More Than A Lawyer with Holly Cope

Today I'm sitting down with:

Raffi Isanians, a former BigLaw M&A lawyer (with experience at Kirkland & Ellis, Gunderson, and Goodwin), Y Combinator alum, and founder of Mage Legal.

Marcelo Moura, a dual-qualified associate in Mishcon de Reya’s Commercial Litigation team, co-founder of AI2L, and UK Ambassador of the Brazilian Legal Tech Association (AB2L). He has worked in law since 2005 and has been involved in AI, innovation, and legal-tech initiatives since 2017.

Mike Kochkin, founder at BeSavvy, an AI-powered legal training platform helping law firms rethink how lawyers le...

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In this episode, I'm talking with Joey Irwin, Co-Founder of Kyra Law, an AI-native law firm for startups. Joey shares his journey from Linklaters and Monzo to spending a year experimenting with AI and building the foundations of a new legal business.

We explore how Kyra combines AI agents, shared institutional knowledge and experienced lawyers to deliver legal services with upfront fees and responsive communication. Joey explains how the firm captures each client’s preferences, checks work be...

In this episode, I'm talking with Marcelo Moura, a dual-qualified associate in Mishcon de Reya’s Commercial Litigation team, co-founder of AI2L, and UK Ambassador of the Brazilian Legal Tech Association (AB2L). He has worked in law since 2005 and has been involved in AI, innovation, and legal-tech initiatives since 2017.

We compare Brazil’s high-volume, increasingly digitised courts with the UK’s legal system and explore how different rules shape legal technology. Marcelo also shares why he once feared AI would replace lawyers, how to use LLMs without outsourcing human judgment, and what thoughtful AI adopti...

In this episode, I'm joined by leaders working at the highest levels of corporate legal practice, big law, and public service:

• Sonia Cisse, Tech, Cybersecurity, Privacy, E-Commerce, and Fintech Partner at Linklaters.

• David Mazur, Vice President, General Counsel, and Compliance Officer for Research and Development at Nestlé.

• Alexandre Verrien, Legal Executive and former Legal Director of France for Dell Technologies.

• Peter Boyce, Legal Deputy Director in the UK Civil Service and AI lead for his agency.

• Amy Cronin, Senior Director of Legal at Skyscanner.

We explore one...

Today I'm sitting down with Raffi Isanians, a former BigLaw M&A lawyer (with experience at Kirkland & Ellis, Gunderson, and Goodwin), Y Combinator alum, and founder of Mage Legal.

Mage Legal helps law firms and in-house legal teams automate legal due diligence by scanning data rooms, flagging risky clauses, generating reports, and producing follow-up questionnaires. Alongside building Mage, Rafi runs Coding for Lawyers, an initiative that helps legal professionals develop technical skills to build with AI better.

We talk about why AI won't replace human lawyers, but will radically alter how...

One of the biggest concerns about AI in law is that if AI does all the junior work, how will junior lawyers learn? I've discussed this many times on my podcast. After all, legal careers have traditionally been built through repetition, reviewing documents, researching, drafting, making mistakes, and getting feedback.

I'm repeating this cycle thousands of times.

The assumption is that if AI removes some of that work, it removes the learning. But what if the opposite is true?

Today I'm sitting down with Mike Kochkin, founder at BeSavvy, an...

In this episode, I'm joined by three leaders working at the highest levels of legal practice and regulation.

Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a long-time advocate for access to justice, legal innovation, and procedural reform.

William Findlay, Head of Legal Regulatory at Revolut.

James Smither, Global Head of Risk Management at Freshfields. James is a self-described "risk geek" dedicated to redefining how law firms perceive uncertainty as both a massive upside and a critical downside.

We...

In this episode, I'm talking with Alexandre Verrien.

He used to be the legal director of France for Dell Technologies, but now he works for himself as a legal executive.

With decades of experience at the intersection of law and technology, Alex offers a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping legal departments, law firms, and the future role of lawyers themselves.

We explore what an AI-first legal future actually looks like and why many legal teams still aren't prepared for the transformation already underway.

Alex shares practical i...

In this episode, I'm talking with Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a long-time advocate for access to justice, legal innovation, and procedural reform.

Brett brings a unique perspective from both frontline legal practice and legal policymaking, offering a thoughtful view on how AI should - and shouldn’t - be integrated into the justice system.

