The Human Side of AI: Why People, Judgment, and Communication Still Run Law (Mark Wasserman CEO Emeritus of Eversheds, Keith Maziarek & Justin Ergler)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
Release Date: 05/22/2026
Architecting the Law Firm of the Future: AI, Culture, and Dismantling Big Law (Michael Pierson, Keith Maziarek & Justin Ergler)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
Episode Overview In this episode of Off the Clock, hosts Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler sit down with Michael Pierson, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Pierson Ferdinand. Launched in January 2024 as the largest law firm debut in U.S. history with 130 partners, Pierson Ferdinand has rapidly grown to over 300 partners globally across 35+ markets. Michael shares how his background in architecture shaped his approach to law firm management, how Pierson Ferdinand is dismantling the traditional Big Law pyramid leverage model, and why embedding AI natively—rather than as an afterthought—allows...
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The Next Era of Legal Tech (Zach Posner, The Legal Tech Fund, Justin Ergler & Keith Maziarek)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
In this episode, Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek sat down with Zach Posner, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Legal Tech Fund — the largest dedicated investor in legal technology globally, with 80+ portfolio companies spanning software sold into law firms, corporate legal departments, and consumers. Zach also leads the Fund's annual summit, widely considered the "Davos" of legal tech, and is currently steering a 15-year forecasting initiative mapping where the market is headed next. Few people have a wider-angle view of where legal tech capital is flowing, and why. Here are 3 takeaways...
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The Human Side of AI: Why People, Judgment, and Communication Still Run Law (Mark Wasserman CEO Emeritus of Eversheds, Keith Maziarek & Justin Ergler)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
In the latest episode of Off the Clock from the Legal Value Network, hosts Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler sit down with Mark Wasserman, CEO Emeritus of Eversheds Sutherland, for a candid, unscripted look at the realities of modern legal leadership. Mark pulls back the curtain on the industry's biggest shifts, from managing massive global mergers to navigating the next frontier of business. Here are 3 key takeaways from the conversation: The Imperative of Over-Communication: Mark shares his journey of taking on a managing partner role at 43, realizing within six months the...
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The Four Quadrants of Profit: Moving Beyond the Hourly Rate (Richard Burcher, Founder Validatum, Keith Maziarek & Justin Ergler)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
On this episode, we're sitting down with Richard Burcher — a true pioneer in legal pricing and profitability. Richard is a New Zealand-born lawyer who spent nearly 30 years in private practice, including seven as a managing partner, before founding Validatum — a consultancy dedicated to helping law firms price smarter and manage profitability with intention. Most recently, Richard has joined Aderant as Vice President of Pricing and Profitability — bringing his decades of expertise to one of the most recognized platforms in the legal tech space. In this conversation, we get into the...
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The Future of Legal Services with Industry Legend Jae Um
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
Join Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek as they sit down with Jae Um, Chief Growth Officer and Head of Knowledge at Lumio, for a wide-ranging conversation about the seismic shifts reshaping the legal industry. From law firm mergers to AI adoption, this episode cuts through the noise to explore what really matters: people, strategy, and the courage to change. Key Topics: The Great Consolidation: Why there aren't 300 management teams ready to navigate what's coming, and what the wave of law firm mergers really tells us about strategic maturity in the legal market Beyond the AI Hype: Why buying...
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The OG LVN Board: A Conversation about the Founding of the Legal Value Network and its Future
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
In this special edition of Legal Value Network’s “Off the Clock” podcast, hosts Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler welcome their co-founders and original Board member counterparts Toby Brown, Purvi Sanghvi, Stuart Dodds, Chris Ende and Kristina Lambright. The group shares stories from the early days when the idea of forming LVN was first explored, with a lot of behind the scenes anecdotes and experiences that most people have never heard before. As the baton is passed to the new Board, give a listen to this recounting of LVNs origin story from the “OG’s” who launched the organization...
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Thinking Like an Owner in the Modern Legal Market (Andrew Bayman - King & Spalding & LVN Board Members Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
In this episode, LVN Board Members and sit down with , Partner at King and Spalding, for a wide-ranging discussion about what it means to think like an owner in the modern legal marketplace. This conversation reveals how law firms are transforming the business of law—replacing the billable hour with data-driven models that balance client outcomes and firm profitability. The group explores what it takes to make alternative fee arrangements succeed, why transparency builds stronger partnerships, and how collaboration between lawyers and business professionals...
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The AI Revolution in Law: Paradigm Shift or Incremental Change? (Zach Abramowitz, Justin Ergler & Keith Maziarek)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
On this episode, LVN board members Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek talk to Zach Abramowitz, founder of Killer Whale Strategies. They examine the impact of the artificial intelligence on the law. The trio discuss whether it's a paradigm shift or is it just incremental change in technology. They explore how lawyers are secretly using AI and why the technology might be better at creative, high level work rather than routine tasks. They also discuss how artificial intelligence changes the very nature of legal strategy.
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Keith Maziarek, Justin Ergler (LVN Board Members) & Patrick Fuller (Chief Strategist, ALM) on Why Law Firms Need a Dot Connector to Connect People, Data, and Strategy for Growth
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
LVN Board Members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler host Patrick Fuller, Chief Strategist for ALM. The trio discuss Patrick's role in analyzing law firm data, market trends, and client challenges. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding indirect market impacts, such as talent supply and operating costs in emerging markets. Patrick emphasizes the need for law firms to raise rates to maintain profitability and discusses the potential benefits of private equity investment in the legal industry. The conversation also touches on succession planning, client relationships, and...
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An Anthropologist in the Law Firm? Rethinking Legal Talent, Change and Progress in Law Firms (Stephen Poor, Chair Emeritus Seyfarth)
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)
LVN Board members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler sit down with Stephen Poor, Chair Emeritus at Seyfarth Shaw. The trio discuss the inevitable changes impacting law firms, from the integration of non-legal professionals to the ongoing debate around the billable hour in the age of AI. They also examine why forward-thinking leaders found early resistance to now-common ideas, and give their perspectives on the future shape of law firms, talent development in a tech-driven world, and the enduring importance of the human connection. It's a candid look at the evolution of the legal profession and...
info_outlineIn the latest episode of Off the Clock from the Legal Value Network, hosts Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler sit down with Mark Wasserman, CEO Emeritus of Eversheds Sutherland, for a candid, unscripted look at the realities of modern legal leadership.
Mark pulls back the curtain on the industry's biggest shifts, from managing massive global mergers to navigating the next frontier of business.
Here are 3 key takeaways from the conversation:
- The Imperative of Over-Communication: Mark shares his journey of taking on a managing partner role at 43, realizing within six months the challenges of balancing a massive M&A practice with firm leadership. His number one piece of advice for new leaders? Over-communicate early and often with clients, partners, and business professionals alike.
- The Reality of Global Change Management: Hear the behind-the-scenes story of the 2017 combination that created Eversheds Sutherland. Mark discusses the nuances of merging disparate regional cultures, aligning egos, and why "presencing"—physically showing up at offices from Leeds to the Middle East—is vital to building authentic internal trust.
- AI as a Connector, Not a Displacer: Striking a balance on the industry’s hottest topic, Mark argues that while AI will undoubtedly shift billable structures and reduce routine review hours, it will actually increase the premium on human relationships. The future belongs to firms that seamlessly combine data capabilities with elite judgment and empathy.