What happens when data, clients, and people finally connect?

In this episode, Rachel Shields Williams, Director of Client Intelligence at Sidley Austin LLP and incoming president of the Legal Marketing Association, shares how a lifelong instinct to “just help people” evolved into one of the most forward-thinking data roles in big law.

Rachel explains why chasing perfection kills progress, what law firms can learn from a family-run business, and how to balance short-term data wins with long-term strategic value. Plus: the critical importance of soft skills in innovation, the value of failure, and why today’s legal marketers need to become fluent in data or risk being left behind.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Rachel's career journey

(04:07) The origin of Rachel’s service mindset

(06:23) The role of data in law firms

(14:42) The importance of failing and learning

(20:11) Hiring for traits over titles

(26:13) The future of data analytics and AI

(30:10) Practical data wisdom for law firms

Connect with our guest:

• Rachel Shields Williams on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelshieldswilliams/
• Learn more about Sidley Austin LLP: https://www.sidley.com/

Connect with Tom:

• Tom Baldwin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombaldwin/
• Learn more about Entegrata: https://www.entegrata.com

What good is all that data if no one’s using it to take action?

In this episode, Evan Shenkman and Jennifer Mendez of Fisher Phillips break down what it really means to build a data-driven culture inside a law firm. They share how their team went from buzzwords to business impact: rolling out viral dashboards, tapping into firm-wide buy-in, and partnering with vendors to co-develop tools powered by GPT-4.

Evan and Jenn also get into the limitations of case prediction, what makes a “quick win” actually work, and why firms that obsess over the perfect model are often the ones stuck on the sidelines. Their advice? Start small. Stay close to the business. Build trust through results.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(02:05) Realizing the power of data

(02:29) Early data projects and external data

(05:26) Internal data utilization and COVID-19 tracker

(11:48) AI in law: early adoption and lessons learned

(15:06) Challenges in predictive analytics

(17:17) Data collection and management

(21:24) Common pitfalls in legal data projects

(23:37) Getting started with data in law firms

(24:08) Leveraging external data and APIs

(26:25) The power of third-party data

(27:02) Identifying high-impact projects

(28:21) Iterative development and quick wins

(32:02) Future of AI in legal practice

(38:16) Building AI competency and measuring success

Connect with our guests:

• Evan Shenkman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-shenkman-5445123/
• Jennifer Mendez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennperez/
• Learn more about Fisher Phillips: https://www.fisherphillips.com/

Connect with Tom:

• Tom Baldwin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombaldwin/
• Learn more about Entegrata: https://www.entegrata.com

You can’t manage what you’re not measuring.

In this episode, Robert Sartin, chairman of Frost Brown Todd, shares how his background in economics, finance, and distressed M&A led him to champion a data-forward strategy long before it became industry standard. He talks about why law firms can’t afford to delay their data journeys, what it takes to turn firm-wide strategy into execution, and how he built alignment around change in a partnership environment.

Robert also discusses the unexpected power of gamification in building a data culture, and how AI will reshape pricing, talent management, and long-term firm viability.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:09) From banking and M&A to law firm leadership

(04:33) Why Frost Brown Todd leaned into data

(07:47) Building a value proposition with data

(10:20) Why strategy without data won’t work

(13:12) AI’s impact on pricing and firm structure

(16:21) Building buy-in inside a law firm

(20:29) What Robert would do differently

(23:15) Leading cultural change with early wins

(25:56) Gamifying historical data entry

(28:06) Using data to integrate and grow teams

(33:20) The future of Frost Brown Todd

(34:44) Advice for law firm leaders just starting

Connect with our guest:

• Robert Sartin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sartin-a7278713/
• Learn more about Frost Brown Todd: https://frostbrowntodd.com/

Connect with Tom:

• Tom Baldwin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombaldwin/
• Learn more about Entegrata: https://www.entegrata.com