Shows
Big Law Life#75: How GenAI Could Totally Change BigLaw’s Talent and Comp Structure - With Keith MaziarekAs the legal industry reckons with the growing influence of generative AI and automation, law firms are facing far more than just new tools—they’re confronting a fundamental shift in how talent is managed, work is structured, and value is delivered. In this episode, I’m joined by Keith Maziarek, a Big Law expert in strategic pricing and legal project management, to talk about how AI is reshaping the legal talent model and how firms will measure and track value—from flattening the traditional associate pyramid to forcing firms to rethink hiring, development, and retention strategies. Keith an...2025-06-0429 min
Pioneers and PathfindersKeith Maziarek and Justin Ergler, Part IIWe're back with part two of our conversation with Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek, two sharp voices at the forefront of legal innovation and co-hosts of the Off the Clock podcast. In this second episode, we dig deeper into the forces driving legal transformation. We talk about what motivates real change in the industry, why managing change—not just demanding it—is key to moving the industry forward, and why culture is such a critical but often overlooked component of successful change management.
Whether you're inside a law firm or on the client side, this is a candid, practical look at t...2025-05-2131 minPioneers and PathfindersKeith Maziarek and Justin Ergler, Part IThis week, on Pioneers and Pathfinders, we're doing something a little different, with a special two-part conversation featuring Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek, co-hosts of the Off the Clock podcast and board members of the Legal Value Network. Now, you may remember Keith from a previous episode. He's the Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten Muchin Rosenman. Justin, a veteran of GlaxoSmithKline, now leads his own consulting practice focused on alternative fee arrangements and innovative legal service delivery.
In part one of our wide-ranging discussion, we talked about why this is a great time to enter the...2025-05-1433 min
Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)An Anthropologist in the Law Firm? Rethinking Legal Talent, Change and Progress in Law FirmsLVN 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 it is also a...2025-05-141h 02Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)Using a Holistic Approach to Adopt and Integrate Technology (LVN Board Members Keith Maziarek, Justin Ergler and David Cunningham (Reed Smith))In this episode Legal Value Network board members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler discuss innovation in the legal industry with David Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer at Reed Smith. They explore the challenges and benefits of adopting AI and technology, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that integrates various tools and processes. Cunningham highlights Reed Smith's strategy of leveraging existing models and working with both established and new companies to enhance legal services. They also discuss the significance of change management, data utilization, and the need for a clear roadmap to optimize business processes and client relationships.2025-03-2658 min
Legal Innovation Spotlight61 - The Business of Law: Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Profit with Keith MaziarekTed sits down with Keith Maziarek, Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, to discuss the evolving business of law and the challenges law firms face in balancing profitability, efficiency, and innovation. From the impact of the Big Four on legal services to the cultural resistance to technology adoption, Keith shares his expertise in strategic pricing and legal project management. As law firms navigate a rapidly changing market, this conversation sheds light on how legal professionals can embrace innovation, optimize financial strategies, and adapt to an increasingly business-driven industry.2025-03-2646 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Legal Work and Pricing (Conan Hines - Fried Frank)LVN Board Members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler discuss the integration of generative AI in legal services with Conan Hines, Director of Legal Technology at Fried Frank. They explore the challenges and ethical considerations of billing for AI-enhanced legal work, comparing it to traditional legal research costs. Hines highlights the potential for AI to streamline tasks, reduce costs, and improve efficiency, but notes the need for law firms to adapt their business models. They debate whether clients should bear the costs of AI investments and how law firms can communicate the value of AI to clients. The conversation also touches...2024-11-2058 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Live from LVNX 2024 Jennifer Leonard (Creative Lawyers), Laura Terrell (Executive Coach/Big Law Life) and Richard Jolly (Northwestern) in Conversation with Justin Ergler and Keith MaziarekIn this special episode of Off the Clock, recorded live at the 2024 LVNx conference in Chicago, Legal Value Network Board Members Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek engage in a dynamic discussion with three esteemed guests: Jennifer Leonard (founder of Creative Lawyers and Professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School), Laura Terrell (Executive Coach and host of the BigLaw Life Podcast) and Professor Richard Jolly (Northwestern). They delve into the transformative potential of AI in the legal profession, exploring its impact on creativity, lawyer development, and the future of law firms. 