Studio A

How Aderant Is Making Law Firms AI-Native Today

If you don't have your foot into AI for your legal tech yet, you need to ask yourself whether that's still a strategic move worth making. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Josiah Chaves, Chief Client Officer at Aderant, to unpack what Aderant 2030 means for the AI-native law firm. Josiah breaks down the vision behind Aderant becoming the legal back office operating system, what Stridyn and the new Harvey integration means for connecting the front and back office, and why the Aderant Agent Center is reshaping how firms manage their Work-To-Cash cycle. Tune in to hear why 97% of firms report Aderant's newest solutions already meet their expectations, what it actually means for a firm to be AI-native rather than just AI-everywhere, and why Josiah believes the firms still sitting on the sidelines should be nervous. Highlights: Aderant 2030: What it means for Aderant to become the legal back office operating system as law firms head into an AI-driven future AI-Native, Not AI-Everywhere: Why being AI-native means putting AI at the center of the firm rather than scattering it across every process Connecting Front and Back Office: How the new Harvey integration and Aderant's 300+ partner ecosystem create an unmatched client experience Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Josiah Chaves on why firms without their foot in the water should be nervous (00:59) Introducing Josiah Chaves, Chief Client Officer at Aderant (02:10) What Aderant 2030 means for the future of law firm operations (02:52) What an unmatched client experience actually looks like day to day (04:11) Why client experience became a product story built on trust (04:23) How Harvey and Aderant's 300+ partner ecosystem change what's possible (05:17) Sierra as the bridge to Stridyn and why the data layer matters (07:31) Inside the Aderant and Harvey integration connecting front and back office (08:26) New AI capabilities in iTimeKeep and the shift to outcome-based billing narratives (09:21) Advice for law firms still sitting on the sidelines (10:21) What actually defines the modern, AI-native law firm (11:53) What's next for the Aderant Agent Center

• Transcript

Dismantling The Silos Holding Law Firms Back

Technology doesn't transform law firms. People do. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Ben Starkie, President and CEO of AAC Consulting, for a conversation on what it actually takes to move law firms through transformation without breaking what works. Ben shares AAC’s consulting experience on navigating today’s technological changes in legal, why the biggest barrier to transformation isn't technology but the people and decision-making behind it, and how firms can align siloed operations into a unified ecosystem without forcing change faster than what people are ready for. Tune in to hear why Ben believes the next 10 years in legal will be defined by firms that learn to use AI as a tool for higher value work and navigate the change management that comes with it. Highlights: The Real Barrier To Change: Why getting partners aligned and decisions made is harder than any technical implementation and what AAC does to help firms move through it Siloed Operations To Unified Ecosystem: How law firms can bring Finance, IT, Legal Ops, and HR onto common ground without disrupting everything at once AI As A Tool Not A Threat: Why Ben believes defining guardrails is the first step to unlocking AI's real value and what that looks like for firms right now Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Ben Starkie, President and CEO of AAC Consulting (02:12) What 30 years of legal consulting reveals about industry transformation (02:59) The one thing every successful law firm has in common (03:54) Where law firms struggle most between ambition and execution (04:40) What builds long-term trust with law firms during fast change (05:49) How law firms can align fragmented operations toward a unified goal (06:59) Why forced change creates friction and how to manage it effectively (09:12) What will define the next 10 years of legal operations

