The Non-Billable Podcast

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

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

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

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

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