We explore one of the biggest questions facing the legal profession today: can AI strengthen access to justice without undermining trust in the legal system?

Brett shares wh...

In this special compilation episode, I am joined by a powerhouse lineup of legal innovators, practitioners, and tech leaders who are actively reshaping the industry:

Zack Shapiro, founder of an AI-native law firm, Rains LLP. 

Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters.

Sandy MacDonald, the Senior Director and Head of Legal Operations at DocuSign.

Dharshi Harindra, a tech lawyer, Assistant General Counsel, and Executive Coach.

We talk about the profound shift toward agentic AI in the legal sector and how mastering detailed prompting, c...

In this episode, I'm talking with Anna Popowicz - Pazdej, Global Senior Data Privacy Lawyer at Dentons.

Anna walks us through the heavy-lifting required to move a firm from a "proof of concept" to full operational readiness, ensuring that innovation never comes at the cost of client confidentiality.

We talk about the meticulous process of implementing AI—starting with the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and ending with firm-wide AI literacy. You’ll hear perspectives on why your architectural diagram is your best defense against data leaks and how to prevent your client’s trade...

In this episode, I'm talking with Dharshi Harindra, a tech lawyer, Assistant General Counsel, and Executive Coach.

She is the founder and host of the Unbiased podcast, a platform dedicated to exploring the legal industry through the lens of curiosity and leadership.

We first met at Legal Tech Talk in London in 2025, and after a brief chat for my show, she invited me onto hers to dig deeper into the "why" behind the work I do.

We talk about the transformation of the legal industry and how the widening mindset...

In this episode, I'm talking with James Smither, Global Head of Risk Management at Freshfields. James is a self-described "risk geek" dedicated to redefining how law firms perceive uncertainty as both a massive upside and a critical downside.

We talk about the "apocalyptic spectrum" of AI risks - from the common trip-ups like hallucinations and citation errors to the looming threat of quantum computing breaking modern encryption. You’ll hear why the traditional graduate recruitment model is officially obsolete and how firms must pivot to training "AI natives" who can balance technical curiosity with human scepticism.

In this episode, I'm talking with Sandy MacDonald, Senior Director and Head of Legal Operations at DocuSign. Sandy is recognised for building an "ahead of the curve" team that treats AI not just as a tool, but as a collaborative digital assistant embedded into the very fabric of their workflow.

We talk about the cultural shift of AI adoption and how focusing on individual "pain points". You’ll hear perspectives on "human-in-the-loop" governance and why the most successful legal teams are moving away from "AI slop" toward high-value, verified automation that lawyers actually trust.

...

In this episode, I'm talking with Zack Shapiro, founder of an AI-native law firm, Rains LLP. Zack is a corporate lawyer focused on startups and business law who has transformed his two-person practice into a high-leverage powerhouse serving over 200 clients. Despite describing himself as "uniquely bad at using tech tools," he has pioneered a "Claude-native" workflow that uses agentic AI to handle his legal work.

We talk about the shift from "billable hours" to "high-judgment lawyering" and how prompting is becoming the most critical white-collar skill of the next decade. You’ll hear perspectives on why mo...

I'm talking with:

Peter Boyce, one of the legal deputy directors in the civil service and AI lead for his agency.

Amy Cronin, senior director of legal at Skyscanner.

Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters. 

David Mazur, Vice President, General Counsel & Compliance Officer for Nestle.

In this episode, we explore how AI is reshaping entry-level roles in law firms and what it means for the next generation of legal professionals. With firms increasingly investing in AI tools for high-volume, foundational tasks, like disclosure and early-stage case p...

In this episode, I'm talking with William Finlay, Head of Legal Regulatory at Revolut.

He leads the group regulatory team within the legal department. A global fintech powerhouse that is leading the charge in integrating AI into both customer-facing products and internal back-office workflows.

We talk about the "top-down" vs. "bottom-up" approach to AI adoption and how Revolut balances its dual role as both a user and a reviewer of the technology. You’ll hear perspectives on why the traditional law firm revenue model is under threat.

"Fill Your Boots": In...

In this episode, I’m talking with David Mazur, Vice President, General Counsel & Compliance Officer, who leads efforts in Intellectual Property and R&D contracts at Nestlé , a global organization that is pioneering AI-driven patent drafting and legal innovation. David brings a "maverick" perspective to the table, viewing AI not as a threat, but as an empowering technology that democratizes creativity within corporate legal teams.

