Baretz+Brunelle | Podcast Interview With Guest Lorie Almon

In this episode of The Future Is Bright podcast, Howard Rosenberg, head of Talent Intelligence + Acquisitions at Baretz+Brunelle, and his co-host Chris Batz welcome Lorie Almon, chair and managing partner of Seyfarth Shaw, an AmLaw 100 firm with more than 1,000 lawyers across 17 offices globally. Seyfarth is widely known for its leadership in labor and employment law and its long-standing commitment to innovation. Lorie shares insights from her journey to becoming the firm’s first female chair and how she approaches leadership during a period of significant change in the legal industry.

On the podcast, Lorie discusses Seyfarth’s client-centric innovation strategy, the impact of generative AI on legal work, the importance of protecting firm culture amid lateral growth, and how law firms can position themselves for long-term resilience. Drawing on the Japanese art of kintsugi, she offers a framework for embracing disruption and building something stronger from it.

Episode Highlights

• Client-Centric Innovation at Scale
  Seyfarth’s innovation journey is rooted in continuous process improvement and a focus on delivering value as clients define it. Lorie explains how the firm evaluates tools, systems, and technology through the lens of client experience.

• The Human Role in an AI-Driven Profession
  Lorie offers a measured perspective on generative AI, noting that while routine work may shift, judgment, trust-building, persuasion, and helping clients navigate hard decisions remain uniquely human responsibilities.
  
  
• Kintsugi as a Leadership Framework
  Using the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold as a metaphor, Lorie describes how the legal profession can embrace moments of disruption and create something stronger rather than attempting to restore the past.
  
  
• Disciplined Lateral Growth
  Seyfarth prioritizes cultural alignment before evaluating the business opportunity. Lorie explains that no book of business is large enough to justify sacrificing firm culture.

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About the Podcast:
On The Future Is Bright, Howard Rosenberg and Chris Batz engage with thought-provoking C-suite executives and leaders from corporations, professional service firms, and the global legal industry. Each episode uncovers insights on leadership, innovation, and the evolving dynamics of the modern professional landscape.

You can subscribe to The Future is Bright Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and PodBean.