2024-10-101h 04Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)From Incremental Change to AI Revolution: Does Legal Face a Turning Point? (Jennifer Leonard-Founder, Creative Lawyers, Justin Ergler-J Ergler Consulting, Keith Maziarek-Katten)On this episode, LVN board members Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek welcome Jennifer Leonard, LVnX 2024 Keynote Speaker and founder of Creative Lawyers, for a candid discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing the modern legal profession. The trio delve into the potential disruption of AI, evolving client expectations, and the future of legal education. Jennifer also offers her perspectives on the business model implications of emerging technologies and how law firms can adapt to remain competitive. Jennifer, Keith and Justin also offer thoughts about fostering a culture of innovation and resilience within an organization, and how best to nav...2024-08-1357 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)On Career Transitions, Pricing and to Charge or Not to Charge for Project Management (Jessica Lim, Justin Ergler & Keith Maziarek)In this episode, LVN Board Members Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek have a chat with Jessica Lim, National Director, Practice Management, Disputes at Borden Ladner Gervais, located in Toronto. In typical fashion the conversation covers a number of topics, this time including the process of making career transitions, how to coach law firm partners to more effectively pitch clients for new business, and the age-old question of whether or not law firms can charge clients for legal project management services. 2024-07-1654 min
Pioneers and PathfindersKeith MaziarekKeith Maziarek joins us on the podcast today. Keith is Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten Muchin Rosenman. Keith entered the legal world as a Marketing and Communications Manager at the ABA, where he learned about working with lawyers, as well as the business side of the industry. He later went on to serve as a business development manager at DLA Piper. There, Keith began exploring pricing and profitability matters, eventually becoming the firm's first head of strategic pricing. He continued in this field at Perkins Coie, where he worked as Senior Director of Client Value. Today...2024-07-1033 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)On Legal Ops, Innovation and Pricing Today and Tomorrow, Ken Callander (Value Strategies) & Keith Maziarek (Katten)In this episode, LVN Board member Keith Maziarek catches up with Ken Callander from Value Strategies, a consultancy advising law firms, legal departments, and legal operations on pricing, relationship management, and client service delivery, among other areas. Keith and Ken discuss: The evolution and growth of the role of a legal operations professional and the role of younger, fast-growing tech companies in pushing for innovation in legal operations. The cultural differences between high-tech companies and established companies in terms of innovation and trying new ideas. The challenges faced by law firms due to their fragmented authority structure and...2024-05-3059 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)On the Current and Future State of the Law Firm/Client Relationship and the Impact of Tech on Legal Ops (Reese Arrowsmith-Campbell Soup Co. & Keith Maziarek-Katten/LVN Board Member)In the latest episode of Legal Value Network’s “Off the Clock” podcast, Keith Maziarek sits down with longtime friend and client legal ops veteran Reese Arrowsmith, VP and Head of Legal Operations at Campbell Soup Company to chat about a variety of topics. In particular, they discussed how the client/firm relationship will be impacted by the recent developments in technology. They also talk a bit about misaligned perceptions between law firms and legal departments, and what it takes to overcome those hurdles in decentralized organizations.2024-04-2352 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Melissa Gyure (Paul Hastings) & Keith Maziarek (Katten) on the Interplay of Legal Ops, Law Firms and PricingIn this episode, Keith Maziarek, an LVN board member and Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten, has an insightful conversation with Melissa Gyure, Director of Pricing at Paul Hastings. The pair discuss in-house legal operations and relationships with law firms. The duo discuss everything from pricing dynamics and risk mitigation to cost control.2024-03-0752 min
Big Law Life#4: Strategic Pricing That Works for Law Firms and Their Clients with Keith MaziarekIt's vital for legal professionals to comprehend the details of law firm economics and the impact they have on their success. In this episode of Big Law Life, I interview Keith Maziarek, Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten Muchin Rosenman, on how to maximize value for profitable service delivery. Keith has over 22 years of business management experience within the legal service industry and serves as a board member and officer of the Legal Value Network, a member-driven industry group dedicated to reshaping the legal service delivery model. Keith an...2024-01-2445 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Shawn Gross (Constangy), Justin Ergler (GSK) and Keith Maziarek (Katten) on the Intersection of Legal Project Management With Marketing & Finance and the Importance of Understandable Pricing Concepts LVN Board Members Justin Ergler (GSK) and Keith Maziarek (Katten), have a conversation with Shawn Gross, Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Constangy, about the evolution of pricing and legal project management roles and how they now intersect with marketing and finance. The trio also examine the importance of making financial and pricing concepts easy to understand and why showing calculations is important for transparency. They also delve into the importance of developing strong relationships with key players in law firms, especially rainmakers. 