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Esmarie Swanepoel is a prominent figure in the corporate services sector, currently serving as a Director and Head of Corporate & Immigration at Temple Corporate Services, a licensed management company in Mauritius.

Her role encompasses overseeing corporate governance and immigration matters, reflecting her expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments.

With a strong academic background, Esmarie has contributed to various research initiatives.

Esmarie is also recognised for her leadership within Temple Group, where she plays a significant role in corporate support services.

Her professional journey is marked by a commitment to enhancing corporate compliance and operational efficiency, making her a key player in the Mauritian business landscape

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Our Legal Unicorns podcast went from being a baby to a fully fledged, angry teen this year!!

At times we were the number 1 careers podcast on Apple, across 5 different African nations.

We have interviewed some of the best in the #law, #legaltech and #inhouse, all shaping the industry now, and in the future

Enjoy this wrap and turn the volume to 100!!!!!

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Our first returning Unicorn, Nikita Lalla, and this time, her co-founder Ric, have joined us to discuss the journey from start up in a garage to now 7 years old and a multi award winning law firm.

The big reason I wanted to talk to them about this incredible milestone is that there are many, tens of thousands, of attorneys on a similar path and its fantastic for those listeners to see how others have done it.

LnP Attorneys Beyond Legal is a prominent South African law firm specialising in the energy, natural resources, and infrastructure sectors.

Founded by Nikita Lalla and Ricardo Pillay, the firm has quickly established itself as a leader in providing innovative legal solutions tailored to the complexities of these industries, particularly within the African context.

LnP Beyond Legal focuses on delivering practical and insightful legal advice to companies, investors, and developers navigating the challenges and opportunities in Africa's energy sector.

The firm prides itself on its commitment to excellence and innovation, consistently evolving to meet the needs of its clients while maintaining a strong focus on budgetary constraints.

With a significant track record, LnP has handled over 250 projects valued at approximately R182 billion, showcasing its expertise and reliability in the field.

Nikita Lalla serves as the Chief Executive of LnP Beyond Legal. She is recognised as a leading construction lawyer, with extensive experience in managing large-scale projects across the energy and infrastructure sectors. Lalla has been awarded multiple accolades for her work and is noted for her ability to provide comprehensive legal support from project inception to completion. Her leadership has helped position LnP as a recipient of prestigious awards, including recognition as the **Specialist Law Firm of the Year** at the African Legal Awards 2023.

Ricardo Pillay, also a co-founder, plays a crucial role as a principal legal advisor. His expertise lies in anticipating potential conflicts in legal matters related to energy and natural resources, making him an invaluable asset to the firm. Under their leadership, LnP Beyond Legal has not only focused on legal excellence but has also championed diversity within the legal profession, being 100% black-owned and significantly female-owned.

Together, Lalla and Pillay have fostered a dynamic environment that emphasises both professional excellence and social responsibility, making LnP Beyond Legal a notable player in Africa's legal landscape.

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Another MUST listen for every Attorney in the world who cares about their career, their firm, and their future.

Wherever you are at in your career - this is an incredible guide to building a legal practice and then exiting.

We talk a lot about his newest book, From Dawn to Dusk: How to Build a Multimillion Dollar Law Practice and Then Give It Away. Which guides the reader through the steps to building your practice, and the difficulties of stepping away when its time to retire.

Douglas J. Wood is a distinguished lawyer and author with a prolific career spanning over four decades in the legal field. He is known for his expertise in criminal defence and advertising law, as well as for his contributions as an author.

Legal Career
Criminal Defence.
Douglas J. Wood began his legal career after being admitted to practice law in 1977. He initially served as a trial attorney with the District of Columbia Public Defender Service, where he handled a wide range of criminal cases, including serious felonies, from 1977 to 1984.

In 1985, he co-founded the litigation firm Roberts & Wood in Maryland, where he continues to represent clients in both state and federal courts. Over his career, Wood has conducted more than 50 jury trials in homicide cases alone and has been recognised as one of the top criminal defence attorneys in the D.C. metropolitan area.

Advertising Law
In addition to his criminal defence work, Wood has established himself as a leading authority in advertising law. He is a senior partner at Reed Smith LLP and has served as General Counsel to several prominent trade organisations, including the Association of National Advertisers.

His expertise has earned him recognition in prestigious legal rankings such as Chambers and The Best Lawyers in America.

Authorship
Douglas J. Wood is also an accomplished author with several notable publications:

- Legal Texts: He wrote "Please Be Ad-Vised: A Legal Reference Guide for the Advertising Executive," which is considered an essential resource for advertising professionals.
- Fatherly Advice: His books "101 Things I Want to Say to My Son/Daughter" provide personal insights and advice to his children.
- Fiction: Wood has authored the political thriller "Presidential Intentions," which explores the challenges faced by a woman running for president, as well as other novels like "Blood on the Bayou," which delves into crime and suspense.

Fiction
Blood on the Bayou (2022) - A thriller about a serial killer in New Orleans.
The Shakespeare Killer (2023) - A sequel to *Blood on the Bayou*.
Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete (2019) - A thriller focused on cyberwar and financial terrorism.
Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon (2020) - A thriller involving a geopolitical struggle for lunar resources.

