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In this episode of The Geek in Review, guest host Marcie Borgal Shunk of the Tilt Institute joins Marlene Gebauer for a thought-provoking discussion with Avaneesh Marwaha, CEO of Litera. As someone who led the company through both pre- and post-AI boom eras, Avaneesh offers an insider’s perspective on what it takes to guide a legal tech organization through profound technological and cultural shifts. He speaks candidly about why he returned to Litera, what has changed internally, and how AI is being integrated not just into products, but into the DNA of the company itself.

Avaneesh shares how Litera transitioned from an acquisition-heavy growth strategy to one that prioritizes internal AI innovation. This shift required rethinking everything from leadership talent to product development cycles. He emphasizes that meaningful adoption of AI goes far beyond surface-level integrations, calling instead for a reinvention of workflows, organizational structure, and employee mindsets. Daily AI usage is expected at Litera, but not in a checkbox kind of way. Instead, teams are challenged to use AI tools to accelerate decision-making, increase efficiency, and share insights across departments.

One of the more pressing challenges Avaneesh highlights is “adoption fatigue.” While excitement around generative AI brought in billions of investment dollars and an explosion of legal tech startups, the sheer volume of pilots and proof-of-concept tools is starting to wear thin with law firm users. To combat this, Avaneesh argues that AI needs to be native to workflows—integrated directly into Word, Outlook, and other familiar environments—so lawyers aren’t forced into unnatural digital pivots just to use new tools.

The conversation also explores agentic workflows—AI-driven processes that take action based on inputs, like automatically triaging emails or assisting in business development. Avaneesh shares that Litera has several of these tools set to launch, all co-built with customers. But he’s cautious: if AI doesn’t return value within a six-minute lawyer mindset, the tools get dropped. It’s not about flash, it’s about results.

Looking ahead, Avaneesh envisions a legal industry where AI removes the “busy work” and gives lawyers the space to tackle truly complex problems. Rather than displacing attorneys, AI will help them focus on higher-order thinking, better client service, and proactive problem-solving. But for that future to arrive, the industry needs to move past its fear of change, embrace a growth mindset, and be willing to reimagine what legal work looks like from the ground up.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading The Six-Minute Dilemma: Litera’s Avaneesh Marwaha on Building Legal Tech That Actually Gets Used

In this episode of The Geek in Review, hosts Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert sit down with Otto von Zastrow, the founder and CEO of MidPage.AI, an AI-native legal research platform. With a recent $4 million seed round and an ambitious mission to rival legacy research tools, MidPage is drawing attention across the legal industry. Otto shares his unconventional journey from AI-powered lawn robotics to transforming how litigators interact with case law. His pivot into legal tech was fueled by a combination of technical curiosity, the rise of language models, and firsthand insight from his lawyer friends overwhelmed by inefficient research workflows.

Otto walks listeners through the core of MidPage’s offering, which includes the usual suspects—case law, statutes, regulations—but with a twist: smarter search tools, intuitive UI, and features like a proprietary citator and their newly launched Proposition Search. This feature aims to solve the long-standing “needle-in-a-haystack” problem by surfacing judicial language that matches precise arguments, accompanied by contextual metadata and filters. Otto highlights that the goal isn’t just to match or mimic tools like Lexis or Westlaw, but to rethink what legal research should feel like when modern AI capabilities are built in from the ground up.

One of the more unique aspects of MidPage’s product development is their internal “kangaroo court”—a monthly teamwide challenge where employees, regardless of role, must conduct legal research using MidPage or traditional tools. Otto notes that this process not only improves product design but builds real empathy for the user experience. Engineers and designers are encouraged to think like litigators, helping identify pain points and close functionality gaps. As a result, the product continually evolves based on firsthand user scenarios, not just speculation.

The episode also delves into the data-side challenges that have historically prevented innovation in legal research. Otto explains why now—thanks to improved AI models and open access to data—is a rare inflection point for startups. He emphasizes the strategic importance of MidPage building its own case law dataset to avoid being beholden to incumbents. This independence allows them to innovate more freely, enhance precision, and lay the groundwork for broader API access that could empower the next generation of legal tech tools.

