The Non-Billable Podcast

Brian Fahrney, chair of Sidley Austin's executive committee, joins the podcast to discuss the firm's transformation into one of the fastest-growing US law firms in London. He explains why Sidley spent years investing in private equity, how the strategy reshaped its London office, and why the firm remains bullish on the London market.
The conversation explores the growing importance of the "NYLON corridor", why US clients increasingly expect seamless transatlantic legal advice, and how Sidley thinks about growth, lateral hiring and building market-leading practices on both sides of the Atlantic.
We also discuss AI, law firm culture and leadership, as well as why Fahrney believes the legal industry is consolidating into a smaller group of global firms with the scale to invest in talent, technology and client service. Finally, Fahrney shares his outlook for the next decade of Big Law and explains what he believes will separate the industry's winners from the rest.
The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Legora. To find out more about Legora, visit: https://legora.com/
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
01:20 Sidley's growth story and Brian's path to executive committee chair
04:46 Running a global law firm
07:00 Why talent is critical to Sidley’s strategy
11:56 How Sidley’s London office became a private capital platform
15:46 The deliberate push into private equity
17:49 Why the NYLON corridor matters
24:16 Big Law consolidation and the firms pulling away
29:08 Partnership structures, talent development and future leaders
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

Segun Osuntokun, senior partner at BCLP, joins the podcast to discuss leadership, firm strategy and what it takes to run a global law firm while continuing to practise as a partner.
Having held senior leadership roles at the firm for more than seven years, he reflects on BCLP's recent return to growth and the long-term strategy behind it.
The conversation explores the lessons learned from the merger between Berwin Leighton Paisner and Bryan Cave, why Osuntokun believes successful integrations must start with clients rather than firm economics, and his views on the current wave of transatlantic law firm combinations reshaping the market.
We also discuss mental health, sustainable leadership and the demands of modern legal practice. Osuntokun shares his perspective on resilience, the importance of wellbeing in a people business, and the comments that sparked debate across the profession about sending non-urgent emails at weekends.
The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Legora. To find out more about Legora, visit: https://legora.com/
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
01:36 From Nigeria to City law and becoming BCLP senior partner
04:26 BCLP's return to growth and the strategy behind it
07:35 How BCLP positions itself in the transatlantic legal market
09:12 Lessons from the Bryan Cave and BLP merger
13:34 US versus UK law firm culture: more similar than different?
15:47 Life as senior partner and balancing leadership with client work
18:19 Weekend emails, mental health and sustainable leadership
24:01 The future of Big Law, scale and BCLP's growth plans
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

Private equity investment in law firms has become one of the most talked-about trends in the legal industry. But how much is actually happening? Why are investors interested in legal services, and what does outside capital mean for the traditional partnership model?
In this special edition of the podcast, Oliver is joined by Patrick Savage (Burford Capital), Peter Jackson (former managing partner of Hill Dickinson), Adil Taha (legal industry consultant), and Oscar Dean (Grant Thornton) for a candid discussion about the future of law firm ownership.
The panel explores why legal has become attractive to investors, whether private equity activity has slowed in recent months, what makes a law firm investable, and how external capital can be used to fund growth, technology and talent. They also discuss consolidation, succession planning, the differences between legal and other professional services sectors, and why some investors are becoming more selective about the firms they back.
Finally, the conversation turns to the biggest unanswered question in the market: exits. The panel debates whether private equity-backed law firms can deliver the returns investors need, who the eventual buyers might be, and whether outside capital will become a normal feature of the UK legal market over the next decade.
The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Legora. To find out more about Legora, visit: https://legora.com/
Today’s episode is also supported by Definely. To find out more about Definely, visit: https://www.definely.com/nonbillable
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
01:30 Introductions & setting the scene
04:40 Why investors are bullish on legal services
12:55 Why legal is different from accounting and other professional services
22:30 Has the private equity boom in law firms stalled?
27:30 Why law firms seek outside capital, and what changes afterwards
42:40 Talent, AI and the future law firm business model
53:50 The exit problem: IPOs, secondary sales and investor returns
1:03:50 Advice for law firm leaders and predictions for the future
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

Tim Foden is co-head of the international arbitration group at Boies Schiller Flexner in London.
In this episode, he joins the podcast to discuss his path into arbitration, his time at Allen & Overy and Quinn Emanuel, and why he believes specialist disputes firms offer something fundamentally different to full-service law firms.
The conversation explores the business of international arbitration, from commercial disputes between companies to high-stakes claims brought by investors against states.
Tim explains how investment treaty arbitration works in practice, why resource nationalism continues to drive disputes around the world, and what it is like handling cases involving governments, mining projects and politically sensitive assets.
Tim also shares his perspective on litigation funding, pushing back on the idea that funders encourage weak claims. He explains how funding has become a critical tool for many claimants, how funded cases are assessed, and why the UK Supreme Court’s PACCAR decision has had less impact on his practice than many predicted.
Finally, we discuss London's position as a global disputes hub, the outlook for arbitration and collective actions, and Boies Schiller Flexner's growth plans in the UK as the firm continues to expand its London disputes practice.
The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Legora. To find out more about Legora, visit: https://legora.com/
Today’s episode is also supported by Definely. To find out more about Definely, visit: https://www.definely.com/nonbillable
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
01:34 From courtroom dramas to international arbitration
03:10 Allen & Overy, Quinn Emanuel and life at a disputes boutique
05:06 Why specialist disputes firms think differently
10:48 Joining Boies Schiller and rebuilding the London office
16:16 The business of international arbitration and investor-state disputes
22:30 Litigation funding, PACCAR and access to justice
30:59 Why London remains the world's leading disputes hub
33:55 The future of disputes and Boies Schiller's growth plans in London
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

Headhunter Scott Gibson returns to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on what’s going on in the London partner market. As co-founder of Edwards Gibson, Scott tracks every major partner move in the City and has one of the clearest views of how the market is moving beneath the surface.
We discuss why partner movement remains near record levels despite a tougher economic backdrop, the continued influence of US firms in London, and how areas like private capital, infrastructure and real estate are driving demand. Scott also explains why mergers create far more disruption than firms like to admit, and why that often leads to opportunities elsewhere in the market.
The conversation also dives into the changing economics of partnership itself. Scott breaks down the rise of non-equity partnership structures, why UK firms face a “home turf disadvantage” against US rivals, and how compensation systems are evolving as firms compete for rainmakers.
We also talk about whether partnership is still as attractive as it once was, what top firms are really looking for when they hire laterals, and why law firms today may be more fragile than many lawyers realise.
The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Legora. To find out more about Legora, visit: https://legora.com/
Today’s episode is also supported by Definely. To find out more about Definely, visit: https://www.definely.com/nonbillable
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
02:26 The London partner recruitment market explained
04:21 Why partner moves hit record highs in 2025
08:17 The hottest practice areas in Big Law right now
11:37 Will restructuring finally boom in London?
14:41 Are Magic Circle firms fighting back against US rivals?
21:30 What law firms really want from lateral partner hires
27:06 The rise of non-equity partnership in Big Law
45:44 Which recent law firm mergers will actually work
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