RopesTalk

Hosted by Ropes & Gray LLP

Business News

Website RSS feed

Episodes

407

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

About the show

Ropes & Gray attorneys provide timely analysis on legal developments, court decisions and changes in legislation and regulations.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 20, 202637 min

Culture & Compliance Chronicles: Sleep, Science & Success—Unlocking Chronoleadership

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Camilla Kring, founder of Super Navigators. Camilla shares her journey and explores how biological rhythms shape productivity, well-being, and workplace culture. The conversation delves into the science of sleep, challenges myths about early rising, and highlights the risks of living out of sync with our internal clocks. Listeners will hear practical insights on fostering chrono-inclusive organizations, supporting diverse work rhythms, and creating healthier, more effective workplaces. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that offers actionable steps for leaders and teams to empower individuals and drive lasting impact.

April 15, 202631 min

Culture & Compliance Chronicles: Wonder, Creativity and the Power of Play - Inspiring Change in Compliance with Rebecca Mayfield

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by Rebecca Mayfield, group compliance director and senior legal counsel at Merlin Entertainments. Rebecca shares her unconventional career journey, her passion for creative and engaging compliance training, and her commitment to mentoring and giving back to underserved communities. The conversation explores how injecting curiosity, playfulness, and storytelling into ethics and compliance can drive real engagement and lasting impact. Listeners will hear practical insights on measuring success, building meaningful relationships, and empowering individuals to speak up. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that challenges traditional approaches and highlights the importance of fun, empathy, and imagination in compliance.

April 8, 202620 min

AI at Work – Drafting an Effective and Compliant AI Workplace Policy

In this second episode of AI at Work, Sophie Duffy, an employment associate, is joined by Jen Cormier and Greg Demers, partners in the employment practice, and Alyssa Clough Horton, a partner in the asset management practice, to discuss whether and how organizations should implement a dedicated workplace AI use policy.They explore the essentials of effective AI policies, including defining covered technologies, distinguishing between AI tools, and establishing governance. Key safeguards, regulatory developments, vendor diligence, and bias auditing are discussed, along with practical topics like AI transcription, employee disclosure, and role-specific training. Listeners gain actionable guidance for creating adaptable, compliant AI policies. The discussion highlights real-world challenges organizations face and offers strategies to integrate AI policies with existing compliance frameworks. Whether new to AI or refining current policies, this episode provides timely insights for navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

March 18, 202633 min

Culture & Compliance Chronicles: The Human Factor—Psychology and Cybersecurity in the Digital Age with Sarah Zheng

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad and Nitish Upadhyaya from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery, are joined by neuropsychologist Sarah Zheng to explore the human factor in cybersecurity. The conversation delves into the psychology behind hacking, the role of emotions and context in falling for scams, and the evolving risks posed by emerging technologies like AI and brain-computer interfaces. Sarah shares insights from her research at the Dawes Centre for Future Crime and her book, The Psychology of Cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of operational resilience and creative approaches to cyber awareness. Listeners will learn practical strategies for building a culture of psychological safety and reporting, as well as actionable steps to enhance organizational cyber resilience.

March 9, 202615 min

Okaying a Premium Problem: When Voluntary Benefits Become Involuntary Lawsuits

On this Ropes & Gray podcast, employment associate Kendall Dacey is joined by benefits consulting principals David Kirchner and Harvey Cotton to discuss a new twist on the relentless ERISA class action lawsuits targeting major employers—this time targeting both employers and their brokers—over voluntary benefit programs such as accident insurance, critical illness coverage, and hospital indemnity plans. The conversation explores how these lawsuits challenge long-held assumptions that voluntary benefits fall safely outside ERISA’s reach. If courts agree these plans are ERISA-covered, employers could face potential fiduciary liability for failing to prudently select insurance carriers and monitor broker commissions for reasonableness and brokers themselves are squarely in the crosshairs for allegedly prioritizing their own compensation over participants’ interests. The episode concludes with practical steps companies can take now to reduce their exposure before the next complaint lands.