Finally, the conversation looks ahead. Otto predicts that AI will amplify the capabilities of individual lawyers, enabling them to process more data at greater depth. In a world where clients are increasingly self-educating with tools like ChatGPT, MidPage aims to provide lawyers with the means to maintain credibility and efficiency while ensuring accuracy. As AI models grow more capable and agentic, Otto sees an evolution not just in how legal research is conducted, but in how lawyers interact with knowledge, data, and ultimately their clients.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Otto von Zastrow on MidPage.AI and the Future of AI-Powered Legal Research

This week, we welcome Cornell Winston (current President of the American Association of Law Libraries) and Jenny Silbiger (President‑Elect). Speaking from sunny San Diego and O‘ahu’s courthouse halls, the duo joins the show to preview AALL’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon—and to talk candidly about the challenges and opportunities facing the legal‑information profession during a time of rapid technological and political flux.

Cornell and Jenny explain why open communication has become a strategic imperative for AALL. Although board books have long been public, they are doubling down on proactive updates—through e‑briefings, “Know‑It‑AALL” newsletters, and 80‑plus committee channels—because members crave clarity when the profession feels under siege. Their message is simple: phone numbers and inboxes are open; no question is off‑limits. The leaders frame transparency not as a defensive posture, but as an invitation to pull every member into the conversation and decision‑making process.

The discussion then turns to the vacant Government Relations role—often seen as AALL’s front line in Washington. Cornell reassures listeners that, despite the hiring gap, advocacy has never left the stage: the Government Relations Committee partners with ALA and other allies, tracks executive‑order whiplash, and issues public statements on IMLS funding or Library of Congress appointments. While lobby dynamics have shifted since COVID‑era restrictions, AALL continues to file comments, weigh amicus briefs, and equip members to speak up in their own jurisdictions until the position is refilled.

Next, the hosts probe changes to the volunteer pipeline. Under the new process, virtually every member who raises a hand gets a seat—whether on a jury, committee, or the coveted Annual Meeting Program Committee. Headquarters now monitors overlapping appointments to spread opportunities and ensure early‑career librarians experience the career‑shaping mentorship Greg once received from the late Bob Oakley. Jenny underscores that engagement options range from micro‑tasks to multi‑year leadership roles, accommodating both time‑pressed newcomers and seasoned veterans.

Turning to the July 19‑22 conference itself, Cornell shares upbeat registration numbers, hotel tips, and—importantly—news of no late‑registration fee increase. Portland’s light‑rail pass, tax‑free shopping, and Nike/Columbia/Adidas discounts sweeten the trip, but the intellectual draw is formidable: 65‑plus programs, four pre‑conference workshops, and a cross‑pollinated AI track that unites academic and private‑sector librarians. Keynote speaker Roosevelt Weeks, renowned for transforming Austin Public Library into a nationally acclaimed, radically welcoming space, will challenge attendees to double down on access and inclusion.

Asked for their “biggest challenge” predictions, Jenny cites the breakneck pace of AI and the resulting imperative to preserve integrity in an era of deepfakes and data deluge. Cornell echoes the warning: librarians must remain society’s trusted validators and proclaim that expertise without apology. As the gavel passes in Portland, Jenny’s presidential agenda crystallizes around three goals—meeting members where they are, converting dialogue into strategic action, and leaving the profession stronger for the next generation. Whether you are a long‑time AALL stalwart or a first‑time volunteer, this episode is a reminder that the future of legal information will be shaped by those who show up, speak up, and keep the channels open.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Guardians of Truth: AALL’s Cornell Winston and Jenny Silbiger on Transparency, Advocacy, and the Road to Portland

On this episode of The Geek in Review, we welcome Philip Young, co-founder and CEO of Garfield AI, the first AI-powered law firm approved for practice by the UK’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The episode kicks off with a discussion of recent stories that explore AI’s evolving role in legal proceedings, such as avatars testifying in court and the ethical challenges that arise when deepfakes and synthetic personas enter the legal process. Philip, a seasoned litigator and technologist, draws from his 25 years of legal experience to weigh in on the potential and perils of AI-driven courtrooms, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and trust in legal proceedings.

Young shares the backstory behind Garfield AI, which was inspired by a real-world problem faced by his brother-in-law, a plumber who struggled to recover small debts from non-paying clients. Seeing an opportunity to help small businesses navigate the small claims process efficiently, affordably, and with minimal friction, Philip set out to build a system that mirrors what a traditional law firm would do—without the high cost or time burden. Garfield reads invoices and contracts, verifies the legitimacy of claims, guides users through pre-action letters, claim filings, and even court preparation, all while remaining compliant with UK legal standards.

One of the most unique features of Garfield AI is its dual design: it serves both pro se claimants and can be white-labeled for use by traditional law firms. Young explains how legal professionals can integrate Garfield into their workflows, using it to generate documents under their own branding while Garfield handles the backend. This hybrid approach provides flexibility for users, whether they prefer a self-service platform or seek a human-in-the-loop experience. Garfield’s early success has sparked interest across the legal spectrum—from solo practitioners to regulatory bodies—demonstrating that AI can support, rather than displace, the legal profession.

The conversation also delves into Garfield’s journey to regulatory approval. Young describes the rigorous process of working with the SRA, ensuring the platform aligned with legal duties to clients and the courts. He highlights the importance of maintaining accountability and explains how Garfield was rolled out cautiously, with layers of human oversight and a roadmap toward data-driven, risk-based review. With increasing inquiries from international regulators and courts, Young sees the platform as a potential blueprint for improving access to justice beyond the UK, although he notes that success depends on a supportive regulatory environment, judicial openness, and sufficient technological infrastructure.

Beyond the tech, the episode emphasizes the human element of law. Young passionately advocates for AI as a tool that enhances legal practice rather than replaces it—freeing lawyers from mundane tasks and enabling them to focus on strategy, advocacy, and client care. He shares his hope that Garfield AI and similar innovations will close the access-to-justice gap by enabling small-value claims to be pursued cost-effectively and fairly. As he notes, AI may never replace the human lawyer’s emotional intelligence and presence in court, but it can certainly help more people get there.

To learn more about Garfield AI and its innovative approach to legal automation, listeners can visit www.garfield.law. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of law, technology, and the future of justice. As always, the podcast ends on a warm note with music by Jerry David DeCicca, underscoring a thought-provoking conversation that blends legal tradition with the tech of tomorrow.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Philip Young of Garfield AI: The World’s First AI Law Firm Gets the Green Light

This week we sit down with Matt Rasmussen, Founder and CEO of ModeOne, to dive into the evolving challenges and solutions around mobile device discovery. What started as a frustration-fueled “passion project” has grown into a powerful, cloud-based legal tech tool that dramatically speeds up mobile data collections while safeguarding user privacy. Rasmussen brings over two decades of litigation tech experience, and his team is focused on automating the traditionally slow, invasive, and expensive process of mobile forensic collection.

Matt shares the lightbulb moment that led to ModeOne’s founding—after nearly being hit with a book by an executive unwilling to hand over their entire phone during an M&A data collection. That experience crystallized a need for a targeted, remote, and custodian-friendly solution. ModeOne’s approach allows for precise data extraction, filtering out personal messages, and narrowing collection to relevant participants or timeframes—thereby reducing friction, legal risk, and cost. The tool shrinks a two-week process into a matter of hours and removes the need for shipping hardware or dispatching personnel.

The conversation then turns to the power of cloud scalability and how ModeOne’s architecture enables parallel processing of hundreds of phones simultaneously without ballooning costs. Matt recounts a case involving over 400 phones processed in just two weeks—compared to the seven-month timeline it would’ve required using traditional methods. He explains how operating directly on devices with lightweight agents and leveraging cloud resources allows them to outperform older queue-based systems and ensure defensibility through record-level audits.

Beyond litigation, the use cases for ModeOne are growing fast, particularly in corporate compliance and legal holds. With recent updates from the DOJ and FTC increasing expectations for mobile data preservation, companies are now compelled to treat phones with the same seriousness as emails and cloud documents. ModeOne’s ability to preserve data in a scalable, minimally invasive way makes it a key player in this regulatory shift. Rasmussen also highlights that while AI may not be the focus of this episode, ModeOne is quietly integrating features like sentiment analysis, emoji flagging, and communication mapping through a partnership with StreamView.

As the episode wraps up, Rasmussen discusses the startup journey—from bootstrapping to being named Legal Tech Startup of the Year in 2024. While initial adoption faced the usual “wait-and-see” mentality common in legal tech, ModeOne is now working with several Fortune 10 companies, AMLaw 25 firms, and leading LSPs. Looking forward, Rasmussen predicts mobile data will only grow more central to investigations and legal matters. With privacy and policy changes ahead, ModeOne is doubling down on mobile—not diversifying away from it. As he puts it: “We’re digging deep on phones.”

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript:

Continue Reading Solving Mobile Discovery with ModeOne’s Matt Rasmussen

For the 300th episode of The Geek in Review, we celebrate in true “three geeks” fashion by bringing back two familiar voices: Kris Satkunas, Director of Strategic Consulting at LexisNexis, and legal pricing expert Toby Brown, CEO at DV8 Legal Strategies. Kris joins to walk through highlights from the newly released 2025 CounselLink Trends Report, and Toby brings his trademark insight… and a touch of skepticism to the discussion. Together, they explore what the latest data reveals about legal pricing, client behavior, firm strategy, and the evolving landscape of law firm-client relationships.

The conversation opens with a focus on the headline trend: partner billing rates continue to rise steeply, particularly in high-value areas like M&A and regulatory work. Despite clients claiming to negotiate hard on pricing, the data on effective rates, what clients actually pay, suggests those increases are sticking. Kris points out that clients are becoming more sophisticated in managing blended rates and staffing strategies, using analytics and technology to influence outcomes, even if hourly billing still dominates.

A recurring theme is the widening rate gap between large and mid-sized firms, now a staggering 61%. Kris attributes this to the concentration of high-rate work in large firms and their dominance in practices like M&A and regulatory. Toby adds that the presence of pricing professionals at larger firms contributes to more strategic rate setting—something mid-sized firms often lack. The team also discusses a new report metric analyzing new matter spend, which reveals that even fresh legal work is increasingly flowing to the largest firms, countering narratives that mid-sized firms are winning market share.

When the conversation shifts to Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFAs), Kris cautiously celebrates a slight uptick in usage, while Toby remains doubtful about long-term momentum. They agree that lawyers’ difficulty in scoping matters remains a key barrier. The role of project management professionals is highlighted as crucial for moving the industry forward on AFAs—but adoption is still slow, especially outside of established comfort zones like IP and employment law.

Greg brings up another area ripe for disruption: ALSPs and their potential to absorb high-volume, low-risk work. While Kris hasn’t yet seen a data-supported shift toward ALSPs, Toby sees tremendous opportunity—particularly when ALSPs combine process standardization and AI tools. The hosts also discuss specific use cases, like LegalMation for employment litigation, where existing tech could already reduce cost and inefficiency, if only firms were willing to change.

The episode closes with a look ahead. Kris notes the eye-popping rate growth among associates—some nearing $2,000/hour—as a surprising trend, while urging caution in interpreting conflicting data from different sources. Her “crystal ball” prediction? Legal rates will likely continue to climb, especially in high-stakes practice areas, while AFAs may finally gain ground if firms invest in the infrastructure to scope and manage work properly. As always, the team ends with good humor, mutual respect, and a shared love for data—exactly the energy you’d expect for The Geek in Review’s milestone 300th episode.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript:

Continue Reading Episode 300: 2025 CounselLink Trends Report with Kris Satkunas and Toby Brown

This week, we welcome Laura Clayton McDonnell, President of the Corporates Business Segment at Thomson Reuters. Laura shares her inspiring journey from corporate securities law to executive leadership at top technology companies, including Apple, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, and now Thomson Reuters. She discusses how her Silicon Valley upbringing and her family’s immigrant experience have shaped her leadership style and commitment to innovation in the legal industry. Laura’s personal purpose—rooted in values like courage, curiosity, and integrity—drives her mission to deliver measurable value to clients through legal technology and business transformation.

The conversation highlights the rapid advancements in legal technology, with a special focus on the impact of generative AI and agentic AI in the legal sector. Laura explains how she stays ahead of legal tech trends by collaborating with internal teams, listening to customer feedback, and learning from her daughter, a practicing transactional lawyer. She emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, continuous learning, and adaptability—qualities she honed during her time at Microsoft under Satya Nadella’s leadership and through the teachings of Carol Dweck’s “Growth Mindset.”

Laura provides insights into how corporate legal, tax, and compliance departments are evolving from traditional cost centers to strategic business partners, thanks to innovative legal technology solutions from Thomson Reuters. She discusses how tools like Westlaw, Practical Law, Legal Tracker, and OneSource are helping legal professionals automate routine tasks, reduce contract review times by over 80%, and save millions on outside counsel spend. Laura notes that forward-thinking clients are not just adopting new legal tech tools—they are developing comprehensive strategies to transform business processes, training, and staffing for the future of legal work.

The episode also explores the rise of alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) and the ongoing bifurcation of the legal market driven by technology adoption. Laura observes that general counsel are increasingly sophisticated in their approach, weighing cost, complexity, and the use of AI to achieve better outcomes. She stresses that legal technology is now essential for law firms and ALSPs alike, and that innovation and value delivery are key to staying competitive in the evolving legal landscape.

Looking to the future, Laura predicts that predictive analytics, risk assessment, and cross-functional insights will become even more critical for legal, tax, and compliance professionals. She highlights the growing demand for skilled legal talent and the importance of ongoing training, ethical oversight, and building resilient, growth-oriented teams. Laura encourages legal industry leaders to prepare for a future where human expertise and advanced legal technology work together to drive strategic transformation and business success.

For more information on legal technology trends, AI in the legal industry, and upcoming events, Laura invites listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn or visit Thomson Reuters. She also highlights the upcoming Thomson Reuters customer conference in November, where attendees can experience product demos and gain insights into the latest legal innovation and industry trends.

 Links:

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Laura Clayton McDonnell on Legal Technology, AI, and Corporate Transformation at Thomson Reuters

This week, we sit down with Kenzo Tsushima, Managing Director of Mind Factory at Morae, to discuss how AI is transforming legal operations and consulting services. Kenzo shares his unique career journey, blending a passion for technology with legal expertise, and highlights why the legal industry is positioned to leverage AI advancements more quickly than heavily regulated sectors like healthcare. With a background that spans consulting leadership and GC roles, Kenzo offers a rare dual perspective on how law firms and corporate legal departments can future-proof themselves by embracing emerging technologies like MorAI, Morae’s proprietary AI platform.

Kenzo discusses the creation of MorAI, launched in mid-2023, as a response to widespread legal tech “decision fatigue” — where an abundance of AI tools overwhelms buyers. Rather than pushing generic solutions, Morae designed MorAI around highly specific legal workflows such as contract review, RFP response automation, and internal helpdesk queries. Kenzo emphasizes the importance of “solutionizing” AI: showing real, targeted results rather than relying on hype. Using examples like their Helpdesk module, Kenzo explains how legal teams can instantly boost efficiency by querying historical RFP responses and deploying AI for natural language document reviews, significantly reducing administrative burdens across legal and procurement functions.

A strong advocate for servant leadership and human-centric AI adoption, Kenzo outlines how Morae’s approach goes beyond technology — focusing heavily on change management and upskilling legal professionals. Through programs like SEEDS (Skill Enablement Employee Development Series), Morae invests in developing both consulting and technology skills among its team. Kenzo notes that traditional legal professionals, often unfamiliar with public speaking or technology tools, can thrive when given structured, bite-sized learning opportunities. This consultative-first mindset, he argues, not only improves client outcomes but creates a more resilient and engaged workforce.

Addressing cybersecurity and data privacy concerns, Kenzo details Morae’s use of private Azure instances and multiple legally trained LLMs to ensure client data security and confidentiality. Unlike public AI tools, MorAI is designed to be a trusted legal companion that never co-mingles client data or trains on external internet content. Kenzo also explains why Morae’s strategy of multi-LLM deployment (leveraging OpenAI, Anthropic, and others) future-proofs clients against rapid developments in AI models — ensuring their legal technology stacks remain agile and powerful over time.

Finally, Kenzo shares his insights on the challenges ahead for the legal industry: decision fatigue, resistance to change, and the crucial need to align with younger generations’ expectations around technology use. He urges law firms and corporate legal departments to rethink build-vs-buy strategies, embrace commercially available solutions, and foster AI champions within their organizations. As new roles like legal engineers and prompt engineers emerge, firms that support AI-enabled upskilling and servant leadership will not just survive — they will lead the next era of legal innovation.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Kenzo Tsushima of Morae on Innovation, Change Management, and Servant Leadership

This week we welcome Raghu Ramanathan, President of Legal Professionals at Thomson Reuters, for an insightful discussion on the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the legal industry. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by his extensive background in technology leadership at companies like SAP and strategy consulting with McKinsey, Raghu shares why he believes the legal sector, alongside healthcare, stands at the forefront of the AI revolution. His journey into the legal tech world, driven by the transformative potential of AI, sets the stage for a deep dive into current trends, future predictions, and the strategic initiatives shaping the future of law.

Central to the conversation is Raghu’s updated perspective on the evolution of law firms, revisiting predictions he first made in 2017. He outlines a compelling framework describing “three waves” of AI adoption currently underway. The first wave, “Optimization,” which many firms are experiencing now, focuses on using AI to enhance existing workflows, making tasks faster and more efficient. The second wave, “Re-engineering,” involves fundamentally rethinking processes, staffing models (including the traditional pyramid structure), pricing strategies, and the very nature of legal work to leverage AI’s capabilities more deeply. Looking further ahead, the third wave anticipates the emergence of entirely “New Business Models,” where law firms might offer tech-based services, explore adjacent business lines, embrace true outcome-based pricing, and potentially even reshape the legal value chain.

The discussion delves into the significant implications these waves have for law firm talent and structure. Raghu predicts a shift in the traditional law firm pyramid, potentially leading to leaner associate ranks but a greater need for experienced partners and, crucially, integrated tech talent. This necessitates not only attracting technologists but also potentially rethinking firm equity structures to retain them. Furthermore, the skill set required for the “lawyer of the future” is evolving; proficiency in delegation to AI tools, broader unstructured problem-solving, and embracing technological integration will become paramount, demanding changes in legal education and professional development.

Thomson Reuters is actively navigating and shaping this transformation, particularly through its AI platform, CoCounsel. Raghu highlights the rapid evolution of CoCounsel, emphasizing the continuous development of new “skills”—capabilities ranging from summarization and research to drafting and complex analysis like the innovative “Claims Explorer.” He explains TR’s strategy involves integrating proprietary data (like Westlaw), client-provided documents, and public information, leveraging advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) from various providers to deliver comprehensive and powerful AI assistance. Prioritizing new skill development involves balancing significant client value with technical feasibility, constantly informed by close collaboration with innovation-focused customers.

