expanding into Ireland and what's next for the firm 18:55 Rolling out AI across Browne Jacobson 21:43 How AI will change legal services and lawyer training 24:59 External investment and private capital in law firms 28:13 Will a top UK law firm take external capital? About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    Richard Medd on Browne Jacobson’s growth strategy

  8. Jul 14

    What Microsoft expects from its law firms in the AI era

    Rebecca Anderson, Microsoft's head of legal for EMEA, joins the podcast to discuss how the in-house function at one of the world's biggest tech companies is adapting to the AI era. She explains why Microsoft has overhauled its legal operating model, how AI is changing the role of lawyers, and why the function is increasingly becoming a strategic partner to the business rather than simply a legal adviser. The conversation explores how Microsoft is deploying AI across its own legal department, from AI-powered legal triage to contract drafting and decision-making tools. Anderson also shares how the company thinks about legal tech, why the operating model matters as much as the tools themselves, and how Microsoft's lawyers are using AI to move away from repetitive work towards higher-value strategic advice. We also discuss what Microsoft now expects from its external law firms in the age of AI, why AI fluency has become a baseline requirement, and how firms can differentiate themselves beyond simply adopting new technology. Finally, Anderson shares her thoughts on the future of the profession, the new legal roles emerging alongside AI, and the skills lawyers will need to thrive over the next decade. Chapters 00:01 Introduction 00:45 From private practice to leading Microsoft's EMEA legal team 03:55 Rebuilding Microsoft's legal operating model for the AI era 09:40 How Microsoft is using AI inside its own legal department 18:00 Microsoft's legal tech strategy and the future of contract review 19:40 What Microsoft now expects from its external law firms 29:30 The changing role of the in-house lawyer 35:25 What Microsoft looks for when hiring lawyers 36:30 The future of legal work in the age of AI About Non-Billable Non-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals across private practice, in-house and legal tech. Visit our website: ⁠⁠https://www.nonbillable.co.uk

    What Microsoft expects from its law firms in the AI era
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About

The Non-Billable Podcast takes UK legal professionals beyond the billable hour, bringing you interviews with top lawyers, law firm leaders, industry experts and legal tech innovators to uncover actionable insights on the business of law, career growth and the future of the industry. Hosted by Oliver Attinger, a former finance lawyer at a leading City law firm, and brought to you by Non-Billable, the legal media platform for City lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals.

Information

  • Creator
    Non-Billable
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Non-Billable
  • Show Website
    The Non-Billable Podcast

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