David Lat spent years climbing the legal ladder, clerking, working at Wachtell, joining the DOJ, before realizing that the most meaningful part of his career wasn’t going to happen in a courtroom. Joining Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg, David talks through the decisions that shaped his path, from writing a cheeky anonymous blog about federal judges to launching “Above the Law” and building one of the most influential voices in legal media. He reflects on the pressure to follow prestige, the pull of creative work, and the unexpected ways his early writing opened doors he didn’t even know existed.

A serious case of COVID-19 in 2020 forced him to pause and take stock. What would it look like to return to writing on his own terms? What parts of the legal world still felt worth exploring? Those questions led to “Original Jurisdiction,” a Substack newsletter where David now shares sharp, thoughtful takes on the profession he never fully left. David also opens up about parenting two young kids with his husband Zach, navigating surrogacy, and finding ways to stay engaged without burning out. This episode is a look at what it means to shift gears without losing momentum, and how the best version of your work might be the one that feels the most like you.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet David Lat: From Wachtell to Legal Media

05:41 The Birth of Underneath Their Robes

06:59 Launching Above the Law

10:54 The Rise and Reach of Above the Law

13:25 Why David Stepped Away from Legal Journalism

16:23 A Life-Changing COVID-19 Experience

18:02 Starting Over with Original Jurisdiction

27:00 Legal Parenthood, Surrogacy, and Family Life

31:45 Candid Advice for Aspiring Writers and Lawyers

39:54 Big Law, AI, and the Future of the Profession

Links

Connect with David Lat:

Substack: https://davidlat.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlat/

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrosenberg/

Company web profile: https://www.baretzbrunelle.com/howard-rosenberg

Connect with Chris Batz:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbatz/

LinkedIn Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/columbus-street/

Columbus Street website: https://www.columbus-street.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Titles don’t build trust, people do. And according to Rebecca Goodman-Stephens, that’s where real leadership begins. Rebecca is the CEO of Moses Singer, a New York law firm, but her story starts far from the legal world. She grew up across the UK, Switzerland, and France, studied clinical psychology, and built her career in consulting and public accounting before stepping into her current role. Along the way, she kept coming back to the same core skill: understanding people.

As she joins hosts Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg, Rebecca shares how her background shaped her leadership style, and why listening, curiosity, and follow-through matter more than any formal authority. How do you get people to want to work with you? How does one shift a firm’s culture without blowing up what’s already working?

Rebecca also talks about her move into legal services and what surprised her most, like how much creativity and momentum she’s found in a space often viewed as slow to change. From evolving compensation structures to narrowing focus and driving intentional growth, she walks through the mindset behind her first two years as CEO.

This episode touches on private equity and what legal leaders can learn from the accounting world. Rebecca offers a clear message: don’t wait for outside investment to fix what you haven’t yet addressed internally.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Rebecca Goodman-Stephens

04:04 How Clinical Psychology Shapes Rebecca’s Leadership Approach

08:02 Lessons from Consulting and Public Accounting

12:52 Why Rebecca Moved into Legal Services

15:50 What Surprised Rebecca About the Legal Industry

17:27 Leading Change as CEO at Moses Singer

21:13 Private Equity and the Future of Law Firms

24:23 Building a Resilient, Forward-Looking Organization

26:41 Launching a Business-Focused Law Firm Podcast

27:56 Personal Passions, Family Life, and New York Favorites

Links

Connect with Rebecca Goodman-Stephens:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-goodman-stephens-b702665/

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrosenberg/

Company web profile: https://www.baretzbrunelle.com/howard-rosenberg

Connect with Chris Batz:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbatz/

LinkedIn Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/columbus-street/

Columbus Street website: https://www.columbus-street.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Succession only looks seamless from the outside. Yakub Hazzard shares what it really took to step into the chair role at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, and why leadership transitions require more than just good timing.

How do you plan for change without disrupting what already works? Yakub walks through the nearly two-year succession planning process that prepared him to take over as chair, from building internal alignment to choosing the right leadership partner. He shares how the firm prioritized culture over convenience, and why that made all the difference.

Yakub also reflects on his journey from paralegal to partner, with a few unexpected stops along the way. Raised in a household of professional athletes, he learned early what discipline looks like up close. Time at NBCUniversal gave him a new perspective on what clients actually need from their lawyers, something he carries into every interaction today.

The episode also covers how the firm is growing with intention, where entertainment law is headed, and how AI is already reshaping the conversation. Yakub’s perspective is steady, strategic, and refreshingly grounded.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Yakub Hazzerd’s Background

04:46 Starting in Law: From Paralegal to Partner

07:06 Going In-House at NBCUniversal

09:00 Returning to MSK and the Shift Back to Private Practice

10:05 Succession Planning and Leadership Transition

13:30 Strategic Growth and Culture-Driven Hiring

18:35 Industry Disruption: Streaming, Gaming, and AI

27:34 Building High-Performing Teams

Links

Connect with Yakub Hazzard:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yakub-hazzard-1469b113/

Firm Website Bio: https://www.msk.com/attorneys-Yakub_Hazzard

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrosenberg/

Company web profile: https://www.baretzbrunelle.com/howard-rosenberg

Connect with Chris Batz:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbatz/

LinkedIn Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/columbus-street/

Columbus Street website: https://www.columbus-street.com/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm