Automates #22 - The one with the trendy fractional GC
Our guest this time is Natalie Salunke who explains how the Fractional GC model is working for her and her clients. Natalie and Ben discuss:
- In-house legal departments behaving more as a function rather than as advisors
- Alternative ways of getting access to high quality legal support
- How important 'human' skills are going to be in the future of work
- Focusing on the solution first when in the market for legal tech
- How in-house heads of legal and GCs are compensated in comparison to their private practice counterparts
- The joy of dipping in and out of different sectors in a fractional role
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46:33
Automates #21 - The one with an AI Titan
Our guest this episode is Peter Duffy of Titans, an AI-first legal tech consultancy. Peter is a font of knowledge on all things AI and he shares some of his personal favourite AI use cases, alongside practical tips and tricks for making the most of the technology.
Together, Peter and Ben cover:
- Considering AI a knowledge partner
- The function of AI in elevating rather than replacing humans
- The ever present problem of technology adoption
- The rapid pace of change and how to stay on top of it
- The promise of Agentic AI and whether or not it's simply a marketing buzzword
- Is the legaltech market blurring into 'everything, everywhere, all at once'?
And plenty more. We'll eat our hats if you don't take something actionable away from this one, folks!
Sign up to the Titans LegalTech Trends newsletter here: https://www.titans.legal/the-newsletter
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48:38
Automates #19 - The one who makes all the change
Change maker Jana Blount is our guest on this episode of Automates. Jana reflects on the opportunity she was given to embed a culture of radical change at DLA Piper, and how she has taken that forward into her own consulting business. The podcast covers:The concept of radical change vs the more commonly used term 'innovation'The definition of design thinkingThe aha moment of using design thinking to shift how people in a law firm thought about problemsJana's distaste for the word 'just' when it comes to 'just' a line item in a budget!The importance of allowing tech tools access to your 'good', to allow them to generate the 'great'The belief that AI and technology should be used to drive meaningful change in the legal profession, not just to make more money
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53:21
Automates #18 - The one with all the lego
This episode, Ben chats to Litera's Matt Miller. In this vendor to vendor discussion, they cover:The difference between working for a scale up versus a large tech company when it comes to product developmentThe trend towards law firms hiring 'thinkers' to put technology to good useThe challenges the pace of change presents to tech vendors looking to lock in long term dealsFinding someone who's equally fascinated with technology advancements and keeping your finger on the pulse!
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44:15
Automates #17 - The one who was first and therefore the best
In our first podcast of 2025, Ben is joined by Jon Bartman, Co-Founder of the Law Tech Consultancy. Together they discuss: The increasingly common journey from lawyer to tech founderThe fact that implementing tech is not just a big law playThe challenges and opportunities brought by a crowded legal tech marketThe importance of legal tech founders having a realistic understanding of their marketThe unique characteristics required of lawyersPlus their mutual experience of The Legal Tech Fund (TLTF) Summit and Jon being a proud board member of the European Legal Tech Association (ELTA)
Musings from the brightest industry minds on the state of innovation, knowledge management and start-ups with some workflow & process automation thrown in. Presented by Ben Wightwick from Autologyx, a best of breed workflow and automation platform for legal and compliance professionals seeking to enhance productivity and efficiency.
New Zealand