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Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners

Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners

By: Stephen Rodney
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The legal sector thrives on talent, but how do you ensure partner success, both generally and in relation to how new hires integrate and succeed? Hosted by Stephen Rodney, founder of IntoGreat Coaching, which provides tailor made integration programmes for laterals and, previously a veteran of partner legal recruitment. Beyond Billables is the essential podcast for law firm leaders and in house GCs. Stephen draws on both his recent coaching experience and his previous recruitment life as a co-founder of a leading recruitment boutique (including being responsible for one of the UK's largest-ever team moves), to look at the essential elements necessary to produce both successful partners and also other senior lawyers and to look at the critical challenge of effective senior lawyer integration. Join Stephen as he speaks with successful partners, other industry experts and legal innovators. Follow Beyond Billables to ensure you absorb the lessons told by the successful partners interviewed!Copyright 2026 Stephen Rodney Art Economics Education
Episodes
  • Why Great Leaders Never Micromanage Their Teams with Peter Jackson

    Why Great Leaders Never Micromanage Their Teams with Peter Jackson
    Aug 4 2026

    In this episode of Beyond Billables, Stephen Rodney sits down with Peter Jackson, former Managing Partner and CEO of Hill Dickinson, to unpack nearly three decades of leadership inside one of the UK's leading commercial law firms.

    Peter shares the lessons that transformed him from lawyer to CEO, why great leaders never micromanage, how to build high-performing teams, the importance of culture when hiring lateral partners, succession planning, AI's impact on the legal profession, and the remarkable story behind Hill Dickinson becoming the naming rights partner of Everton's new stadium.

    Whether you're a managing partner, lawyer, business leader, or anyone interested in leadership, management, culture, and professional services, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 - 00:54 | Trailer on Leadership, AI, and Law Firm Growth

    00:54 - 01:59 | Podcast Introduction and Peter Jackson’s Career Overview

    01:59 - 09:10 | Early Legal Career and Rise to Managing Partner

    09:10 - 14:31 | CEO Transition and Strategic Leadership Structure

    14:31 - 18:54 | Selling the Insurance Business and Managing Change

    18:54 - 23:36 | Succession Planning, Retirement, and CM Murray Role

    23:36 - 31:26 | Partner Skills, Sector Knowledge, and AI’s Legal Impact

    31:26 - 43:53 | Leadership Lessons, People Decisions, and Management Training

    43:53 - 52:24 | Lateral Hiring, Culture Fit, and Due Diligence

    52:24 - 01:05:34 | Everton Stadium Sponsorship and Business ROI

    01:05:34 - 01:12:16 | Career Highlights, Hillsborough, and Leadership Challenges

    01:12:16 - 01:22:43 | Private Equity, Law Firm Ownership, and Future Models

    01:22:43 - 01:23:16 | Closing Thanks and Final Wrap-Up

    Connect with Peter Jackson:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-jackson-a1b3bb5/
    • Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cm-murray-llp/
    • Company’s Website: https://cm-murray.com/

    Connect with Stephen Rodney:

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmrodney/
    • Company’s Website: https://www.intogreatcoaching.co.uk/
    • Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intogreat-coaching/

    Connect with IntoGreat Coaching:

    • Website: https://www.intogreatcoaching.co.uk/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intogreat-coaching/

    Listening Links:

    • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5itRkdqnE9iUG7XuVXfur9?si=cd8ec898274442d9&nd=1&dlsi=6ff13118ea1a44b4
    • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-billables-lessons-from-top-law-firm-partners/id1847593311
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenRodney-i8l

    If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe for more conversations with leading law firm partners, business leaders, and industry experts sharing the lessons behind exceptional careers and leadership.
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • AI Replacing Lawyers for Legal Pros to Stay Relevant Using Client Relationships with Charles Currier