February 23, 202632 min

Non-Financial Misconduct Miniseries: Episode 4 – The Impact of Toxic Culture on Hiring and Retention

On this final episode of Ropes & Gray’s Non‑Financial Misconduct Miniseries, Amanda Raad, co-leader of the firm’s crisis management and global risk practices, and Katie Daniels, director of ethics, compliance, and insights at R&G Insights Lab sit down with Jamie Browne, managing director at Leonid Group, a leading talent advisory firm specializing in corporate governance hiring. The trio share a candid conversation about how toxic workplace culture is now one of the biggest forces shaping hiring and retention, posing a very real attrition and reputational risk—as well as a financial risk due in part to the significant costs of re-hiring. Together, they unpack why culture has become a make‑or‑break factor for candidates, what companies are getting wrong, and the practical steps leaders should be taking to ensure hiring best practice, ongoing diligence and stronger post-hire monitoring.

February 19, 202616 min

Inside the House—Managing Risk to Drive Commercial Success (Part II)

On this Ropes & Gray podcast—the second in a two-part series venturing “inside the house” to draw on experiences and ideas—partner Amanda McGrady Morrison, global co-chair of the firm’s private capital transactions practice, and Katie Daniels, director of ethics, compliance, and insights at Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, former head of compliance for a global asset manager, rejoin Nitish Upadhyaya from the R&G Insights Lab for another in-depth discussion on the evolving role of legal and compliance leaders. The conversation explores how governance professionals can ask the right questions about AI deployment, data use, and risk management, emphasizing the importance of cross-functional collaboration and practical solutions. Amanda and Katie share insights from their in-house experiences, highlighting the need to translate rules into actionable strategies, foster strong relationships, and coach teams for effective risk mitigation. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on building trust, supporting business growth, and creating a healthy organizational culture in a rapidly changing environment.

February 18, 202632 min

Culture & Compliance Chronicles: Breaking Down Silos—Integrated Assurance in Compliance and Risk with Klaus Moosmayer

On this episode of Culture & Compliance Chronicles, Amanda Raad from Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab and Richard Bistrong of Front-Line Anti-Bribery are joined by Klaus Moosmayer, a distinguished leader in ethics, risk, and compliance, and a current member of the supervisory board of Deutsche Bank. The conversation delves into the importance of integrated assurance—breaking down organizational silos to foster collaboration across risk, compliance, strategy, HR, and legal functions. Klaus shares practical examples from his career, including how crisis moments can drive meaningful change and the value of crowdsourcing a code of ethics to truly engage employees. Behavioral science and its role in shaping ethical decision-making are highlighted, along with actionable insights for boards and compliance professionals. Tune in for fresh perspectives, real-world strategies, and inspiration to connect, innovate, and elevate compliance culture in your organization.

February 5, 202623 min

Inside the House—Managing Risk to Drive Commercial Success (Part I)

On this Ropes & Gray podcast—the first in a two-part series venturing “inside the house” to draw on experiences and ideas—partner Amanda McGrady Morrison, global co-chair of the firm’s private capital transactions practice, and Katie Daniels, director of ethics, compliance, and insights at Ropes & Gray’s Insights Lab, former head of compliance for a global asset manager, join Nitish Upadhyaya from the R&G Insights Lab for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of legal and compliance leaders. Drawing on their extensive experience, Amanda and Katie offer practical strategies for partnering with business teams to drive growth, manage risk, and build trust within global organizations, as valued commercial advisors. The discussion highlights how legal and compliance professionals can become valued advisors by building authentic relationships, deeply understanding business goals, and delivering consistently practical guidance. The episode also explores the importance of budgeting time to learn the business and staying connected to industry peers. Tune in for candid reflections, career tips, and a preview of next episode’s discussion on AI, governance, and client service.

February 4, 202610 min

Five Things Developers Should Remember about New State AI Laws in Health Care

On this Ropes & Gray podcast, health care partner Jamie Darch and associate Andrea Millard introduce the Health AI Atlas, a new online resource designed to help health care stakeholders navigate the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of state laws regulating artificial intelligence. The discussion focuses on the top five things developers in the health care sector need to know about compliance, including understanding which laws apply, implementing robust compliance programs, ongoing risk monitoring, regulatory reporting, and the potential penalties for non-compliance. Jamie and Andrea also highlight the importance of considering broader privacy statutes that impact automated decision-making and profiling, even when not explicitly labeled as AI laws. With enforcement expected to increase, developers are urged to stay informed and proactive in meeting these new obligations.