The boutique that beat the Magic Circle: How Quinn Emanuel built the most successful litigation practice in London
In this episode, we sit down with Richard East, the founding partner of Quinn Emanuel’s London office - the litigation powerhouse that has gone from a 2008 startup to one of the UK’s most profitable disputes firms, with revenues topping £220 million last year. Richard shares how he built the practice from scratch during the height of the financial crisis.We discuss Quinn Emanuel’s distinctive model: no corporate teams, no panels, no conflicts - and no apologies about taking on the banks. Richard explains why that singular focus has been so powerful, and how the firm’s “door-to-door” approach to marketing - cold-calling and in-person meetings - helped them land early clients that fuelled their growth.Richard also opens up about recruiting and compensation, including why Quinn refuses to follow the Cravath scale, why they pay comfortably above Magic Circle firms, and why entrepreneurial mindset is non-negotiable for new partners. He describes a culture that rewards independence and drive - and expects associates to own cases, not just take instructions.We wrap up with Richard’s thoughts on competition, the evolution of the Magic Circle, and what comes next. He shares why he sees massive potential in using AI to stay ahead, why he isn’t afraid of giant mergers, and why after 17 years he still feels like there’s much more to build.Chapters00:40 Launching Quinn Emanuel London in 200804:00 Building a Litigation-Only Practice from Scratch07:20 Marketing that Actually Works: Cold-Calling and Door-to-Door Meetings11:00 Winning Early Clients During the Financial Crisis14:40 How the Firm Thinks About Talent and Compensation20:00 Culture, Independence, and Entrepreneurial DNA24:30 Perspectives on the Magic Circle and Big Law Competitors29:30 The Role of AI and the Future of Litigation33:40 Leadership Lessons from 17 Years at the Helm36:30 Ambition for the Next ChapterAbout Non-BillableNon-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
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Running legal at a hypergrowth tech company: Figma's international legal head Jonathan Keen on AI, expansion and EU red tape
In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Keen, head of international legal at Figma - one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world. Jonny leads legal across EMEA, APAC, and Japan, supporting the business through constant product innovation, geographic expansion and a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.He shares what it’s really like to be the legal lead at a hypergrowth company, from negotiating major enterprise SaaS deals to navigating complex EU tech regulation. Jonny gives a behind-the-scenes view of how his team supports global scale, and what he looks for in the external law firms Figma relies on.We also dive into legal tech and AI, and why Jonny cares more about lawyers who understand tech than what tools they use. He shares his view on how AI is impacting in-house teams, and what traits set great in-house lawyers apart.Chapters00:40 Jonny’s role at Figma02:00 What legal looks like inside a rocketship04:00 A typical day (if one exists)06:30 Enterprise SaaS negotiations: fast and slow lanes08:40 How legal supports the business without breaking it10:00 Working with law firms: what matters12:30 AI and legal tech at Figma15:00 The EU regulatory wave18:00 The compliance burden for mid-market companies20:00 In-house vs private practice: what AI disrupts23:00 What he looks for in new hires25:00 Judgement, humility and curiosity27:00 Advice for lawyers considering a move in-house29:30 The future: what’s next for JonnyAbout Non-BillableNon-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
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How ex-Freshfields lawyer Richard Mabey built Juro into one of Europe’s top legal tech startups: unlearning lawyering, agentic AI in legal and the future of junior lawyers
In this episode, we sit down with Richard Mabey, the co-founder and CEO of Juro. A former Freshfields lawyer, Richard left private practice in 2013 to pursue an MBA and later joined LegalZoom, before launching Juro in 2016. Nearly a decade on, the company is now one of Europe’s leading legal tech startups, helping fast-scaling businesses automate their contract processes and manage legal work with a radically different approach.Richard talks candidly about his founder journey - from teaching himself to code in the early days, to building a company that's now helping hundreds of legal teams deploy AI agents directly into tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. We dig into how Juro thinks differently about contract lifecycle management, why Mabey believes the next generation of legal work will be agent-led, and what it really takes to get lawyers to embrace automation.We also cover why Mabey thinks legal teams are being asked to do more with less, how agentic AI is already substituting junior-level tasks, and why the CLM category may be ripe for consolidation. Whether you're building legal tech, working in-house, or trying to understand what the future of legal