    AI Replacing Lawyers for Legal Pros to Stay Relevant Using Client Relationships with Charles Currier
    Jul 28 2026
    In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Charles Currier, Senior Partner and Chairman of the Board for CMS UK and its international offices. Charles shares his journey from being the first in his family to attend university to leading one of the world's largest law firm networks. The conversation explores leadership, career progression, lateral hiring, client relationships, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal profession. Charles also reflects on the lessons he has learned during three decades at CMS and explains why people skills remain the foundation of long-term success.Charles joined the firm as a trainee in the mid 1990s and became a corporate partner in 2005. Throughout his career, he has advised on major infrastructure and energy transactions, led the firm's Corporate Group, and now focuses on strategy, leadership, client relationships, and shaping the future direction of CMS.Expect to Learn:Why strong client relationships matter more than ever in the age of AI.How Charles progressed from trainee solicitor to Senior Partner at CMS.What separates successful law firm leaders from successful partners. How firms can improve the success of lateral partner hires through better planning and integration.Why respect, curiosity, and simply being nice to people are key ingredients for a successful legal career.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Teaser[00:52] – Welcome & Introduction to Beyond Billables with Charles Currier[06:20] – The Contested Election: Five Candidates and Four Rounds of Voting[11:52] – Staying Out of the Managing Partner Election[15:37] – AI and the Future: The Threat and Opportunity[19:52] – The Partner-Led Technological Shift: Why AI Needs Senior Adoption[26:06] – Lateral Hiring: Due Diligence, Integration, and the 100-Day Plan[31:19] – Why Some Laterals Don't Work Out: The Role of Luck and Expectations[34:22] – The CMS Structure: An English Company Limited by Guarantee[39:38] – Client Perspectives on AI: The Spectrum from Reluctance to Demand[43:22] – Private Equity in Law: A Cautious View from the Senior Partner[47:47] – Best Moments: The National Grid Deal and the Bulb Acquisition[50:52] – Worst Moments: Two All-Nighters and Hallucinating Colours[54:32] – Three Non-Negotiables: Respect, Enthusiasm, and Perspective[57:07] – One Golden Rule: Just Be Nice to People[57:36] – Closing Remarks Connect with Charles Currier:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-currier/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cms-cameron-mckenna/Company’s Website: https://cms.law/en/gbr/Connect with Stephen Rodney:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmrodney/Company’s Website: https://www.intogreatcoaching.co.uk/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intogreat-coaching/Connect with IntoGreat Coaching:Website: https://www.intogreatcoaching.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intogreat-coaching/Listening Links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5itRkdqnE9iUG7XuVXfur9?si=cd8ec898274442d9&nd=1&dlsi=6ff13118ea1a44b4Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-billables-lessons-from-top-law-firm-partners/id1847593311YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenRodney-i8l
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    58 mins
  • AI in Law for Legal Pros to Stay Relevant and Escape the Billable Hour Trap with Emily Monastiriotis

    AI in Law for Legal Pros to Stay Relevant and Escape the Billable Hour Trap with Emily Monastiriotis
    Jul 21 2026
    In this episode of Beyond Billables: Lessons from Top Law Firm Partners, host Stephen Rodney sits down with Emily Monastiriotis, Global Managing Partner at Simmons & Simmons. Emily shares her journey from growing up in Corfu to leading one of the world's leading international law firms. The conversation explores leadership, client relationships, talent development, AI adoption, and what it takes to build a successful legal career in a rapidly changing profession.Emily Monastiriotis is the Global Managing Partner of Simmons & Simmons. A construction litigator by background, she joined the firm almost ten years ago and progressed through a series of leadership roles before being elected Managing Partner. Emily is passionate about people, innovation, mentoring, and helping law firms adapt to the opportunities and challenges created by artificial intelligence.Expect to Learn:How Emily's international upbringing and career journey led her to become Global Managing Partner of Simmons & Simmons.Why building strong client relationships and understanding client needs remain critical to long-term success.The leadership qualities that help law firm partners develop high-performing teams and strong firm cultures.How AI is changing legal work, pricing models, training, and the future skills lawyers need.Best practices for recruiting, integrating, and supporting lateral hires in law firms.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Teaser[01:01] – Welcome & Introduction to Beyond Billables with Emily Monastiriotis[05:23] – The Contested Election: Becoming Managing Partner of Simmons[09:11] – What Makes a Successful Partner? Relationships, Curiosity, and Engagement[14:31] – The Power of Face-to-Face: Investing Time in Clients[19:25] – AI and the Billable Hour: The Shift to Value-Based Pricing[24:51] – The Education Gap: Teaching AI Responsibility in Schools[27:47] – Responsible AI Use: Traffic Lights, Supervision, and Critical Thinking[33:40] – Lateral Hiring: Planning, Integration, and Cultural Fit[38:31] – Sponsoring Partners and Holistic Remuneration[43:24] – Best Moments: The Thrill of Victory and Team Success[48:38] – Mentoring and Reverse Mentoring: Paying It Forward[52:08] – Private Equity in Law: A Cautious View[55:45] – One Golden Rule: Treat People with Respect and Curiosity[56:07] – Closing RemarksConnect with Emily Monastiriotis:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-monastiriotis/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simmons-&-simmons/Company’s Website: https://www.simmons-simmons.com/Connect with Stephen Rodney:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmrodney/Company’s Website: https://www.intogreatcoaching.co.uk/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intogreat-coaching/Connect with IntoGreat Coaching:Website: https://www.intogreatcoaching.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intogreat-coaching/Listening Links:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5itRkdqnE9iUG7XuVXfur9?si=cd8ec898274442d9&nd=1&dlsi=6ff13118ea1a44b4Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-billables-lessons-from-top-law-firm-partners/id1847593311YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StephenRodney-i8l
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    56 mins
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