A leader who built his career on high-stakes investigations shares how those experiences now shape the culture, standards, and direction of a top litigation firm.

Matthew L. Schwartz, Chair of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, joins Chris Batz and Howard Rosenberg to talk about what it takes to lead a litigation-first firm without losing the sharpness that defines its work. He reflects on a decade in the Southern District of New York, where cases tied to General Motors, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the fallout from Bernie Madoff shaped his views on judgment, clarity, and what clients actually want from their lawyers.

Matthew explains why the firm gives young lawyers real responsibility early on and why senior lawyers thrive with the autonomy to build their practices without heavy bureaucracy. He also digs into the decisions that matter most right now: where to grow, how to align with client needs, and what pressures like AI, rising litigation costs, and outside capital mean for a disputes-only practice.

The conversation circles back to a central question for any leader in high-stakes litigation: how do you build a firm where people think boldly, act with integrity, and stay committed to excellence when the pressure is highest? Matthew makes the case that culture, mentorship, and trust still carry the most weight.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Matthew L. Schwartz's Path From Federal Prosecutor to Firm Chair

06:05 Lessons From High-Profile Cases and Complex Investigations

12:02 How Boies Schiller Flexner LLP Develops and Retains Top Legal Talent

15:01 AI, Technology, and the Future of Litigation

18:03 Private Equity and the Changing Law Firm Model

24:04 Mentorship and Developing the Next Generation of Trial Lawyers

29:45 Personal Insights and Matthew's Outlook on the Future of Law

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The legal industry is racing toward new business models, and Trisha Rich offers a grounded view of what that shift actually requires.

As a partner at Holland & Knight and a professor at New York University School of Law, she works at the center of the conversations driving MSO growth, ABS experimentation, and rising interest from Private Equity. Firms want support, investors want a foothold, and everyone wants clarity on where the ethical lines sit. Trisha argues that the answers are far less mysterious than people think. Independence, fee structures, and client protection still define the boundaries, and decades of opinions already show how to navigate them.

She also speaks to the momentum behind this moment. AI pressure, shifting talent expectations, and a clear push for stronger business models have created an environment where MSO and ABS structures feel less experimental and more inevitable. Her perspective invites firms to ask sharper questions: what kind of growth makes sense, which investments matter most, and how do you protect the heart of the profession while modernizing it? The conversation offers a clear read on a fast-evolving space and a thoughtful look at how regulation and innovation shape each other inside modern legal practice.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The MSO and ABS Shift in the Legal Industry

04:26 How Rule 5.4 Shapes Modern Law Firm Models

11:19 Historical Precedent That Explains Today's MSO Boom

21:27 Law Firms, Business Strategy, and the Push for Scale

26:19 Why Private Equity Now Targets Legal Services

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What happens when a 300-year-old law firm builds its future on client-led growth, global collaboration, and a culture that actually holds up across 29 offices?

Laura Cameron, Global Managing Partner of Pinsent Masons, shares how she won a contested election with a vision rooted in people, purpose, and progress. She explains why growth only works when clients lead the way, how culture becomes a selection tool, and why she tests every new hire for "chemistry" before skill. The conversation cuts through leadership theory to reveal what it really means to run a global firm, balancing expansion with consistency, and ambition with care.

Can a firm that old still move with agility? And how does a leader stay grounded while steering across continents and time zones? Laura answers both with candor, humor, and the kind of insight that makes longevity look anything but traditional.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Global Leadership at Pinsent Masons

02:47 Laura Cameron's Journey from Litigator to Managing Partner

10:14 Building a Unified Culture Across 29 Offices

14:02 The Future of Law: AI, Technology, and Private Capital

17:06 Leadership Advice for Aspiring Law Firm Partners

18:36 Geopolitical Risks and Global Operations

25:43 Why Pinsent Masons Is Expanding in China

27:13 The Future of the Legal Sector

Connect with Laura Cameron:

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Laura's Web Bio

Connect with Howard Rosenberg:

Connect with Howard on LinkedIn

Howard's Company Web Profile

Connect with Chris Batz:

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Follow Columbus Street on LinkedIn

Columbus Street Website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm