But, Is It Legal?

Can a law firm embrace private equity, acquisitions and ambitious growth without losing the culture that made it successful? In this episode of But Is It Legal?, host Simon Marshall sits down with Nick Taylor, CEO of Higgs LLP, to explore the firm’s evolution from a leading West Midlands practice into a private equity-backed, multi-regional law firm. Drawing on more than 25 years of M&A experience, Nick offers an honest account of external investment, law firm consolidation and the realities of building a modern, scalable legal business. 🎙️ 🔥 What's included: The Higgs “secret sauce”: why care, authenticity and strong relationships remain central to the firm’s culture and client experience. Why private equity?: the limitations of traditional partnership funding and why external investment offered Higgs a faster route to growth. Choosing the right investor: how Higgs assessed potential partners and why cultural alignment mattered as much as financial backing. The reality of the deal: Nick reflects on leading Higgs through an intense due diligence process and drawing on his own M&A background. Building a multi-regional firm: the strategy behind Higgs’ expansion beyond the West Midlands and its acquisitions in Scotland. Protecting culture through acquisitions: why Nick is “fiercely protective” of the Higgs identity and how the firm assesses potential acquisition targets. The consolidation of legal services: how regulation, recruitment pressures, technology costs and narrowing margins are reshaping the profession. AI and future growth: why technology could allow specialist firms to scale without increasing headcount at the same rate. 🎧 Why you should listen: If you want to understand what private equity investment really means for a law firm, this episode offers a commercially grounded view from someone leading the process. Nick explains how Higgs is combining legal excellence, operational discipline and ambitious growth while working to protect the culture at the heart of the business. 👉 Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that’s changing up the UK legal sector! ----- 👉 Follow Nick Taylor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-taylor-b27aa349/ Profile: https://www.higgsllp.co.uk/our-people/nick-taylor 👉 Follow Simon Marshall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpaulmarshall/ Website: www.tbdmarketing.co.uk

What does it really take to modernise a 110-year-old law firm, and what happens when the person leading it isn't a lawyer? In this episode of But is it Legal?, host Simon Marshall sits down with Ashton Hunt, CEO of Tees Law, to explore how one of the East of England's most established firms is transforming itself from the inside out. From agricultural heritage and deliberate strategic restraint to AI disruption and client experience, Ashton brings a commercial perspective to the challenges facing the legal profession right now. 🎙️ 🔥 What's included: From Stanley Tee to today: how 110+ years of agricultural heritage still shapes Tees culture and client relationships, and why that longevity is a genuine commercial asset. Strategic restraint: why Tees deliberately avoided opening in London and what it means to maximise what you've already built before chasing the next thing. The non-lawyer CEO advantage: how an accountant's mindset breaks bottlenecks, challenges "we've always done it this way" thinking, and treats law firm operations like a production line. R&D: robbing and duplicating: how Ashton applies lessons from Amazon, production-line efficiency, and cross-industry thinking to legal services. AI and the value of lawyers: "AI knows in a second what you've accumulated in 30 years. What's your value add?" why relationships and client experience become the true differentiator. Breaking down silos: the social investments, cross-referral culture and internal relationship-building that drive a 450-person firm. Big little firm to little big firm: Ashton's three-year vision to take Tees into the UK's top 50, and why he's confident they'll get there. 🎧 Why you should listen: If you want to understand how a deeply traditional law firm can genuinely transform its culture, client experience and ambition without losing what makes it great, this episode is essential. Ashton brings commercial honesty, sharp strategic thinking and a refreshingly outsider view of what the legal profession needs to do next. 👉 Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that’s changing up the UK legal sector! ----- 👉 Follow Ashton Hunt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhunt/ Profile: https://teeslaw.com/people/ashton-hunt/ 👉 Follow Simon Marshall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpaulmarshall/ Website: www.tbdmarketing.co.uk

