On The Merits cover art

On The Merits

On The Merits

By: Bloomberg Law
Listen for free

On The Merits takes you behind the scenes of the legal world and the inner workings of law firms. This podcast offers in-depth analysis on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the business of law and the legal industry overall. You'll gain insights into how the latest government actions, policies, and business developments are impacting the industry and hear from leading attorneys, legal scholars, industry experts, and our own team of journalists as they share their perspectives on the forces driving change.© 2026 Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved Economics Politics & Government
Episodes
  • When Winston Met Taylor: US-UK Firm's Chief Looks to Bridge Gaps

    When Winston Met Taylor: US-UK Firm's Chief Looks to Bridge Gaps
    Jul 30 2026
    "Culture" is a popular buzzword for law firm leaders describing in vague terms what sets them apart from their rivals. For Winston Taylor's Steve D'Amore, it's a key part of melding the two firms that combined in June in Big Law's latest transatlantic merger. "We put culture at the top of the list of things that were important to make sure we had right," D'Amore said on Bloomberg Law’s podcast, On The Merits. That includes blending US and European approaches to consensus building and urgency to attain "urgent collaboration" across the newly minted $1.75 billion firm, he said. Chicago's Winston & Strawn and UK firm Taylor Wessing hired BDO Global to analyze cultural compatibility before the merger was announced and brought the consultants back to look at pain points after completing the tie-up, D'Amore told Bloomberg Law reporter Roy Strom. Winston Taylor's leaders are also trying to bridge gaps on lawyer pay, client conflicts, practice group structures and AI tools. Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Baker McKenzie Head: Law Firm Billing Should Be Ready to Move On

    Baker McKenzie Head: Law Firm Billing Should Be Ready to Move On
    Jul 20 2026
    AI is changing the way the legal profession operates and everyone — lawyers, law firms, and especially clients — needs to look past the institution that is the billable hour, according to Baker McKenzie global chair Sunny Mann. “We all need to collectively move on in our thinking to get alternative fee arrangements working in the right way," he said on Bloomberg Law's On The Merits podcast. Mann spoke to Bloomberg Law reporter Roy Strom about how his firm is using AI to change its relationship with its clients, the role AI played in its recent layoffs of professional staff, and what it's like for him to lead a global law firm during a time when globalization may be on the wane. Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Sidley Leader Yvette Ostolaza Shares Growth Strategy

    Sidley Leader Yvette Ostolaza Shares Growth Strategy
    May 19 2026
    Sidley Austin LLP crossed $3.74 billion in revenue last year and has its sights set on $4 billion — but according to its top leader, the number is a byproduct, not the goal. The real question is whether the firm is built for what comes next. Today on On the Merits: Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley's management committee, sits down with Bloomberg Law reporter Meghan Tribe to discuss strategic lateral hiring, formal integration plans, and a willingness to pull back from practices and geographies that aren't growing. "There are no sacred cows," Ostolaza said. "We need to continue to evaluate how the industry is changing." She also weighed in on how Sidley is treating AI: not as a pilot project, but as core leadership infrastructure deployed across the firm with dedicated governance, training, and practice-group liaisons. "It doesn't replace judgment, it sharpens it," Ostolaza said.
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.