Infogov Hot Seat

Hosted by Jim Merrifield

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the InfoGov Hot Seat. The show where Information Governance flips into Governed Intelligence, and data becomes your AI advantage. Each episode features candid interviews with leaders across information governance and the broader business and data ecosystem, including IG practitioners, consultants, and solution providers, plus Chief Data Officers, CIOs, CISOs, and CEOs across industries. We unpack what is changing right now in governance, risk, compliance, and data strategy, and turn it into practical insights you can apply. Expect real-world conversations on records and retention, privacy, security, eDiscovery, data quality, and AI readiness, with a focus on building trustworthy data foundations that reduce risk and create measurable advantage with AI.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 28, 2026Episode 1001 hr 2 min

Why Most Law Firms Fail at AI Adoption (And How to Fix It)

Episode 100 of InfoGov Hot Seat Live. Host Jim Merrifield and co-host Leigh Zidwick talk AI adoption in law firms with Donna O'Leary (Head of AI, New Code Ireland) and Zach Abramowitz (Founder, Killer Whale Strategies). In this episode: * Why "AI literacy" is replacing "AI training" — and what most firms got wrong the first time * The GPS/Waze analogy for how lawyers should (and shouldn't) trust AI * EU AI Act Article 4 and what it actually requires from law firms * Why security certifications (like ISO 9001) should come before you fall in love with a tool * Building a firm's "legal brain" — memory, institutional knowledge, and bespoke AI * Norm AI, Manifest OS, and whether AI-native firms are real competition for Big Law * The gap between AI ambition and organizational readiness * Information governance's role in the AI data explosion — shadow repositories, metadata, and cleanup Guests: Donna O'Leary — Head of AI, New Code Ireland Zach Abramowitz — Founder, Killer Whale Strategies, host of "Legally Disrupted" Sponsors: New Code AI, ILTA, NetDocuments 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with legal AI and info governance leaders. 💬 Drop your questions for future guests in the comments. #LegalAI #InfoGovernance #LegalTech #AIforLawyers #LawFirmInnovation

May 10, 2025Episode 7122 min

IGHS71 - Recap from the ARMA InfoNEXT Conference

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield is joined by Marina Kaganovich from Google and Jeffrey Sharer from Lexshift. They discuss their experiences at the InfoNext conference, focusing on the impact of Generative AI on information governance. The conversation explores real-world applications of GenAI, the future of AI in the workplace, and the importance of continuous learning in the evolving tech landscape. Both guests emphasize the need for professionals to adapt and leverage new technologies to enhance their careers and deliver better value to clients.

July 24, 2024Episode 3810 min

IGHS38 - The Future of AI in the Legal Tech Space

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews Tony Forde, the founder and CEO of FIT (Future in Tech). They discuss FIT's key differentiator in the market, which is their modular approach to selling governance software. Tony also highlights some of the specific features of their product, including a unique approach to mobility and a new build of their office product. They talk about their upcoming participation in ILTACON and the importance of peer networking in the legal tech space. The conversation ends with a discussion about AI and the future of technology in the legal industry.

September 12, 2025Episode 7813 min

Fourth Quarter: Culture Always Scores

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat Podcast, host Jim Merrifield and guest Kim Tran discuss the real compliance challenge, emphasizing that the key issues lie in people and culture rather than just policies and checklists. They explore why compliance efforts often fail, the disconnect between policies and organizational culture, and share real-world examples of compliance misalignment. The conversation concludes with actionable recommendations for fostering a culture that prioritizes compliance, highlighting the importance of communication and shared goals within organizations.

August 8, 2024Episode 4013 min

IGHS40 - Interview with ILTA President, Tony McKenna

Tony McKenna, President of ILTA, discusses his role and what he's looking forward to at ILTACon24. He highlights the importance of education, networking, and working with global vendors in the legal sector. McKenna mentions the keynote speeches, G100 and G200 sessions, and the diverse range of vendors and startups at ILTACon. He also emphasizes the value of connecting with peers and business partners to discuss technology and improve back-office efficiency. McKenna encourages attendees to participate in the annual meeting of the association and provide feedback to the ILTA board members.

