Law & Coder

Law & Coder Episode 6 - CRM or Chaos? How to Bring Order to Legal Client Relationships (feat. Rachel Shields Williams)

In this episode of Law & Coder, hosts Christina Natale and Morgan Llewellyn sit down with Rachel Shields Williams, Director of Product Management for Client Intelligence at Sidley and incoming LMA President, to unpack the evolving role of CRM in law firms.
Rachel shares how CRM has shifted from dusty Rolodexes to sprawling data lakes, and why it still hasn’t solved the core challenge of relationship intelligence. They discuss why lawyers remain hesitant to share contacts, the persistent myth of the 360° client view, and the critical difference between collecting data and truly connecting people. Drawing from her 16+ years in legal marketing, Rachel offers insights into aligning CRM strategies with business goals, tackling change management, and keeping humans (rather than just technology) at the center of business development. She emphasizes how curiosity, soft skills, and asking the right questions are essential for transforming CRM from a static database into a powerful relationship tool.
Tune in for practical advice, relatable experiences, and a candid conversation about why, in legal business, relationships still win...and why tech alone isn’t enough.

Law & Coder Episode 5 - Why Legal Tech Adoption Fails... and How Human-Centered Design Can Help (feat. Olivia Smith)

In this episode of Law & Coder, hosts Morgan Llewellyn and Christina Natale dive into the fascinating world of human-centered design (HCD) with their colleague Olivia Smith, Director of Human Centered Design & Strategy at HIKE2. Olivia shares her insights on how truly understanding user experiences can transform technology implementation, drive adoption, and streamline processes within legal and other regulated industries. They discuss the evolution of HCD from in-person observations to adapting effectively in a virtual world and explore common pitfalls, risks to avoid, and strategies for achieving meaningful executive alignment. Olivia highlights the critical importance of involving users early in the tool selection process, ensuring their real needs and workflows inform technology investments, ultimately delivering stronger outcomes and greater user satisfaction. Tune in for practical advice, relatable experiences, and thoughtful conversation on keeping people at the heart of innovation.

Law & Coder Episode 4 - Inside Legal Transformation: Strategy, Struggle, and Success (feat. Emily Rushing)

Join HIKE2 hosts Christina Natale, Director of Industry Solutions, and Morgan Llewellyn, Principal AI Practice Lead, with guest speaker, Emily Rushing, Director of Data Strategy at Holland & Knight LLP, for Episode 4 of Law & Coder.
Key takeaways from this episode:
Data Transformation Must be Human-Centered: Successful data strategies in law firms go beyond technology implementation. They require cultural alignment, leadership engagement, and a human-centered approach.
Start with Strategy and Culture: Before adopting any tools or platforms, law firms must honestly access their current state and establish a clear strategy. This includes understanding the firm’s culture, identifying core strengths, and ensuring safety for innovation.
Measure Success Beyond ROI: Traditional metrics may not fully capture the impact of data transformation.
Quick Wins Build Momentum: Small, practical projects can generate early success, build trust, and demonstrate the value of data transformation, setting the stage for broader strategic initiatives.
This episode is packed with actionable insights to help legal professionals navigate the process of data transformation at their law firms.
Tune in now!

Law & Coder Episode 3 - Risk vs. Reward: Innovation & AI Adoption in Law Firms

In this episode of Law & Coder, Morgan Llewellyn and Christina Natale explore the balance of risk and reward when it comes to innovation in law firms. They discuss the importance of having tough conversations early, especially around AI adoption, pricing models, and workflow changes. The conversation also highlights how cross-functional collaboration—between attorneys, IT, operations, and project management—is key to successful implementation. They emphasize that while innovation introduces risks, the rewards include improved efficiency, profitability, and stronger client services.  Hear how law firms can navigate these challenges while embracing the future of legal technology.

Law & Coder Episode 2 - AI Bots in Legal Marketing: Why Human Connections Still Matter

Welcome back to Law & Coder! In this episode, join hosts Christina Natale and Morgan Llewellyn as they highlight the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in the legal industry and underscore the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements to maintain a competitive edge.
Some of the key points covered in this episode: 
AI Competition Drives Innovation – New players like DeepSeek challenge established AI firms, accelerating advancements in legal AI applications.
Democratizing Legal Research – AI enables smaller firms to access judge-specific rulings, case precedents, and opposition strategies, leveling the playing field.
Balancing AI Implementation and Human Connection – Successful adoption requires a mix of specialized and broad-access AI tools, rigorous testing, human oversight, and structured data access to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Tune in now to gain insights into the critical role of AI in law firms today!

Law & Coder Episode 1 - A JD and a PhD Walk Into a Bar...

Join hosts Christina Natale, Director of Industry Solutions at HIKE2, and Morgan Llewellyn, PhD, Head of HIKE2’s AI Practice, as they kick off the Law & Coder podcast with a deep dive into the ever-evolving intersection of law and technology.
What they'll uncover:
Trends to Avoid: Combat "POC fatigue" and rethink overly narrow point solutions.
Trends to Embrace: Harness the power of workflow redesign and agent-centric design with generative AI and automation.
Trends to Consider: Explore agentic AI's potential to revolutionize legal work—like Wilson Sonsini’s innovative use of AI in contract review—and learn how to assess risks and rewards effectively.
This episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples to help legal professionals navigate the future of innovation.
Tune in now to discover which trends are worth embracing, avoiding, or rethinking—and get a glimpse into the exciting topics lined up for future episodes!

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