Legal Sector Resilience

Hosted by Legal News Wales

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Latest episode

Mar 2026

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About the show

Legal News Wales, with the help of our special guests, explore the tools, insight and processes that can help law firms in Wales become more resilient, competitive and operationally efficient - whatever the climate throws at us. From technology, wellbeing, pricing, compliance, marketing and leadership to recruitment and retention, this podcast covers it all and is ideal for SME legal practices, lawyers and professionals working in a law firm with an operational and / or leadership role. Visit legalnewswales.com for more information on. our news, insights, events and networks.

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25 recent

March 9, 2026Episode 446 min

A reality check: Transforming property transactions in Wales

Conveyancers in Wales have told Legal News Wales they want to see transformation in property transactions - and are keen to collaborate to progress. While the property sector in England seems to be moving slightly faster, we are aware of persistent myths around connectivity in Wales and perhaps a misunderstanding about what can be achieved today to help all stakeholders move forward, so we called in the experts. In this episode, our host, Emma Waddingham (Legal News Wales) speaks to Angela Hesketh, Head of Government and Public Affairs at PEXA, and Sally-Anne Skinner, CEO at Ogi - the connectivity specialists in Wales.They discussed why connectivity is not the blocker, and why it's important for conveyancers in Wales to join the pilot scheme to help build confidence fast.They discuss:• current state of Welsh connectivity and what it enables;• what PEXA does for funds, title and fraud control;• differences in England and Wales and why mindset matters;• costs, access routes and low-risk starting points for small firms;• digital identity as a near-term, high-impact change;• practical pilots: cash purchases, lender onboarding, evidence, and;• Legal News Wales' stakeholder engagement exercises: who needs to be at the table and why co-ordination wins.If you found this conversation useful, please subscribe and share it with your colleagues.You can also join our insights and events community at legalnewswales.com for more resources to help you build a resilient, future focused legal practiceFor more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

February 8, 202647 min

Watkins & Gunn, the law firm that puts people first

What does it really mean to embed wellbeing into a law firm — not as an initiative, but as a way of working?In this special Awards Winners episode of the Legal Sector Resilience Podcast, host and Legal News Wales Editor Emma Waddingham speaks with Watkins & Gunn, winners of the Wellbeing Strategy of the Year Award 2025, to explore how a values-led approach to wellbeing has become central to the firm’s culture, leadership and long-term success.Joining the conversation are Clive Thomas, Managing Director; Katie O’Connell, Solicitor and lead of the firm’s Wellness & Gunn initiative; and Emma Taylor, Solicitor and member of the wellbeing team.For Watkins & Gunn, wellbeing is not a reaction to pressure — it is a deliberate strategic choice.A model for the sectorThis episode offers practical insight for firms wondering how to move beyond wellbeing weeks and tick-box policies — and toward something more meaningful.Watkins & Gunn’s message is clear: start with values, listen deeply, share ownership, and pace change sustainably.For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

December 19, 202527 min

Legal Recruitment Resilience in Wales: Will 2026 be a reset year?

Welcome to the Legal Sector Resilience Podcast, brought to you by Legal News Wales. In this episode, Emma is joined by Karen Jones, Director at TSR Legal Recruitment, for their annual end-of-year conversation examining recruitment trends in Wales and what law firms and lawyers should be preparing for in the year ahead. As the sector looks towards 2026, they reflect on the challenges of skills shortages, changing candidate expectations, competition across regions, and the growing importance of culture, communication and long-term planning. To read our Reframing Recruitment Roundtable coverage - mentioned in the podcast, click here.The PodcastLegal News Wales Editor Emma Waddingham speaks with trusted voices from across the legal sector to explore what it really takes to build stronger, smarter and more sustainable legal practices in Wales. Each episode shares practical insight, lived experience and forward-thinking perspectives on leadership, growth, recruitment, technology, finance, compliance, culture, diversity, client care and more. Together, we look beyond short-term pressures to examine how law firms can build long-term resilience — not just for their businesses, but for their people, their clients and the communities they serve.For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

October 7, 202547 min

Growing a Welsh law firm with purpose: from strategy to success (Legal News Awards Special)

Awards don’t build resilient firms—clarity, culture, and client value do. This episode, our Host, Emma Waddingham, sat down with Managing Partner Fflur Jones and Partner Owen John at Darwin Gray Solicitors, winners of the Legal News Wales Business Growth Award 2025, to unpack how a simple, shared strategy powered 105% revenue growth for the law firm in two years, without losing the warmth that holds a team together. We explore the choices behind the law firm's rise: embracing Welsh identity and bilingual delivery, investing in SEO and public tenders to attract the right work, and expanding services where clients truly need support—from governance to wills and probate.We dig into the firm's North Wales story: how a commitment to local presence resulting in a strong commercial foothold, how partnerships with Bangor University and sector networks unlocked opportunity, and what’s changing across food and drink, manufacturing and infrastructure. Along the way, we get practical about value and excellence for cross‑border clients—why responsiveness, quality and fair pricing travel better than postcodes—and why Welsh language services are a strategic capability, not a marketing flourish.In order to understand how Darwin Gray attracted the attention of the Legal News Awards judges and showcased significant growth, Emma asked Fflur and Owen to share how the firm has utilised technology to support its business plans - such as AI in property workflows and the firm's trials with advanced tools like Thomson Reuters’ CoCounsel, plus the guardrails needed to protect data, train juniors, and preserve judgement. We also look at thought leadership as growth engine: the Governance Wales conferences, a pan‑Wales HR network, and how convening the right rooms leads to meaningful instructions. Through it all runs a theme of growth with purpose—using clear communication, CSR, and steady pacing to scale culture, not just headcount.Subscribe for more conversations on legal sector resilience, share this episode with a colleague who cares about sustainable growth, and leave a review to tell us how your law firm is adapting and what’s working for you right now.For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

October 2, 2025Episode 225 min

Making law commercial: a new era for legal costs

A merger driven by values, not vanity. We sit down with David Hughes, Martin Walsh, and Kathryn Huxter to reveal how KE Costs and Paramount Legal Costs became Peak Costs—and why a people-first, “professional but never corporate” approach can raise standards across legal costs work in Wales and beyond. From authentic culture to practical service design, this conversation explores how specialist support strengthens access to justice and helps firms stay resilient under pressure.We unpack the real reasons behind the merger—shared values, complementary niche strengths, and a belief that relationships beat transactions. The team lifts the lid on building a remote-first organisation with local presence, showing how flexibility lets them recruit the best people, stay close to clients across Wales, and deliver faster, sharper advice on everything from costs budgeting to recoveries and negotiations. We also dive into training and progression: in-person learning days, expert mentoring, and a forthcoming costs apprenticeship scheme designed to open the profession to people who choose it by design, not by accident.Expect candid reflections on risk, integration, and independence. The Peak Costs team explains how they kept quality front and centre, why they’re fiercely independent, and how collaboration across the costs community can push the field forward without diluting standards. For Welsh law firms navigating fixed recoverable costs, tight margins, and client care demands, this is a blueprint for using specialist costs expertise as strategic infrastructure—not an afterthought. Discover what Peak Costs means for your legal team. Visit peakcosts.comEnjoyed this conversation? Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

October 2, 2025Episode 144 min

Lessons from law firm leaders: mindset, people, & practical change

What if resilience in legal practices had less to do with software features and more to do with people, purpose, and small wins that stick? Our host, Emma Waddingham, sat down with Amy Bruce- host of the Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast and Head of Marketing at Osprey Approach —to unpack what SME firms actually do to grow stronger and smarter without burning out their teams or budgets.Amy draws on insights from the many podcast conversations she's had with operational leaders, consultants, and managing partners. We explore value-based pricing as a repeatable playbook for any change project, the quiet power of curiosity in legal sales, and why pioneer groups beat top‑down mandates when you need adoption. We talk culture that supports failing fast, not failing big—plus the practicalities of building momentum when time and resource feel tight. From thanking referrers to tracking introductions, from aligning partners around purpose and cashflow to making usability and training non‑negotiable, the through-line is clear: resilience comes from human systems that make smart use of technology.We also look ahead. Fractional expertise is rising as firms bring in seasoned project managers and compliance leads for critical moments. Osprey’s renewed focus on intuitive UX and unlimited training shows why usability outruns novelty. And yes, AI is on the table—but with a grounded approach: clean your data, define narrow use cases, set boundaries, and pilot where quality can be measured. Expect actionable takeaways, candid stories, and a simple challenge: pick one pain point, one pioneer group, and one outcome to prove progress this month.If this conversation helps you think differently about growth and change, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review. It helps more legal leaders find practical strategies to build resilient, future‑focused firms. To hear more from Amy and the Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast, visit https://ospreyapproach.com/empowering-law-firm-leaders/For more from Legal News Wales, visit legalnewswales.comFor more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

July 3, 2025Episode 1838 min

Digital property transactions - opportunities for Conveyancers in Wales

In this episode of the Legal Sector Resilience Podcast, Legal News Wales Editor, Emma Waddingham, is joined by Angela Hesketh, Head of Market Development at PEXA UK, to explore how digital innovation is transforming property transactions across England and Wales.PEXA UK, the pioneering platform behind the UK’s first fully digital property purchase, recently secured FCA authorisation and is preparing for its full market launch into sale and purchase transactions later this year. Angela shares her perspective as a dual-qualified conveyancer, discusses why this moment represents a pivotal shift for the profession, and explains how PEXA is working with regulators, industry bodies and law firms to create a more efficient, secure and collaborative property ecosystem.Together, Emma and Angela unpack:What PEXA’ UKs platform actually does and why it mattersThe lessons learned from Australia’s digital property transaction journeyHow Welsh conveyancers can engage early and shape the future of digital workflowsPractical considerations for firms navigating regulatory pressures, client expectations, and operational changeIf you want to understand what the next era of conveyancing will look like—and how to prepare your practice—this conversation is essential listening.🎧 Listen now and discover how you can get involved.For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

April 17, 2025Episode 1750 min

Conveyancing & The Messy Middle: The Real Problem Nobody's Talking About

What really keeps conveyancers working until 11 PM? Contrary to popular belief, it's not client onboarding or digital ID verification – it's the messy middle where communication between lawyers becomes a bottleneck. Peter Ambrose, founder of The Partnership and Legalito, cuts through the noise to expose the true pain points in property transactions.With 15 years of experience running a successful conveyancing firm alongside developing practical tech solutions, Peter offers a unique perspective on why so many technological innovations have failed to deliver meaningful change. "Nothing's changed in the last 10-15 years for conveyancers," he explains, "because most solutions target the wrong problems or demand universal adoption approaches that ignore how lawyers actually work".The conversation with Emma Waddingham, podcast host & Editor, Legal News Wales, tackles several myths head-on: that lawyers are uniquely resistant to change (they're not – all humans are), that technology should primarily make processes faster (it should reduce risk first), and that increased transparency might compromise legal work (it actually helps manage expectations). Peter shares how Legalito takes a "bridge-building" approach by structuring information without forcing lawyers to abandon their preferred working methods.This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in property transactions who's frustrated by the industry's current challenges. Whether you're a conveyancer seeking practical solutions, a firm leader weighing technology investments, or a property professional wanting to understand the bottlenecks, you'll gain valuable insights into how the sector can move forward without expecting lawyers to work unsustainable hours.Ready to see beyond the industry hype and focus on practical solutions? Listen now and discover how a more collaborative, transparent approach to legal technology could transform property transactions.For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

September 26, 202450 min

Legal Sector Resilience: Digital transformation for law firms

Join us as we aim to unlock the secrets of digital transformation for the legal sector, as our host Emma sits down with Myles Peart, Technical Director at Wales-grown NetSec. Myles sheds light on why digital transformation is not a one-size-fits-all process and the essential role of choosing the right partner to navigate this complex journey. You'll gain an understanding of NetSec's innovative approach and their collaboration with well-known brands, making this episode a must-listen for any ambitious legal practice eager to thrive in a tech-driven world.This episode also dives into the significance of data security, featuring insights on the role of a fractional Data Protection Officer (DPO) and the necessity of cyber awareness training for global expansion. Additionally, we navigate the intricacies of cloud migration, emphasising both security and cost considerations, and explore sustainable practices like using refurbished technology to reduce costs while maintaining operational efficiency. For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.

September 13, 2024Episode 1634 min

Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030 - opportunities for the Welsh legal sector

The Law Society's Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030’ paper, published in September 2024, highlights serious concerns around ‘legal deserts’, solicitor recruitment and crumbling court infrastructure in Wales, calling for the UK and Welsh Government to take urgent action.Our host, Emma Waddingham, Editor of Legal News Wales is joined by Eve Pifferetti, Head of Office in Wales and Partner in the Blake Morgan Commercial & Charities team, and a member of the National Board for Wales, to talk through the six key themes of the new paper: access to justice, courts, technology, devolution, the 2030 law firm and legal data. In the podcast, they explore these themes, the specific issues faced by solicitors and law firms in Wales, and their clients, and how the themes form the foundations of the Law Society Wales office campaigns and policy work to influence the Welsh and UK governments.To read the Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030 paper and for more information, click here.For more information and signposting, visit the insights section on legalnewswales.com and use the 'Legal Sector Resilience Podcast' filter.