January 30, 2023Episode 213 min

IGHS2 - Interview with Kurt Thies, Gimmal

This episode features Kurt Thies, Vice President of Gimmal. Tune in to hear his answers to these 5 burning questions: What were your key takeaways from ILTACON 2022? What is the makeup of your internal team focused on governance software, specifically records management? What do you think is the key differentiator of your product versus the competition? What product features are you focused on and why? Where do you see the future state of the records management software market in the next 3 years?

April 24, 2025Episode 7016 min

IGHS70 - How StorX Network Ensures Data Privacy and Security

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield interviews Murphy John from StorX Networks. They discuss the innovative decentralized storage solutions offered by StorX, focusing on data privacy, security, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional cloud storage providers. Murphy shares insights into real-world applications of StorX technology across various sectors, including Web3, IoT, and AI, and highlights the company's future plans for growth and integration with other technologies.

January 31, 2024Episode 2313 min

IGHS23 - Kate Wertime, Jones Day

SUMMARY In this episode, host Jim Merrifield interviews Kate Wertime from Jones Day about information governance (IG) and its importance in today's data-driven world. Kate shares her background in systems analysis and librarianship, as well as her experience in records management and legal. They discuss the concept of IG, common misconceptions about it, and a case study where effective IG made a significant difference in a company's operations and risk management. They also explore the role of AI and machine learning in IG and the challenges of data ownership and collaboration. The episode concludes with Kate's final thoughts on IG. TAKEAWAYS Information governance (IG) manages an organization's information through its lifecycle and ensures access controls, confidentiality, legal holds, compliance, and knowledge sharing. IG is not just records management rebranded; it encompasses a broader range of responsibilities and considerations. Effective IG can make a significant difference in a company's operations and risk management, as demonstrated by a case study involving data movement monitoring. Practitioners in the field of IG should focus on understanding the aspects of AI and machine learning that relate to data repositories, data security, and client data protection.

June 7, 2026Episode 9812 min

AI-Driven Information Governance: Inside the ARMA Federal Summit with Will Talbot (Laserfiche)

In this live episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat , host Jim Merrifield (Chief Data Officer, Robinson+Cole) sits down with Will Talbot , Manager of Enterprise Sales at Laserfiche , direct from the ARMA Federal Summit in Reston, Virginia. With over 12 years of experience in records and information management, Will dives deep into the biggest challenge facing federal records officers today: overcoming user resistance and making compliance seamless. He shares how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is completely transforming the Information Governance (IG) landscape—shifting the burden away from manual metadata entry and towards powerful, natural language automation. The Evolution of Laserfiche: From translating microfiche to laser discs 50 years ago to pioneering modern, paperless cloud enterprise content management (ECM). AI as an IG Game Changer: How generative AI and intelligent software agents allow users to manage, classify, and audit millions of records effortlessly using natural language commands. Streamlining Compliance & Transparency: Overcoming the risk of "shelfware" by prioritizing user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to boost organizational adoption. The Value Formula: A look at how combining Data + Information + Records ultimately equals core business value. “The easier you can make it for people to manage their records, the more likely they are to actually do it and maintain compliance.” — Will Talbot Learn more about Laserfiche: Laserfiche Official Website

January 8, 2025Episode 6018 min

IGHS60 - AI, Data Governance, and the Future: Insights from Box CEO Aaron Levie

In this conversation, Jim Merrifield interviews Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box, discussing the evolution of Box, the importance of information governance, and the transformative role of AI in data management. Levie emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt their data architectures to leverage AI effectively, the emergence of AI agents tailored to specific roles, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment. He expresses optimism about future innovations and the necessity of maintaining organized data to fully benefit from AI advancements.