We talk about the shift from traditional templates to "agentic" AI —and how legal teams can balance the "jungle" of new tools with strict compliance guardrails.

You’ll hear per...

In this episode, I’m talking with Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters. He is the former founder of a specialised AI research company, acquired by Thomson Reuters, that developed Large Language Models (LLMs) for law from the ground up. His team is now focused on building the Thomson LLM, a specialized model designed to achieve the high-stakes reliability that generic AI models lack.

We talk about the "tectonic shifts" currently reshaping the industry, from Harvey’s bold move into celebrity marketing to Big Tech’s aggressive verticalization into the legal sector. You’ll hear per...

AI is transforming the legal world, but how do legal teams navigate a landscape overflowing with tools, evolving risks, and shifting workforce dynamics? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with a UK government lawyer and an in-house legal director to explore how top teams are actually approaching AI.

I'm talking with Peter Boyce, one of the legal deputy directors in the civil service and AI lead for his agency.

I'm also talking with Amy Cronin, senior director of legal at Skyscanner.

We cover:

Most lawyers talk about career progression as if it’s a straight line.

But the reality looks a lot more like a series of pivots, risks, and moments you can’t predict.

And sometimes the bravest move… is stepping away from the thing that once defined you.

This episode is about those moments — and what happens when you follow them.

Today I sit down with Sahar Farooqi (CEO and founder of Legalencia), a well-known face on LinkedIn who spent 15 years as a barrister before moving into legal transformation at Harneys… and eventu...

Credibility doesn’t come from your credentials. It comes from how you show up.

Most lawyers still believe their degrees and titles speak for themselves.

But clients don’t buy credentials, they buy clarity, confidence, and connection.

And that starts with visibility. The right kind.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tasleem Ahmad Fateh, founder of the LinkedIn Creators Club and the Robinhood Course — a free program helping professionals build influence and trust through authentic content.

Known as the “Robin Hood of LinkedIn,” Tas has built one of...

Most lawyers can give advice on six-figure deals.

But many can’t say, with confidence, how much they actually earn.

Silence around money isn’t just awkward — it’s expensive.

And for many lawyers, it’s keeping them financially stuck.

Today’s episode digs into a quiet cultural norm in the legal profession that shapes careers, mental health, and long-term financial stability: salary secrecy.

I’m joined by Jono Randell-Nash, ex-lawyer turned independent financial advisor for lawyers,

and Carla Hoppe, former corporate solicitor, ex-Director of International...

Most lawyers wait for the “right time” to take a leap.

But what if that moment never comes?

The legal world is changing faster than ever and those who redefine success, rather than chase security, are the ones shaping its future.

From fear of failure to the rise of AI, this episode dives into what it really means to evolve as a modern lawyer.

Ari Mike Varjabedian, founder of E-Legal Councel, a tech-driven law firm built for the remote era and one of the first to live the digital noma...

Most law firms say they’re “exploring AI.”

At Linklaters, they’re living it.

Resistance is real, but so is the momentum.

Because the lawyers who embrace change won’t just survive the AI era, they’ll define it.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sonia Cisse, Partner and Head of AI & Technology at Paris office, Linklaters, one of the world’s leading international law firms.

Sonia is helping shape how one of the biggest names in law integrates artificial intelligence, from internal adoption to culture, governance, and inn...

What you wear isn’t just fashion, it’s strategy.

In law, perception shapes power.

And for women lawyers, style can be the silent language of authority.

So what if your wardrobe could build confidence, and your brand?

Today, we're speaking to Estelle Winsett, a former lawyer turned personal stylist for women attorneys. After seven years in practice, she pivoted from legal briefs to wardrobe briefs helping women in law dress with purpose, power, and presence. Today, she runs a full-time styling business dedicated to helping women lawyers show up with...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders.

And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing.

In this episode, I'm talking with:

Richard Macklin, ex-Global Vice Chair for Dentons and now, world-class coach for leaders at the Alexander Partnership and on the training committee for the City of London Law Society.

Lorraine Lee, fractional Chief Privacy Officer, General Counsel and Executive Coach.

Mahwash Ali, Procurement...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders.