2023-12-0753 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Live Episode from LVNx With Gina Passarella, Greg Lambert, Justin Ergler and Keith MaziarekThis is a special episode recorded at the LVNx conference in Chicago and includes a conversation LVN board members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler had with LVNx keynote speaker Gina Passarella, SVP of Content from ALM Global, as well as Greg Lambert, one of the three original geeks from the Three Geeks and a Law Blog and host of “The Geek in Review Podcast” as well as being Chief Knowledge Services Officer Jackson Walker LLP. Topics discussed include Importance of succession planning and incentivizing partners to pass on their books of business Challenges in implementing change in la...2023-10-2051 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Marketing Strategies for Law Firms (Keith Maziarek (Katten), Justin Ergler (GSK) & Stefanie Marrone)In this episode, LVN Board Members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler are in conversation with Stefanie Marrone, who serves as a fractional and outsourced marketing director for law firms and professional services companies. The trio discuss the importance of a client-centered approach to differentiate law firms in a crowded market. Stefanie also explains the need for law firms to understand their clients' businesses and put the client first in communication and service delivery. She also recommends seeking client feedback, creating resources to help clients, anticipating and emphasizes the importance of fostering relationships with clients and referral sources. She also cautions...2023-07-281h 10
Fringe LegalUnlocking the Future of Legal Service Delivery: Insights from the LPPM SurveyIn this episode, our guests Brad Blickstein, David Cambria, and returning guest Keith Maziarek join host Ab to discuss the findings from the 3rd Legal Pricing and Project Management (LPMM) Survey Report. They delve into the key challenges and trends shaping the legal industry, touching upon innovation, technology, client expectations, and the future of legal service delivery. Tune in to explore the data and analysis from the report, as these experts share their perspectives on the current state and future of legal operations.Key discussion points:[00:02:16] The current state of law firm investments in in...2023-05-0341 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Using Data to Analyze Legal Pricing Dynamics (Keith Maziarek (Katten), Justin Ergler (GSK) & Nathan Cemenska (Wolters Kluwer)LVN board members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler talk to Nathan Cemenska, Director, Legal Operations and Industry Insights at Wolters Kluwer. The trio discuss pricing and negotiation dynamics between law firms and clients, with a focus on the use of data and alternative solutions such as insourcing and utilizing ALSPs. They also also touch on the factors driving legal rate increases.2023-04-241h 10Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)On Legal Teams Working With Finance Teams and the Importance of Creative Problem Solving With Laura Terrell (Executive Coach), Justin Ergler (GSK) and Keith Maziarek (Katten)Founding LVN board members Justin Ergler and Keith Maziarek reunite with Laura Terrell, a long-time lawyer turned executive coach. They discuss the history of their somewhat uncommon relationship and how it underscores the importance of collaboration and communication between legal teams and finance personnel. The trio also shares their experience working together on a fast-moving portfolio of matters and explains how trust and creative problem-solving were essential to their success.2023-03-161h 02Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)Live from LVNx (Keith Maziarek, Justin Ergler, Jae Um, Aaron Boersma & Mikhail Makarovsky)This episode was recorded live at the LVNx Conference in Chicago and is a conversation with LVN Board Members Keith Maziarek and Justin Ergler with multiple guests from across the legal ecosystem including Aaron Boersma, Mikhail Makarovsky and Jae Um. This dynamic conversation touched on a variety of provocative and timely topics such as the untapped potential benefits of client feedback, whether clients hire lawyers or firms and how they respond when a lawyer changes firms, and how to break the foolish discount shopping and annual rate increase cycle that distracts us all from focusing on value...2022-11-081h 07Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)Angela Floessel (MoFo) & Keith Maziarek (Katten/LVN) on Pricing Discipline, Project Management and Litigation FinanceLVN Board member and Katten’s Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management, Keith Maziarek, has a wide ranging conversation with Angela Floessel, Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Morrison & Foerster Discussion topics include why Angela made the jump to legal from private equity, why law firms need to be disciplined about legal pricing strategies, the importance of project management skills, why not every RFP is created equal and how she implemented a program at her firm to take advantage of litigation funding.2022-08-1854 minFringe LegalValue based pricing for law firms with Keith MaziarekLawyers and firms have long struggled to find the right way to price their services.The hourly billing model focuses on the amount of time spent on a matter, project, or case. This can often lead to inefficiencies and frustration for the lawyer and the client. Value based pricing is an alternative that takes into account the value of the service being provided rather than simply the time spent. It means that lawyers and firms are paid based on the results they achieve for their clients.The incentive becomes focused on getting better...2022-06-2137 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Professor Richard Jolly (Northwestern) & Keith Maziarek (Katten) on Legal Tech Adoption, Lawyers