Beyond law firms, the conversation explores the crucial role and adoption of AI within the court system. Raghu notes a surprising enthusiasm among courts, driven by the urgent need to address growing case backlogs and enhance access to justice within tight budgets. He points to Thomson Reuters’ significant partnerships, including a major agreement to deploy AI tools across the US federal courts and ongoing collaboration with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), which is fostering education and policy discussions among judges and court staff nationwide. Complementing product innovation, TR’s expanded “Customer Success” initiative underscores the importance of user adoption, providing dedicated resources and best practices to help lawyers and legal professionals effectively integrate AI tools into their daily workflows, ensuring technology translates into tangible value.

Concluding with a look ahead, Raghu anticipates that smaller and mid-sized law firms may initially leverage AI more aggressively as a competitive equalizer, pushing larger firms to make bolder, more strategic moves beyond simple optimization. He stresses that the ultimate differentiator for success in the AI era will likely be less about the technology itself and more about effective change management—strategic clarity, operational implementation, and fostering a culture that embraces new ways of working. The rapid pace of AI adoption already witnessed in the legal sector signals that this transformation is not a distant prospect but a present reality reshaping the industry at an unprecedented speed.

Read the Whitepaper: “2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report“

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Charting the Three Waves of Legal AI Transformation with Thomson Reuters’ Raghu Ramanathan

In this week’s Geek in Review, we sit down with Patrick Waldo, CEO of Unicorn Forms and proud Houstonian, to explore the intersections of data, document automation, and legal tech innovation. From the vibrant startup culture at Houston’s ION and the Capital Factory’s SXSW House event to the regulatory grind of form design, Waldo shares how his journey—from working in compliance-heavy industries to launching a playfully named but technically serious platform—is reshaping how we think about document-driven workflows.

Waldo pulls back the curtain on Unicorn Forms’ approach to digitizing and structuring data trapped in PDFs. With a background in regulatory intelligence, he understands firsthand how critical, yet painfully inefficient, static documents can be. Unicorn Forms aims to transform the “eight-and-a-half-by-eleven world” into structured, field-driven digital tools. By mimicking the look and feel of familiar e-sign interfaces while embedding structured fields and integrations like Calendly or Stripe, the platform bridges the gap between legal formality and technical interoperability.

Security and compliance are at the heart of the conversation as Waldo outlines the different levels of electronic trust, explaining how Unicorn Forms distinguishes itself with hashed documents, timestamp authorities, and encryption standards that exceed many traditional e-signature solutions. He highlights how many professionals—especially in legal, healthcare, and finance—aren’t aware of the risks they take when using non-secure PDFs for sensitive data like social security numbers or payment details.

The episode also dives into the often-overlooked role of data ontologies in making government and enterprise forms interoperable. Waldo describes the complexity behind something as seemingly simple as a name or address field and how lack of standardization leads to inefficiencies and errors. By applying his years of ontology-building experience, Unicorn Forms aims to enable more intuitive, human-readable, and system-compatible data capture, with real-world use cases already in place—like improving film permitting processes for the Houston Film Commission.

From a startup perspective, Waldo gets candid about fundraising challenges, the paradox of needing metrics to raise money and needing money to build metrics, and how early-stage companies must balance marketing, sales, and product development. He emphasizes the value of angel investors and local ecosystems like the ION and the Canon, while acknowledging the rising bar of investor expectations in today’s post-2023 funding environment.

Finally, Waldo shares his philosophy behind the Unicorn Forms brand—born as an April Fool’s joke but grown into a conversation starter and signal for early adopters. With Party City swag, a pink logo, and a message that draws in the curious and the creative, Unicorn Forms is redefining legal tech not just through software, but through an intentional, approachable identity. As Waldo looks ahead, he sees opportunity in pairing strong data engineering with AI tools—not just to automate, but to make legal and regulatory processes smarter, faster, and more human-centered.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.]

Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Beyond the PDF: Patrick Waldo on Structuring Data for Security and Efficiency