Pearls On, Gloves Off

Mary O'Carroll
Pearls On, Gloves Off

Smooth operations keep businesses afloat – but what makes them successful? “Pearls On, Gloves Off” is a new podcast where Legal Ops legend Mary O’Carroll and a motley crew of guests share their insider knowledge from running high-performing businesses. Join us for insightful conversations with some of today’s most respected leaders and luminaries.

  1. 6 天前

    #63 - Is 2025 The Year Law Firms Finally Transform? - A Conversation with Matt Sunderman, CEO of Harbor Global

    Welcome to another episode of Pearls On, Gloves Off with your host, Mary O'Carroll, Chief Operating Officer at Goodwin. In this episode, Mary sits down with Matt Sunderman, CEO of Harbor Global, to explore the current state and future of legal transformation across law firms and corporate legal departments. Matt Sunderman brings over two decades of experience in the legal industry, leading Harbor Global, the newly branded combination of HBR Consulting, LAC Group, Wilson Allen, and others. His unique position at the intersection of law firms, corporate legal departments, and technology providers gives him invaluable insights into the ecosystem's evolution. In this episode: ·        The Spectrum of Transformation: How organizations vary widely in their readiness and approach to change, from those racing toward 2030 to those still operating like it's 1998. ·        Drivers of Change: Understanding what's accelerating transformation in both corporate legal departments and law firms, and why some resist despite mounting pressure. ·        The Technology Paradox: Why technology alone isn't the answer, but serves as a powerful catalyst for broader organizational change. ·        Market Consolidation: Insights into the consolidation trends across legal tech, service providers, and law firms, and what it means for the industry. ·        The Big Four's Impact: Analysis of KPMG's entry into the U.S. legal market and its potential implications for traditional law firms. ·        Investment Opportunities: Why investors remain bullish on legal tech and services, despite the industry's unique challenges. ·        Change Management: Practical advice on balancing current operations (80%) with future transformation (20%) and creating effective enterprise-wide change. ·        2025 Predictions: Why this year could mark meaningful advancement in both tech adoption and process transformation across the legal ecosystem. For anyone interested in the future of legal services, technology adoption, or organizational transformation, this conversation offers valuable insights from one of the industry's most experienced voices. Goodwin at HumanX Follow Mary on LinkedIn Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

    50 分鐘
  2. 2月18日

    #62 - Is Legal Ops Losing Momentum?

    When Mary posted a question about the state of legal ops on LinkedIn, she didn't expect to spark such intense debate. But the responses revealed what many have been quietly wondering: has legal operations reached a turning point? In this episode, Mary sits down with Frances Pomposo, Senior Director of Legal Technology Solutions at Cisco, to dig into this thorny question. With her deep experience in tech companies and time on CLOC's board, Frances brings a unique perspective on where legal ops has been—and where it might be heading. In this episode: ·        The Unicorn Dilemma: Remember when legal ops professionals were expected to do it all? Mary and Frances explore why that "strategic generalist" role seems to be fading, and what that means for the profession. ·        Splitting at the Seams: As legal ops splinters into specialized roles like data analytics and vendor management, is this evolution or fragmentation? And does it matter? ·        Hiring Horror Stories: Frances gets real about what happens when companies hire for legal ops without really knowing what they need—and how to avoid this common pitfall. ·        The Consultant Question: Are companies bypassing internal legal ops teams for external expertise? Mary and Frances tackle this trend head-on. ·        Going Global: Why the lack of consistent standards for legal ops roles worldwide is becoming a real problem, and what we can do about it. ·        The Big Question: Can legal ops recapture its revolutionary spirit, or is it destined to become just another corporate function? If you've been feeling the shift in legal ops—or wondering if you're imagining it—this conversation will hit home. Join Mary and Frances for an honest look at where legal ops stands today, and what it'll take to shape its future. Goodwin at HumanX Follow Mary on LinkedIn Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

    45 分鐘
  3. 2024/12/16

    #58 - Open to Weirdness: Brian Israel on Leading Legal at Anthropic

    “Sometimes the right answer for Anthropic would be things that 99% of tech companies wouldn’t even consider. You have to be appropriately open to weirdness—not weirdness for the sake of weirdness, but tied to what we’re trying to achieve in the world.” —Brian Isreal, GC, Anthropic In this episode, Mary sits down with Brian Israel, General Counsel at Anthropic, to explore what it’s like to operate at the legal and cultural frontier of AI. From building a hypergrowth legal team to designing a legal “front end” that prioritizes user experience, Brian shares his perspective on leadership, innovation, and navigating the edge of the possible. Topics covered include: Anthropic’s mission: Building a safer transition to transformative AI and how that shapes the company's operations and values. Legal team culture: What it means to be “appropriately open to weirdness” in service of a larger mission. Hypergrowth dynamics: Lessons from scaling a legal team from one person to 27 in just two years. Front-end legal design: Translating complex legal concepts into actionable advice for fast-moving teams. AI in legal workflows: How Anthropic’s own tool, Claude, has become an integral member of the legal team. Ownership and leadership: Why accountability and agency are critical in a high-stakes environment. Brian’s journey to Anthropic—from NASA to startup land—is as unconventional as his approach to law. Tune in to hear his insights on culture, collaboration, and why the best legal teams are both technically excellent and human-centered. Catch the full conversation now, and don’t miss Brian’s take on how AI is poised to redefine the legal profession. Connect with us and join the conversation: Follow Mary on LinkedIn Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

    36 分鐘
  4. 2024/12/03

    #57 - From Navy Pilot to General Counsel: IPOs and Legal Innovation with Phil Mazzara

    This special episode was recorded live at Goodwin's Tech Retreat in San Francisco, where Mary sits down with Phil Mazzara, General Counsel of Astera Labs, to explore the evolving role of the general counsel in today's rapidly changing technological landscape. Phil's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Before becoming an attorney, he spent over a decade on active duty as a Navy pilot, bringing a unique perspective to the legal field. With a JD/MBA from Stanford, Phil skipped the traditional law firm route and went straight in-house. Prior to joining Astera Labs, he served as General Counsel and Secretary at Innovium, where he oversaw multiple venture financings, negotiated critical commercial agreements, settled bet-the-company litigation, built a robust IP portfolio, and ultimately led the company through its $1.1 billion acquisition by Marvell Technology. At Astera Labs, Phil played a pivotal role in taking the company public in March 2023, a challenging year for capital markets. Under his legal guidance, Astera Labs has been riding the AI wave, focusing on AI infrastructure and experiencing significant growth. In this engaging live conversation, Phil and Mary delve into: ·         The Journey to IPO: Phil shares his experiences taking Astera Labs public in a tough market, the importance of choosing the right outside counsel, and how Goodwin played a crucial role in their successful IPO. ·         AI in Legal Practice: How AI is impacting the legal profession, both within corporate legal departments and in law firms, and the potential future applications of AI in complex legal work. ·         The Evolving Role of General Counsel: Discussing how the general counsel's role has expanded beyond traditional legal services to include compliance, business strategy, and being a key advisor to the executive team. ·         Building Strong Law Firm-Client Relationships: Phil offers advice to law firms on how to better serve their clients, emphasizing the importance of understanding the client's business deeply, being proactive, and building trust. ·         Quality of Legal Work and Service: How to measure and ensure high-quality legal services, the significance of responsiveness, attention to detail, and open communication. ·         Advice for Junior Lawyers: The value of seeking opportunities to engage directly with clients, asking questions to understand their business, and stepping up to deliver work product in front of senior executives. ·         Leadership Lessons from the Navy: Phil reflects on how his experience as a Navy pilot informs his approach to leadership, project management, and the use of checklists to ensure quality and reduce errors. ·         The Future of Legal Practice: A candid discussion on how AI and technological advancements are shaping the legal industry, the enduring importance of judgment and counsel, and the skills lawyers will need to succeed in the future. If you're interested in the intersection of law, technology, and business—or if you're curious about how military experience can translate into corporate leadership—this live episode is a must-listen. Connect with us and join the conversation: Goodwin Exhibit A Follow Mary on LinkedIn Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

    55 分鐘
  5. 2024/11/19

    #56 - Ending the Billable Hour: Chris Grant’s Mission to Transform Legal Services

    Welcome to another episode of Pearls On, Gloves Off with your host, Mary O’Carroll, Chief Operating Officer at Goodwin. Today, Mary dives deep with Chris Grant, Head of Legal Market Engagement at HSBC, to unravel the evolving landscape of the legal industry. Chris Grant isn’t your typical legal professional. Frustrated by the glacial pace of change in an industry resistant to innovation, Chris has spent his career challenging the status quo. From his early days in private practice to his current role at HSBC, he’s been a relentless advocate for efficiency and transformation in legal services. He’s built ecosystems supporting next-generation legal solutions, notably at Barclays Eagle Labs, and has been recognized in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Top 10 Entrepreneurs and the Legal 500 GC Power List. In this episode: ·         The Frustration That Fuels Change: Chris shares how his early career disillusionment ignited a passion for legal transformation. ·         Is Change Finally Happening? A candid discussion on whether the legal industry is genuinely evolving or just paying lip service. ·         The Death of the Billable Hour: Will we ever see it? Chris offers a provocative take on alternative fee arrangements—or as he calls them, Effective Fee Arrangements (EFAs). ·         Trust Issues: Delving into the often-unspoken lack of trust between clients and firms, and how it hinders progress. ·         Data as the New Gold: How leveraging data can revolutionize legal services, from pricing to service delivery. ·         Advice for In-House Teams and Firms: Practical steps both sides can take to build trust, embrace innovation, and deliver real value. ·         The Role of Technology: Why AI is more than just a buzzword and how it’s accelerating conversations that were stagnant for decades. ·         Future Gazing: Chris’s vision for the next 5-10 years in legal services, and why he believes the time for change is now. If you’re as passionate about legal transformation as Mary and Chris, or just curious about the seismic shifts shaking up the industry, this episode is a must-listen. Follow Mary on LinkedIn Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

    50 分鐘

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4.7
(滿分 5 顆星)
17 則評分

簡介

Smooth operations keep businesses afloat – but what makes them successful? “Pearls On, Gloves Off” is a new podcast where Legal Ops legend Mary O’Carroll and a motley crew of guests share their insider knowledge from running high-performing businesses. Join us for insightful conversations with some of today’s most respected leaders and luminaries.

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