Baretz+Brunelle | Podcast Interview With Guest Tom Greenaway

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 Tom Greenaway, principal of KPMG Law US. KPMG Law US is an alternative business structure law firm owned and operated within the KPMG network, focused on delivering legal services at scale through technology and managed services. Tom shares his career journey from serving as a trial attorney at the IRS to building a career at KPMG and now standing up one of the first Big Four-affiliated law firms in the United States.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Tom explains how KPMG Law US is positioning itself to meet growing client demand for legal services delivered at greater speed and scale. He discusses the firm’s investment in AI, its focus on managed services over traditional hourly billing, the role of multidisciplinary teams, and how the broader legal industry may evolve alongside hyperscale technology platforms.

Episode Highlights

• Building a Law Firm Inside a Global Network
  Tom describes what it means to launch a startup within KPMG’s global infrastructure. While KPMG Law US operates as a law firm, it benefits from the broader organization’s financial strength, technology investments, and international network, creating a platform designed to support scalable legal delivery.

• Lowering the Unit Cost of Legal Services
  A central theme of the conversation is reducing the unit cost of legal work. Rather than focusing solely on hourly billing, KPMG Law US emphasizes managed services models, where entire buckets of repeatable work are handled more efficiently through process and technology.
  
  
• AI Adoption as a Measurable Expectation
  Tom discusses KPMG’s early investment in AI tools, including firmwide access to Microsoft Copilot. Engagement with AI is tracked as a KPI, with the goal of automating repetitive tasks and freeing professionals to focus on higher-value analysis and client issues.
  
  
• Multidisciplinary Teams as a Competitive Advantage
  KPMG Law US leverages economists, data scientists, accountants, and lawyers in integrated teams. This flexibility allows the firm to respond to client needs across geographies and specialties while supporting increasingly complex, technology-driven business environments.
  
  
• The Shift Toward Hyperscale Technology Platforms
  Tom predicts greater convergence between legal services and major enterprise platforms like Microsoft, Google, ServiceNow, and Salesforce. He suggests that law firms will need to integrate more directly with these ecosystems as legal work becomes embedded within broader business technology environments.

VIEW ALL EPISODES OF THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT PODCAST

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.