The Non-Billable Podcast

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

Richard Medd, managing partner of Browne Jacobson, joins the podcast to discuss how the firm has doubled revenue over the past six years - revenue for the most recent financial year came in at a record £149m - and the strategy behind its recent growth.
He explains why Browne Jacobson has invested heavily across its UK and Ireland network, the thinking behind its expanding London presence, and why he believes firms can be both ambitious and culture-driven.
The conversation explores the firm's approach to lateral hiring, its growing private equity, technology and real estate practices, and why Medd sees London as an increasingly important part of the firm's long-term strategy rather than simply a shop window for clients. He also discusses Browne Jacobson's expansion into Ireland and how the firm thinks about international growth.
We also discuss AI and legal technology, including the firm's rollout of Legora, how AI is changing the delivery of legal services, and why judgment and commercial context will remain critical skills for lawyers.
Finally, Medd shares his views on external investment in law firms, why private capital is unlikely to transform the upper end of the UK legal market overnight, and what the next phase of growth looks like for Browne Jacobson.
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
00:40 Richard Medd's journey to managing Browne Jacobson
01:26 The strategy behind Browne Jacobson's rapid growth
06:33 Why London has become central to the firm's ambitions
15:01 Expanding into Ireland and what's next for the firm
18:55 Rolling out AI across Browne Jacobson
21:43 How AI will change legal services and lawyer training
24:59 External investment and private capital in law firms
28:13 Will a top UK law firm take external capital?
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

Rebecca Anderson, Microsoft's head of legal for EMEA, joins the podcast to discuss how the in-house function at one of the world's biggest tech companies is adapting to the AI era.
She explains why Microsoft has overhauled its legal operating model, how AI is changing the role of lawyers, and why the function is increasingly becoming a strategic partner to the business rather than simply a legal adviser.
The conversation explores how Microsoft is deploying AI across its own legal department, from AI-powered legal triage to contract drafting and decision-making tools. Anderson also shares how the company thinks about legal tech, why the operating model matters as much as the tools themselves, and how Microsoft's lawyers are using AI to move away from repetitive work towards higher-value strategic advice.
We also discuss what Microsoft now expects from its external law firms in the age of AI, why AI fluency has become a baseline requirement, and how firms can differentiate themselves beyond simply adopting new technology.
Finally, Anderson shares her thoughts on the future of the profession, the new legal roles emerging alongside AI, and the skills lawyers will need to thrive over the next decade.
Chapters
00:01 Introduction
00:45 From private practice to leading Microsoft's EMEA legal team
03:55 Rebuilding Microsoft's legal operating model for the AI era
09:40 How Microsoft is using AI inside its own legal department
18:00 Microsoft's legal tech strategy and the future of contract review
19:40 What Microsoft now expects from its external law firms
29:30 The changing role of the in-house lawyer
35:25 What Microsoft looks for when hiring lawyers
36:30 The future of legal work in the age 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