Non-Fiction
Asshole Attorney: Memories, Musings, and Missteps in A 40-Year Career (2018) - A memoir that won the 2019 Independent Press Award for Best Humour and Wit.
Please Be Ad-Vised: A Legal Reference Guide for the Advertising Executive - Now in its seventh edition, this book is considered a crucial resource for advertising professionals.
101 Things I Want to Say to My Son/Daughter Series:
101 Things I Want to Say to My Son, Joshua, on Graduating College (2013)
101 Things I Want to Say to My Daughter, Meghan, on Beginning College (2013)
101 Things I Want to Say to My Daughter, Andrea, on Beginning Her Career (2013)
101 Things I'd Like to Say...the Collection: A Father's Advice to His Children on Reaching a Passage in Their Lives (2014)
From Dawn to Dusk: How to Build a Multimillion Dollar Law Practice and Then Give It Away (2024) - A guide for new lawyers on building a successful prac

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Derrick Kaufmann is a prominent South African lawyer, currently serving as the Co-Managing Partner for Africa and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Department at Andersen in South Africa.

With extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions, Kaufmann has developed a strong reputation in transactional law, international trade, and cross-border transactions. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Economic Law from the University of South Africa and has a robust educational background that includes a Bachelor of Commerce and an LLB.

His career spans various leadership positions, including his role as an Executive Director at First Republic Capital and as a founding partner at Kampel Kaufmann Inc. Kaufmann's contributions to the legal field have been recognised with accolades such as being named among the Best Lawyers in 2022, underscoring his influence and expertise in corporate law within the region

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A MUST listen for every Attorney in the world who cares about their career, their firm, and their future.

In this eye-opening episode, Legal Industry Analyst Jordan Furlong reveals how law firms can thrive in a tech-driven future by restructuring their business models and embracing AI, challenging the outdated billable hour system. Discover why the key to success lies in valuing client relationships and enhancing productivity through innovative approaches rather than merely adding more lawyers.

Full video episode available on youtube.com/legalunicorns and globallegalmarket.substack.com

We spend close to an hour discussing the following:

00:00 Intro to Jordan

03:20 We are already in the future

04:15 Every law firm can restructure to maximise their growth and revenues

05:30 The unit of lawyer

06:20 Understanding growth, the 3 dimensions of growth

07:20 Add capacity, not just more lawyers

08:50 The only recruiter in the world that says you don’t need to hire

10:10 The rise of AI Agents

12:05 Significantly increase productivity through tech

13:00 Law firms need to stop measuring hours

13:55 How are we best servicing our clients?

15:15 Some lawyers just can’t see past the billable hour

16:50 Uncertainty of value for the client has to stop

17:50 Productivity measurement is coming to law, whether they like it or not!

19:00 Selling the experience

20:00 Price the relationship

22:10 You are a business consultant

23:05 What does it mean to the client to lose time?

24:10 Billing by the hour undervalues your work

25:05 The lawyer will have to share the risk in the future

26:20 Jordan’s article

28:15 The value of communication, empathy, capacity, and productive = success

29:00 What do we tell law students?

31:00 In-House tech adoption is different across the world

33:00 AI is affordable…and incredibly necessary to all lawyers

36:00 The org chart, for a law firm of the future, is the Reverse Pyramid

37:00 The gig economy/fractional working impact on law firms and legal teams

Check out www.umbiie.com

38:30 The old leveraging model is dying

41:00 The most valuable skill is building relationships with clients

43:00 AI will be the new Trainer

43:30 You only need 5 clients - Check out www.umbiie.com

47:00 Final thoughts for Africa’s legal leaders and business owners

49:20 I am a catalyst for growth, for everyone

50:20 Catalyst for productivity

52:10 Thank you Jordan

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Exclusively available to our SubStack members. Legal Unicorns now has over 250k views and downloads in the last 40 episodes.

This time, Botswana is back in Focus.

So delighted that Rati Murwisi can join me, she’s fun, committed, engaging and really helping to shape legal services

From GRM

• One On One, Tailored, Career Coaching - https://mylegalcareer.podia.com/one-on-one-career-planning-global-legal-industry
• Take Control Of Your Legal Career - www.umbiie.com
• VIP's subscribe to hear of jobs, salary and bonus information before anyone else - globallegalmarket.substack.com

Don’t forget to drop a like and comment and SUBSCRIBE for more! Unicorns

Get in touch to be a guest.

For Legal Job news, contact the team on info@thegrmgroup.com Like, Subscribe,

Follow us on the socials

Connect with Legal Unicorns: https://linktr.ee/legalunicorns

Get in touch with Rob regarding your legal career today - rob@thegrmgroup.com

For more legal career insights, listen here - https://mylegalcareer.podia.com/

Know someone who you think is a legal unicorn? Get in touch with us - info@thegrmgroup.com

Send us a text

• One On One, Tailored, Career Coaching - https://mylegalcareer.podia.com/one-on-one-career-planning-global-legal-industry
• Take Control Of Your Legal Career - www.umbiie.com
• VIP's subscribe to hear of jobs, salary and bonus information before anyone else - globallegalmarket.substack.com

The next Unicorn is Rebecca Manoti whose journey is an exciting and inspiring one.

From committed student to Miss Tanzania to Attorney, to future philanthropist - Rebecca is going places.

Rebecca takes us through her dedicated approach to everything she puts her mind to, and her goals and aspirations within the borders of Tanzania and beyond.

Don’t forget to drop a like and comment and SUBSCRIBE for more! Unicorns

Get in touch to be a guest.

For Legal Job news, contact the team on info@thegrmgroup.com Like, Subscribe,

Follow us on the socials

Connect with Legal Unicorns: https://linktr.ee/legalunicorns

Get in touch with Rob regarding your legal career today - rob@thegrmgroup.com

For more legal career insights, listen here - https://mylegalcareer.podia.com/

Know someone who you think is a legal unicorn? Get in touch with us - info@thegrmgroup.com