And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear. 

In this episode, I'm talking with Merlin Beyts, Content Director at Legal Tech Talk London.

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The Legal Industry Is Changing Faster Than Ever

Most law firms think the “AI revolution” is coming someday.

But it’s already here and it’s reshaping everything from hiring to billing models.

The question now isn’t if lawyers will adapt.

It’s how fast and who will get left behind.

In this episode, I dive into the massive transformations happening in law right now from junior lawyers quitting in record numbers to legal departments being replaced by automation.

You’ll hear how:

AI is...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders.

And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear.

In this episode, I'm talking with Caleb Harris,Founder, CEO at &AI • AI for Patent Litigation

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FREE access to my How to Become Law Firm...

Too many law firms are still guessing what their clients actually care about.

They talk about themselves. Their credentials. Their features.

But not their clients’ real fears, needs, or goals.

And in law, where trust is everything, that’s a costly mistake.

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Alana Sparrow, Chief Branding Officer and Co-Founder of The Foundry for Art Design + Culture, a creative agency that helps businesses build bold, human brands that actually connect.

We dive into why most legal messaging falls flat, what bran...

 I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders.

And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear. 

In this episode, I'm talking with Jono Randell-Nash, ex-lawyer turned independent financial advisor specializing in the legal profession.

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FREE access to my How to Becom...

3 wks ago, we announced something huge

Now, 1054 lawyers are signed up...

..To the Global AI Skills Summit for Lawyers 

We (myself and Sophie Best) wanted to create a free training space for lawyers to learn about how to leverage AI in their every day work. 

Because I saw so many confused & worried about their careers. 

Since announcing the skills summit, I've had an incredible response that has completely shocked me.

- Lawyers thanking me for putting this together 

- Top...

The lawyers who win in the next decade won’t be the smartest in the room.

They’ll be the ones who adapt first.

AI is shaking up law at its core, stripping away routine work and forcing us to double down on what makes us human.

This is your chance to future-proof your career, or risk being left behind.

In this series of mini conversations, we explore how lawyers can turn disruption into opportunity, and why the ones who embrace change will define the future of law.

<...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders. 

And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing. 

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear. 

In this episode, I'm speaking with Dharshi Harindra, Fractional General Counsel, Executive Coach to Legal Leaders, and host of Unbiased Podcast.

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Pre register for the AI Ski...

Everyone’s talking about the world’s first AI law firm but I wanted to go deeper.

So I’ve created an exclusive series to go beyond the buzz with founder of Garfield Law, Philip Young.

In this episode, we dig into the tension between regulation and innovation, when does it protect us, and when does it hold us back?

And what does good regulation actually look like in a world driven by AI?

A landmark moment for the legal industry: The Solicitors Regulatory Authority has officially authorised Garfield.Law, the ...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders. 

And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing. 

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear. 

In this episode, I'm speaking with Mahwash Ali, procurement expert for law firms.

She helps law firms stop overpaying suppliers and start saving on supplier spend.

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Every associate is told the same story: work hard, keep your head down, and partnership will come.

But the truth is, that story is often a myth.

Partnership isn’t a straight path. It’s political, unpredictable, and sometimes out of reach.

So how do you really know if you’re on track?

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what really happens when law firms decide who makes a partner.

Brandon Rankin & Helen Pamely  

Listen to the full episode here:

https...

I spent two days on the ground at Legal Tech Talk London, speaking to the people shaping the future of law, from AI innovators to legal ops leaders. And what I heard? Surprising. Honest. Game-changing.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the big insights, bold ideas, and behind-the-scenes realities that every legal professional needs to hear. In this episode, I'm speaking with Thomas Bueler-Faudree, founder of August, the first AI legal assistant that can research, draft and revise autonomously.

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Pre register for the AI Skills Summit fo...

Many people still see Gen Z as “lazy” or “entitled.”

What if the generation everyone underestimates is actually the one reshaping the future of law?

In this episode, I’m joined by Natalie Thomas, Legal Business Analyst at Perkins Coie. From Oxford University to Tesco, and now helping launch the London office of a US law firm, her journey proves there’s no single path into law.

We talk about how Gen Z challenges hierarchy, embraces efficiency, and collaborates differently and why those skills might be exactly what the legal industry nee...