What does it really take to lead the solicitors’ profession in 2025? In this episode of But is it Legal?, host Simon Marshall welcomes Mark Evans, the 181st President of the Law Society of England and Wales, to discuss the pressures facing high street firms, why solicitor wellbeing can no longer be ignored, and how the profession must become more open, representative and fit for the future. Mark also shares the personal story behind founding the legal running community LegalRunner. 🎙️   🔥 What's included: Why he wanted the presidency: using the role to make the profession more open and representative. Pressure points: regulation, compliance and financial strain on smaller firms. Get involved: Mark’s push to open up the Law Society so more solicitors can shape change. Why wellbeing is personal: the family experience that changed Mark’s view of health and work. Running through grief: how taking up running became a turning point in his own life. LegalRunner: why he founded a running community for the legal profession and why it helps people open up. A profession fit for the future: Mark’s themes of wellbeing, representation and long-term resilience. Practical advice for lawyers: protect your personal diary with the same discipline as your work one. 🎧 Why you should listen: If you want to understand where the legal profession is under the most pressure, and what needs to change to keep it strong, this episode is essential. Mark brings honesty, warmth and a grounded view of leadership, wellbeing and why the profession must work harder to support the people within it. 👉 Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that’s changing up the UK legal sector! ----- 👉 Follow Mark Evans LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-evans-57927917 Profile: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/about-us/our-governance/council-constituencies-and-current-members/mark-philip-evans 👉 Follow Simon Marshall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpaulmarshall/ Website: www.tbdmarketing.co.uk

Many firms talk “strategy”; few make space for it. In this episode of But is it Legal?, host Simon Marshall welcomes Jo Farmer (joint Managing Partner at Lewis Silkin) to discuss her playbook for modern firm leadership - pacing decisions, keeping close to clients, rolling out AI with courage, and killing off firm clichés.🎙️ 🔥 What's included: Leadership pace: when to slow decisions so better answers surface. Strategy vs ops: carving protected thinking time (and using it). Two at the top: how a joint MP model adds challenge, pace and accountability. AI that sticks: enterprise-wide Harvey rollout to build a learning culture. Beyond ROI: why judging AI too early misses the real win-capability. Next-gen growth: lower chargeable targets so associates learn BD, tech and pricing early. Differentiate or drift: retire tired taglines; speak to outcomes. Market moves: rise of super-boutiques as conflicts and economics bite. Visible leadership: consistent internal comms without chasing virality. 🎧 Why you should listen: If you want a candid, usable blueprint for leading a law firm, this episode is for you. Jo brings clarity, practicality and rare transparency on how decisions get made, and how the next generation is being built.   👉 Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that’s changing up the UK legal sector! ----- 👉 Follow Jo Farmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-farmer-3569b62/ Profile: https://www.lewissilkin.com/experts/jo-farmer 👉 Follow Simon Marshall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpaulmarshall/ Website: www.tbdmarketing.co.uk

Many lawyers lurk on LinkedIn, few turn it into real client work. In this episode of But is it Legal?, host Simon Marshall welcomes Pawel Sawicki (Bird & Bird) to discuss his playbook on using consistency, personality, and practical posts to build trust and generate new work. Pawel explains the simple steps that turns quiet views into DMs, and DMs into deals. 🎙️ 🔥 What's included: The pivot: moving from passive scrolling to a repeatable posting habit that compounds. Three content pillars: practical white-collar guidance, employer branding, and personal passions. Why “personal” wins: how human posts outperform technical posts and still lead to new work. DMs to deals: the charity-jersey post that turned into a whistleblowing engagement. Relationship hacks: meetings that start with shared interests (and end with trust). Cadence & engagement: 1–2 posts a week, weekdays vs weekends, and never post & ghost. For hesitant lawyers: play the long game: experiment, reply, comment, build community. Authenticity vs AI: being human is the edge; be kind is the rule. 🎧 Why you should listen: If you want a practical, repeatable ways to turn LinkedIn into a potential pipeline, this episode is for you. Pawel shares tactics, stories, and cadence that convert quiet readers into real clients. 👉 Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that’s changing up the UK legal sector! ----- 👉 Follow Pawel Sawicki Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawel-sawicki-bird/ Profile: https://www.twobirds.com/en/people/p/pawel-sawicki   ----- 👉 Follow Simon Marshall Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpaulmarshall/   Website: www.tbdmarketing.co.uk