work might look like, this episode is full of insight from one of the sector’s most thoughtful founders.Chapters00:30 Introduction: From Freshfields to Founding Juro03:44 Starting Small: Building a Legal Tech Community07:00 What Scale-Up GCs Really Care About10:15 The Lawyer’s Role in an AI-First World13:52 The Impact of Agentic AI on In-House Teams17:05 The Training Problem for Junior Lawyers21:10 The End of the Law Firm Pyramid?24:30 How Juro’s Agents Actually Work27:48 Replacing Low-Value Work with Automation30:33 From Founder Doubts to Product Inflection34:10 Building a Legal Tech Startup in the "Dark Ages"36:45 Fundraising Lessons and Conviction in the Problem39:30 How Juro Differs from Traditional CLMs42:58 Defining the Agentic AI Opportunity44:42 Why Legal Tech Will Consolidate (Eventually)46:35 The Vision for Juro and the Future of Legal WorkAbout Non-BillableNon-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
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Inside Perkins Coie’s London play: City veteran Ian Bagshaw on launching a US firm in a crowded market, attracting the best talent, and the rise of private capital
Ian Bagshaw is a City law private equity partner now heading up the London office of US law firm Perkins Coie which he launched in 2024. A highly experienced corporate lawyer with nearly 30 years in the field, he is recognised for his leadership in the private equity market at both UK and US law firms.Before joining Perkins Coie, he was co-head of private equity at White & Case, where he built one of London’s top private equity practices. Before that, he held senior roles at Linklaters (co-head of private equity) and was also a partner at Clifford Chance.In this conversation, Ian discusses his return to law to lead Perkins Coie's launch in London, emphasising the strategic timing and focus on tech clients and founders. He shares insights on building a startup culture within the firm, the importance of talent experience, and the impact of private capital on the legal industry. Ian outlines his vision for the future of Perkins in Europe, highlighting the need for a differentiated approach in a competitive market.Chapters00:40 Introduction to Perkins Coie and London Launch06:10 Focus on Tech Clients and Founders13:10 Building a Startup Culture in a Law Firm17:50 Training and Development Strategies for Talent19:10 Vision for Perkins Coie in the Next Decade22:20 Private Capital’s Impact on Big Law28:44 Investment Dynamics and the Future of Law Firms34:25 The Changing Landscape of Legal Practice37:20 Advice for Junior LawyersAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk
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How A&O Shearman's legal tech incubator helps keep it ahead in the innovation game - with Shruti Ajitsaria, head of Fuse
Shruti Ajitsaria is a partner at A&O Shearman and the head of Fuse, the firm’s legal tech incubator. Since launching Fuse in 2017, Shruti has helped A&O engage with over 60 startups, run dozens of pilots, and turn legal tech from a buzzword into a real driver of value for both lawyers and clients.In this conversation, Shruti shares how she went from credit derivatives lawyer to leading one of the legal industry's most ambitious innovation programmes. She explains how Fuse works behind the scenes, why A&O Shearman was willing to take a risk on her idea, and what separates the legal tech startups that scale from those that stall.We also get into how the merger with Shearman & Sterling is expanding Fuse’s reach, what clients really expect from law firms when it comes to tech, and why true innovation in legal isn’t just about adopting tools, but creating a culture that’s open to change.Whether you’re a founder looking to partner with firms, a lawyer curious about the future of your role, or just someone interested in how a 100-year-old organisation builds like a startup - this conversation is well worth a listen.Chapters00:40 From Credit Derivatives to Legal Tech03:20 How Fuse Was Born06:17 Launching Fuse and Becoming Partner08:15 What Makes a Startup Right for Fuse09:40 Inside the Incubator: How Startups Work with A&O12:00 Definely, StructureFlow & Building Success Stories14:23 The Anatomy of a Great Legal Tech Founder17:50 Fuse’s Impact Inside the Firm20:41 Legal Tech as Strategy22:25 Innovation Starts at the Top26:26 The A&O Shearman Merger and US Expansion28:23 What Clients Expect in 202520:05 Where Legal Tech Disruption Hits First32:18 Bonus Round: Trends, Hype, and Career AdviceAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk
The Non-Billable Podcast takes UK legal professionals beyond the billable hour, bringing you interviews with top lawyers, law firm leaders, industry experts and legal tech innovators to uncover actionable insights on the business of law, career growth and the future of the industry.
Hosted by Oliver Attinger, a former finance lawyer at a leading City law firm with in-house experience at an investment bank - now asking the questions he wished he had when he was practising.
Brought to you by Non-Billable, the go-to newsletter for City lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals.
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