What happens to the modern law firm when AI strips away the advantage of size and leaves judgment as the true measure of value?

Robb Patryk joined Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg to talk about why AI may reset some of the biggest assumptions in the legal industry. If sophisticated legal work no longer depends on armies of lawyers, what actually gives a firm its edge? For Robb, the answer is clear. Sharp judgment, trusted client relationships, and a strategy that knows exactly which problems a firm is built to solve.

This conversation gets to the real pressure point behind all the AI hype. What happens to training when junior lawyers no longer learn through hours of document review? What happens to growth when bigger no longer means better? Robb makes the case for a more deliberate future where independent firms can stay competitive, stay focused, and stay human while using AI to move faster and think better.

There is also a bigger leadership question running through this episode. How do you protect a firm's identity when the market keeps pushing toward consolidation, private equity, and scale at all costs? Robb offers a grounded look at what it takes to lead with conviction in a moment when the legal world feels wide open.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 AI in Law Firms and the Future of Independent Firms

08:02 Law Firm Strategy, Growth, and Practice Mix

12:33 How AI Will Reshape Legal Talent and Firm Scale

16:09 Private Equity, Non-Lawyer Ownership, and Law Firm Culture

23:45 How Independent Law Firms Stay Competitive

Connect with Robb Patryk:

Robb's Law Firm Web Bio

Connect with Robb on LinkedIn

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

Connect with Howard on LinkedIn

Howard's Company web profile

Connect with Chris Batz:

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Follow Columbus Street on LinkedIn

Columbus Street Website

MergerWatch Website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What does it take to grow a 1,200-lawyer firm through chaos, competition, and industry change without losing the culture and discipline that made it strong in the first place?

Hosts Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg sit down with Chase Simmons, Chair and CEO of Polsinelli, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership under pressure. As the leader of one of the largest full-service U.S.-focused law firms, Chase brings a clear point of view on growth, judgment, and the kind of institutional clarity that gets tested when the market shifts.

The conversation gets to the heart of how firms grow without losing themselves. Chase shares why Polsinelli has stayed intentionally U.S. focused, how leadership teams decide where to invest and where to hold back, and what hard moments can reveal about a firm's values. What helps a firm stay disciplined when the market keeps shifting? What becomes possible when leaders know who they are and refuse to chase every opportunity?

Chris and Howard also ask Chase about private equity, AI, succession, and the broader disruption reshaping big law. What emerges is a thoughtful discussion about stewardship, ambition, and the choices that give a firm staying power. It is a grounded look at leadership from someone who has helped scale a major firm while staying protective of the culture behind it.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Polsinelli's Growth Strategy and Leadership Vision

03:08 Building a Law Firm Culture That Holds Up Under Pressure

11:56 The Future of Big Law and Industry Disruption

14:59 AI and the Changing Practice of Law

17:54 Private Equity and the Future of Law Firm Ownership

21:04 Leadership Lessons for Law Firm Leaders

Connect with Chase Simmons:

Chase Simmon's Law Firm Web bio

Connect with Chase on LinkedIn

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

Connect with Howard on LinkedIn

Howard's Company Web Profile

Connect with Chris Batz:

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Follow Columbus Street on LinkedIn

Columbus Street Website

MergerWatch Website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What happens when accomplished lawyers realize the traditional firm model no longer supports the practice they want to build?

James Hacking, founder and CEO of Kindleworth, joins the conversation for a clear-eyed look at why more top lawyers are questioning the traditional big law model and what it takes to build something more aligned, more focused, and more sustainable.

At the center of the discussion is a simple truth: many partners are not looking to leave because they are bored or impulsive. They are responding to real pressure. Conflicts get in the way. Firm priorities shift. Business models grow rigid. At a certain point, the question becomes unavoidable. What happens when the institution no longer supports the work you do best?

James brings real specificity to that tension. He explains why boutique firms have become a more serious option for elite lawyers and why the move requires more than confidence and a strong book of business. What does it actually take to launch well? What do lawyers often fail to see until they are in the middle of it? This conversation stays grounded in those questions.

The result is a thoughtful look at agency, timing, and design inside a changing legal market. For anyone curious about where the industry is headed, or what it looks like to build a firm around the work that matters most, this episode gives that conversation real substance.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Rise of Boutique Law Firms

05:03 Understanding Kindleworth's Mission

12:34 The Process of Launching a Law Firm

19:24 Navigating the US Legal Market

24:04 Common Mistakes in Law Firm Launches

28:11 Future Services and Growth Opportunities

31:18 The Future of Boutique Legal Services

Connect with James Hacking:

Connect with James on LinkedIn

Law Firm Web bio

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

Connect with Howard on LinkedIn

Company web profile

Connect with Chris Batz:

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Follow Columbus Street on LinkedIn

Columbus Street Website

MergerWatch Website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm