General counsel at a Premier League football club: Fulham FC’s Peter Limbert on multimillion-pound transfers, sell-ons and staying calm in football’s chaos
In this episode, we sit down with Peter Limbert, general counsel at Fulham Football Club, to explore what it really means to be the top lawyer at a Premier League football club. From leading transfer negotiations to protecting the club's brand and navigating ever-evolving regulations, Peter shares a rare look into one of the most complex in-house legal roles in the sports industry.Peter discusses the intricacies of player transfers - including how deals are structured, what can go wrong, and why payment provisions and sell-on clauses are among the most hotly contested parts of any agreement. He also breaks down the legal considerations behind shirt sponsorships, brand partnerships, and stadium development, as well as how Fulham enforces its intellectual property rights around the globe.We also dive into the personal side of the job: how Peter transitioned from aspiring professional footballer to City litigator to Fulham’s first GC, and why he believes staying calm under pressure is the most underrated skill in sports law. He opens up about the realities of working in a highly competitive, emotionally charged environment - where results on the pitch can shape the legal department's week.Whether you're an in-house lawyer, a sports law enthusiast, or just curious how Premier League clubs really operate behind the scenes, this is an unmissable conversation with someone at the heart of it all.Chapters00:40 From Football to Law: Peter's Journey05:09 Transitioning to Fulham FC: The In-House Experience08:13 The Role of Legal in Football: A Day in the Life11:45 Navigating Legal Challenges in Premier League Football16:27 Broadcasting Rights and Sponsorship: Revenue Streams26:21 Understanding Player Transfers: The Legal Process29:31 Jurisdiction and Legal Framework in Football Transfers31:41 Mitigating Risks in Transfer Agreements34:00 Funding and Financial Structures of Transfers35:52 Challenges in Negotiating Transfer Agreements38:03 The Role and Power of Agents in Transfers39:38 Understanding Transfer Deadline Dynamics44:14 The Evolving Landscape of Sports Law46:31 The Premier League: A Thriving Product48:37 Qualities of a Successful In-House Lawyer49:46 Advice for Aspiring Sports Lawyers51:35 Key Contract Clauses in Sports Law52:32 The Importance of Pragmatism in Sports Law54:41 Recommended Reading for Sports LawyersAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/
--------
47:15
The lawyer behind the biggest class action in British legal history: Tom Goodhead on building Pogust Goodhead and its $550m bet to take on the global litigation elite
In this conversation, we speak with Tom Goodhead, managing partner of Pogust Goodhead, one of the UK's fastest-growing litigation firms.Tom shares the extraordinary story behind the firm’s rise - from his early days as a junior barrister handling slip-and-trip cases in Tesco to leading the largest class action in British legal history against mining giant BHP. Speaking from Rio de Janeiro, Tom describes how a chance meeting with a Brazilian lawyer fighting for 6,000 fishermen turned into a sprawling international legal battle, ultimately securing a $550 million litigation funding deal with US hedge fund Gramercy.He explains how Pogust Goodhead built the infrastructure to service tens of thousands of claimants across continents, why managing mass litigation is more like running a political campaign than a law firm, and how his team has gone head-to-head with a roster of elite firms including Slaughter and May, White & Case and Herbert Smith Freehills.Tom also discusses how he thinks about litigation funding conflicts, what it takes to maintain trust with funders, and how Pogust Goodhead is using an innovative synthetic equity scheme to incentivise its lawyers to bet on the firm’s success. He shares his broader vision for the future: building a global claimant-side powerhouse capable of challenging corporate giants the way Kirkland & Ellis or Quinn Emanuel have dominated commercial defence work.Chapters 00:50 Introduction to the BHP Case02:08 The Journey to the Case06:01 Client Management in Class Actions10:16 The Scale of the Environmental Disaster14:00 Commercial Stakes and Legal Strategies18:01 Litigation Funding and Financial Strategies23:59 Challenges and Restructuring Decisions30:03 Transformative Legal Battles: The BHP Case34:25 Navigating Conflicts with Litigation Funders41:16 Impact of PACCAR on the Funding Industry47:05 Attracting and Retaining Legal Talent56:08 Vision for the Future of Pogust GoodheadAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is the media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/
--------
59:18
How I built Definely: ex-Freshfields lawyer Nnamdi Emelifeonwu on building one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech companies
In this episode, we speak with Nnamdi Emelifeonwu, a former Freshfields associate and now co-founder of Definely - one of the UK’s most exciting legal tech companies. Nnamdi traces his journey building a legal career at a Magic Circle firm and ultimately leaving it all behind to solve a problem he first encountered while working alongside his visually impaired colleague Feargus MacDaeid who would become his co-founder.Nnamdi shares the story of how he and Feargus turned an initial prototype into a Microsoft Word plug-in - and eventually a fast-growing platform now used by over 100 corporate customers like BT and JPMorgan, and law firm giants including A&O Shearman, Cravath and Milbank.He discusses the steep learning curve of becoming a founder without a technical background, the early product iterations and how the startup found its first champions at firms like A&O and clients like Deloitte. He also opens up about the realities of startup life: fundraising, cash flow pressure, making hiring mistakes, and learning to let go of perfectionism - particularly as a lawyer-turned-founder.With Definely now backed by $7 million in Series A funding from Octopus Ventures and expanding into the US, Nnamdi reflects on the changing role of lawyers in the age of AI and why the future of the profession depends on embracing legal tech. He also offers candid advice for lawyers considering a move into entrepreneurship, including the importance of resilience, self-belief and maintaining a growth mindset.Chapters00:45 Journey into Law: Early Influences and Aspirations03:29 Training at Freshfields: The Big Law Experience06:23 The Birth of Definely: Identifying a Problem09:29 Building the First Prototype: A Solution for Accessibility12:38 From Idea to Startup: The Entrepreneurial Leap15:26 Securing Initial Funding: The First Angel Investment18:38 Developing the Product: Iteration and Feedback21:35 Gaining Traction: Signing First Customers23:34 Navigating Early Challenges: Building Relationships with Clients26:25 Leveraging Legal Expertise: Understanding User Needs29:57 The Importance of Fundraising in Entrepreneurship34:36 Shifting Mindsets: From Lawyer to Entrepreneur36:55 Evolution of the Product: From Definitions to Comprehensive Solutions39:20 Business Model and Customer Base: Focusing on B2B42:21 Growth Metrics and Future Vision44:18 Navigating Competition in Legal Tech49:02 The Role of AI in the Future of Law52:49 Challenges and Advice for Transitioning to Legal Tech55:40 Learning from Mistakes: Hiring and Industry InsightsAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is an email newsletter and media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/
--------
59:40
How to win the commercial law game: ex-RPC boss Jonathan Watmough on leadership, strategy and why most lawyers miss the point
This is a conversation with Jonathan Watmough. Jonathan became managing partner of City firm RPC at just 38. Over the next decade, he repositioned it through the global financial crisis, a shifting legal market and the rise of aggressive lateral hiring. He stepped down in 2016, and has since worn several hats: performance coach, consultant and most recently, non-executive chair of the newly independent litigation specialist Rosenblatt.He recently published ‘How to Thrive in a Commercial Law Firm’, a book gaining traction among mid-career lawyers and law firm leaders and which is all about helping lawyers make the most of their careers. In this conversation, Jonathan shares his journey from an accidental lawyer to a managing partner at RPC, discussing the challenges and opportunities within the legal profession. He emphasises the importance of differentiation, leadership, and understanding client needs. He also highlights the significance of emotional intelligence and relationship-building in achieving success in law. He provides insights from his book, and offers practical advice for junior lawyers on navigating their careers and finding their fit within the world of commercial law.Chapters00:40 Introduction to Jonathan 03:42 The Accidental Lawyer06:31 Navigating the Legal Landscape09:29 Opportunities in Crisis12:35 Leadership Lessons from RPC15:37 Role at Rosenblatt and Lessons for Listed Firms18:47 The Future of Law Firms21:38 Insights from 'How to Thrive in a Commercial Law Firm'32:53 The Importance of Commercial Awareness in Law40:12 Transitioning from Lawyer to Business Person47:22 Work-Life Balance in Legal Careers55:17 Future Client Needs and Career AdviceAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is an email newsletter and media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/
--------
1:02:06
What lawyers really want from AI: ex-Freshfields lawyer turned legal tech leader on what we’re getting wrong
Today, we speak with Jack Shepherd. Jack started out as a restructuring lawyer at Freshfields before moving into legal tech via the firm’s in-house innovation team. He now works at iManage - the US-based legal tech company behind the document management system used by most major law firms.Jack is a well-known voice in the legal tech space and a regular speaker at industry conferences. He often takes a refreshingly contrarian view on AI - not for the sake of it, but because, having been a practising lawyer, he actually understands how lawyers work day-to-day.In this conversation, Jack shares insights on the evolving landscape of legal AI and technology. He discusses his transition from practising law to working in legal tech, emphasising the importance of understanding the pain points of lawyers and how technology can address these issues. Jack critiques the current hype around AI, advocating for a more practical approach that focuses on enhancing the legal profession rather than replacing it. He also highlights the significance of project management skills in law, the ROI of legal AI tools and offers advice for lawyers looking to transition into legal tech. The discussion ends with thoughts on future-proofing legal careers and the traits of successful junior lawyers.Chapters00:50 From Lawyer to Legal Tech 03:33 Understanding Legal AI: Current Landscape06:20 The Role of AI in Legal Work09:25 AI's Impact on Junior Lawyers12:19 Identifying Pain Points in Legal Practice15:25 The Future of Law Firms and SaaS18:40 iManage: Revolutionising Document Management27:46 Cultural Challenges in Legal Tech Adoption28:27 Understanding ROI in Legal AI Tools31:18 Strategic Technology Procurement in Law Firms34:41 The Role of AI in Law Firm Marketing36:38 Innovative Legal AI Tools to Watch40:19 Future-Proofing Legal Careers40:43 Advice for Lawyers Transitioning to Legal Tech44:08 Traits of Successful Lawyers49:25 Recommended Reads for Legal ProfessionalsAbout Non-BillableNon-Billable is an email newsletter and media company for modern legal professionals, brought to you by a small team of former City lawyers and finance professionals.Visit our website: https://www.nonbillable.co.uk/
The Non-Billable Podcast takes UK legal professionals beyond the billable hour, bringing you interviews with top lawyers, law firm leaders, industry experts and legal tech innovators to uncover actionable insights on the business of law, career growth and the future of the industry.
Hosted by Oliver Attinger, a former finance lawyer at a leading City law firm with in-house experience at an investment bank - now asking the questions he wished he had when he was practising.
Brought to you by Non-Billable, the go-to newsletter for City lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals.
Polska