• Transcript

How Law Firms Are Shifting From AI Experimentation To Operational Trust

Technology was treated as overhead for law firms for decades. Now, it is the growth lever. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Aisling Fenelon, Chief Revenue Officer at Aderant, to talk about the mindset shift happening across law firms worldwide. Aisling shares why AI conversations in law firms have shifted from curiosity to expectation to trust, and what it takes to build a revenue organization that can keep pace with the level of innovation happening inside Aderant right now. Tune in to hear why Aisling believes Aderant's stability, profitability, and long-term vision make it the most attractive option for law firms navigating one of the fastest periods of change the industry has ever seen. Highlights: From Software To Revenue Performance: Why law firms are finally asking whether their AI technology is a growth lever and what that mindset shift means for how they evaluate and invest in platforms like Aderant AI Has Moved From Curiosity To Trust: Why law firms are no longer asking if AI works and how they are now asking if it is auditable, scalable, and capable of delivering measurable outcomes Aderant’s Advantage: Why Aderant's stability and long-term vision are becoming a competitive differentiator in a landscape full of AI startups that may not exist in two years Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Aisling Fenelon, CRO at Aderant (01:26) How law firms are rethinking technology as a revenue performance investment (02:14) What firms are really buying when they choose Aderant (03:33) Where Aderant is seeing the most momentum and immediate value right now (05:32) How AI conversations have shifted from curiosity to trust and measurable outcomes (06:36) What it takes to build a revenue organization that keeps pace with rapid innovation (07:48) What it means to be the first woman CRO at Aderant (08:53) Advice for women looking to grow into executive roles in tech

• Transcript

What Happens When Law Firms Stop Flying Blind on AI?

You can't measure what you can't see. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Rob Stote, Chief Product Officer at BigHand, to talk about what operational visibility really means for law firms and why the firms that can see their data clearly are the ones making better, faster, and more confident decisions. Rob breaks down the difference between applied AI and foundational models, why speed without the right information leads to bad decisions, and why he believes AI is the fastest adopted technology he has seen in 25 years of working in legal. Tune in to hear why Rob believes open-mindedness is the single biggest factor separating the firms that will lead the next three to five years from the ones still catching up. Highlights: Operational Visibility: Why bringing metrics from billings and WIPs to the surface is the foundation for every strategic decision a law firm needs to make Applied AI vs Everything Else: Defining the difference between AI that is embedded in products and delivers measurable value versus AI that is just a buzzword Speed vs Informed Decisions: Why AI should be valued as a tool for informed decisions rather than just speed Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Rob Stote, Chief Product Officer at BigHand (02:41) Why operational visibility has become the defining issue for law firms (04:56) Where law firms can realize measurable AI value today (07:21) Why the billable hour is not going away but pricing models must shift (10:50) Why change management is the make or break moment for any AI tech rollout

• Transcript

How 8AM Builds A Trusted Foundation For AI-Driven Legal Finance

In a world where every firm has access to the same AI tools, the real differentiator is still the people behind them. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Nate Skinner, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer at 8am to talk about what trust and compliance really mean for law firms handling financial transactions at scale, why the human element matters more than ever in the age of Gen AI, and how 8am stays disciplined about applying AI to real problems rather than chasing industry hype. Tune in to hear why Nate believes the firms that get their foundations of trust, compliance, and cash flow are the ones best positioned to grow. Highlights: Trust As The Real Differentiator: Why the human element matters more than ever and what it means to earn client trust at scale in today’s age of Gen AI Closing The Work-To-Cash Loop: How the BillBlast and LawPay integration eliminates the manual gaps between sending a bill and receiving payment and what that means for compliance AI Where It Actually Helps: How 8am stays disciplined about applying AI to real customer problems rather than chasing every new model that drops Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Nate Skinner, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer at 8am (02:24) What trust actually means in legal finance and how AI is changing it (03:56) What processing $27 billion in payments reveals about law firm cash flow (05:16) How the BillBlast and LawPay integration closes the Work-To-Cash loop (06:23) Why next day payments unlock firm growth in ways most leaders don't expect (07:55) How AI agents processing invoices are creating a new accountability gap (09:58) Why billing and payments need to work as one connected system (11:04) Where GenAI is delivering real value in legal finance right now (12:49) How 8am stays disciplined about AI without chasing the hype (14:24) A real-life story and what trust really looks like beyond the product (15:55) Revenue, cost, and risk and why getting the foundation right comes first

• Transcript

Your Firm's AI Problem Isn't Efficiency. It's Automation.

Will Ayers sits down with Aderant SVP of Product Management and AI, Lisa Erickson for a deep dive in what agentic AI actually means for law firm operations. Lisa breaks down the limits of Work-To-Cash and how Aderant is fixing it, what the Aderant Agent Center means for firms ready to move beyond manual or basic AI processes, and why the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn't the technology itself but the people and behavioral change that has to come with it. Highlights: Addressing Work-To-Cash: Where the cycle is still disconnected and what Aderant is doing to make it truly end-to-end The Agent Center: What Aderant's new Agent Center is, how it works, and what the first three agents mean for firm operations Automation Over Efficiency: Why law firms aren't just asking for faster workflows, they want the burden removed entirely Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Lisa Erickson, SVP of Product Management and AI at Aderant (01:28) Where Work-To-Cash is broken and what Aderant is doing for it (03:02) What law firms are really asking for beyond efficiency (03:46) Real AI use cases already live inside Aderant's products today (05:54) Introducing the Aderant Agent Center and its first three agents (07:16) Why behavior change and internal champions matter more than the technology (08:07) Automation that removes work vs AI that augments decision making

• Transcript

Deeper Work, Not Faster Work: The AI Shift Law Firms Need to Make

In this episode of AI in Practice, Will Ayers sits down with Nicholas Wolter, Senior Director of Platform, Data and AI at Aderant, to break down what it actually takes to build an AI strategy that works for law firms. Nicholas shares how Stridyn evolved into a second brain for firms, why data cleanliness is the foundation on which every AI investment depends, and why the biggest win from AI isn't speed but the freedom to do harder, deeper work. Tune in to hear why the firms that get their data strategy right now are the ones that will be taking on more work that increases profitability over the next three to five years. Highlights: Deeper Work, Not Just Faster Work: Why AI's biggest impact isn't speed, it's unlocking higher quality work that wasn't possible before Data Cleanliness as a Foundation: Why slop in means slop out and what firms need to get right before any AI investment can deliver impactful results Aderant's Value: A spicy take on what Aderant's value should be in a crowded AI tool landscape and why being home-based matters more than being the flashiest tool. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Nicholas Wolter, Senior Director of Platform, Data and AI at Aderant (01:18) How Stridyn evolved from an analytics tool into a firm's second brain (02:53) What a unified platform makes possible for real-time intel (04:50) Deeper work, not just faster work — what that looks like in practice (06:20) Building AI systems that can evolve alongside fast-changing models (07:34) The spicy take on what Aderant's role should be in the AI landscape

• Transcript

Building the Operational Backbone of AI-Native Law Firms

Law firms in the 80s thought it would be reasonable to opt out of the then-new technology, email. AI is facing the same moment today. In this episode of State of Innovation, Will Ayers sits down with Aderant President and CEO Chris Cartrett on what it really means for law firms to lead in the age of AI. Chris shares Aderant's vision for the AI-native law firm, why the legal back office is the foundation of that transformation, and what hesitant firms risk by waiting. Tune in to hear why Chris believes AI in legal is the "opt out of email" moment of our generation, what Aderant 2030 looks like as a blueprint for the firms ready to lead, and how the shift from hours to outcomes is already happening on the ground. Highlights: The AI-Native Law Firm: What it actually means for a firm to go AI-native and why core legal workflows are about to change permanently Real Results, Right Now: From a 70% reduction in deductions to $14 million recovered for an Am Law 100 firm, firms are already winning today Leaning In: Why hesitation is the biggest risk of all and what it practically looks like to lean into AI transformation in 2026 Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Chris Cartrett, President and CEO at Aderant (03:17) Aderant 2030 and the AI-native law firm blueprint (04:22) What AI-native actually looks like day to day (05:51) Owning the operational backbone for top law firms worldwide (09:53) $14M in deductions, and where firms are winning right now (11:07) How executive visibility changes with real-time intelligence (14:29) Advice for firms still sitting on the fence (16:55) What leaning into AI looks like in 2026