as Hedgehogs or Foxes and Why Narcissistic Personalities Help in the LawIn this episode, LVN Board Member and Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten, Keith Maziarek has a conversation with Professor Richard Jolly of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (also a principal at the Stokes and Jolly consultancy). The conversation is wide ranging touching on how lawyers are now more open to technology adoption, but still reticent because it is in their nature to be risk averse. Richard talks about his theory of hedgehogs and foxes in professional services (hedgehogs do one thing very well, while foxes are flexible and adapt to...2022-03-301h 04Off the Clock (Legal Value Network)Being Creative With Legal Pricing and How to Think About Legal Value with Bill Rudnick (GC Cresset Capital) & Keith Maziarek (Katten)LVN Board Member Keith Maziarek (Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten) and Chad Main (Percipient) talk to Bill Rudnick. Bill is General Counsel at Cresset Capital, a boutique private wealth management firm, and previously the managing partner of DLA Piper’s Chicago office, the firm’s second largest. The conversation focuses on creative and different ways of thinking about legal pricing and the value of legal services with the benefit of Bill’s uniquely well-rounded perspectives as a law firm lawyer and leader, a corporate general counsel, a J.D. and a M.B.A.2021-12-0954 min
The Geek In ReviewMatthew Coatney - The Human Cloud: The World of Projects and FreelancersMatthew Coatney, CIO at Thompson Hine, and author of The Human Cloud sits down and talks about what he sees as the transformation of how we work. According to Coatney, freelancing and project-based work (The Human Cloud) combined with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (The Machine Cloud) will soon disrupt the way we deliver work. Law firms will not be exempt from this disruption. Matters are really just projects. Contract attorneys are freelancers. According to some experts, 80% of work to be done by organizations in the 2030s will be project-based work. And AI and ML will eat into the o...2021-11-1134 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Keith Maziarek (Katten) & Greg Lambert (Jackson Walker) Talk Using APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) in LegalIn this episode of Legal Value Network’s Off the Clock Podcast, Keith Maziarek, LVN board member and Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management for Katten, talks with Greg Lambert, Chief Knowledge Services Officer for Jackson Walker and co-host of The Geek in Review podcast. The conversation touches on plans for upcoming LVN events and APIs (application programming interface). The discussion focuses on how APIs can be used to share data between legal tech applications to make better decisions about doing legal work and setting budgets.2021-11-0833 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Connie Brenton (NetApp) Keith Maziarek (Katten) on the Evolution of Legal Pricing Teams, Project Management & Opportunities to Improve Client CommunicationsConnie Brenton, VP, Law, Technology and Operations at NetApp and LVN Board member Keith Maziarek discuss the emergence of law firm pricing teams, the use of project management, and missed opportunities for communication between in-house legal teams and their law firms.2021-08-1251 minOff the Clock (Legal Value Network)Keith Maziarek (Katten) & Pratik Patel (Elevate Services) Discuss Legal Service Provider PartnershipsFounding LVM board member, Keith Maziarek, Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten, Pratik Patel Co Founder and Vice President, Innovation at law company Elevate Services and Chad Main, founder of Percipient talk about how the demand for legal services is changing and creating partnership opportunities for law firms and other allied legal service providers to better serve clients.2021-04-0752 min
Pricing MattersIts Evolution Not Revolution with Keith MaziarekKeith Maziarek is the Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he is responsible for building the firm’s formal pricing and legal project management functions.Prior to Katten, Keith served as Senior Director of Client Value for Perkins Coie LLP, working closely with the client legal operations executives to develop collaboration strategies to improve operational efficiencies. Keith’s career in strategic pricing began at DLA Piper LLP, where he built the firm’s strategic pricing, profitability, and legal project management functions as the firm’s first Head of Strategi...2020-01-2244 min
LMA Podcast2018 P3 Conference RecapEpisode: 34
Tune in as Purvi Sanghvi (Paul Hastings LLP) and Keith Maziarek (Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP)lead a number of panelists through their highlights from this year's P3 – The Practice Innovation Conference. The panelists share their key takeaways from the top-attended sessions, highlights of what was done differently this year, and much more.
Missed P3 this year? Visit https://www.legalmarketing.org/P3 to purchase the P3 Conference recordings bundle.2018-07-191h 04
LMA PodcastP3cast: Client EngagementEpisode: 10
In this episode of the LMA Podcast our P3cast series continues with Keith Maziarek (senior director of client value, Perkins Coie LLP) as he sits down with client engagement experts on both the law firm and client sides. Featured experts include Esther Bowers (director of client service initiatives, Barnes & Thornburg LLP), Ken Callander (managing principal, Value Strategies LLC), Mike Duffy (director of client services, King & Spalding), Lisa Konie (senior director of legal operations, Adobe Systems; Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) board member) and Tom Orrison (director of legal procurement, Microsoft Corporation). Listen as they discuss the basics of...2017-04-0455 min