• Transcript

Inside Michael Best’s Strategy for AI and Legal Innovation

AI is reshaping the legal industry, pushing firms to rethink leadership, innovation, and the traditional billable hour. As technology accelerates, law firms face a defining question. Will they simply adopt new tools, or transform how legal services are delivered? In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Jason Schultz, CIO at Michael Best, to explore what real transformation looks like inside a modern law firm. Jason explains how his team approaches innovation as a long-term strategy and why building capability across people, process, and technology matters more than chasing the latest AI tools. He also discusses how Michael Best is institutionalizing innovation through structured programs, cross-functional collaboration, and an AI center of excellence. From improving financial visibility across the work-to-cash cycle to managing the cultural side of change, Jason shares what it takes to turn technology investments into meaningful outcomes. Join Jason as he shares his perspective on trustworthy AI, leadership during rapid change, and why the future of law firms will belong to those willing to rethink their business model and how they deliver value to clients. Highlights: AI and the Billable Hour: Rethinking the Economics of Legal Services Institutionalizing Innovation: Building Long-Term Capability Inside Law Firms Trustworthy AI: Governance, Transparency, and Responsible Adoption Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Jason Schultz (00:46) The Future of the Billable Hour in the Age of AI (02:09) Leading Innovation and Technology at Michael Best (04:04) What Leadership Looks Like During Industry Transformation (08:20) The Difference Between Adopting Tools and Building Capability (13:27) Balancing AI Urgency with Operational Discipline (16:20) Why Data Foundations Matter for Legal Innovation (17:01) Modernizing the Work to Cash Cycle (19:44) Improving Financial Visibility Across the Firm (22:02) Data Driven Decision Making and Firm Investments (23:03) Building an AI Center of Excellence (26:00) Surface Automation Versus Embedded Intelligence (28:42) Trustworthy AI and Governance in Law Firms (32:01) Where AI Augments Lawyers and Where Humans Lead (35:00) Leading Change in a Traditionally Slow-Moving Industry (37:40) Preventing Innovation Fatigue (40:02) Signals That Transformation Is Working (43:03) The Future of Law Firms in the AI Era (49:01) Closing Thoughts and Key

• Transcript

From Pricing to Profitability & How To Stop Margin Leakage

For law firms, profitability is not just a reporting outcome. It’s shaped by decisions made throughout a matter's lifecycle. As AI changes how legal work is delivered, firms face a challenge. How do they ensure pricing intent translates into realized profit and cash? In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Richard Burcher, Founder of Virtual Pricing Director and VP of Pricing and Profitability at Aderant, to discuss why law firms do not have a pricing problem, but actually a pricing execution one. Richard explains how profitability leaks across the lifecycle of legal work through write-offs, poor time recording, scope creep, and billing adjustments. He also shares why pricing must be managed as an ongoing process, not treated as a one-time event at the start of a matter. The conversation also explores how work-to-cash connects pricing, execution, billing, and collection into a single discipline. Join Richard as he shares insights on margin discipline, value-based pricing, and why firms that professionalize pricing and profitability will be better positioned for the future. Highlights: Pricing Execution: Why Law Firms Lose Profit After the Price Is Set Profitability Leakage: Understanding the “Waterfall Discounting” Effect Work to Cash Discipline: Connecting Pricing, Execution, Billing, and Cash Outcomes Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Richard Burcher (00:36) Why Law Firms Distribute Cash, Not Revenue (03:05) Where Profitability Leaks Inside Law Firms (04:54) Why Write-Offs Have Become an Industry Expectation (06:36) Pricing as an Event Versus Pricing as a Managed Process (07:40) The Cultural Shift Required for Pricing Discipline (09:20) Why Commercial and Financial Literacy Matters for Partners (09:40) How Work to Cash Connects the Entire Matter Lifecycle (12:46) From Retrospective Reporting to Real-Time Profitability Insights (15:00) Why AI Is Transforming the Delivery Model of Legal Work (17:07) The Growing Pressure on the Traditional Billable Hour (18:20) Time Recording as a Management Tool Versus a Pricing Tool (20:00) Why Value Pricing Will Become Increasingly Important (22:40) Why Aderant Acquired Virtual Pricing Director (25:04) What Will Separate Winning Law Firms in Five Years (27:06) Where Managing Partners Should Start Improving Pricing Discipline

• Transcript

How Aderant’s Cloud Infrastructure and AI Drive Efficiency for Law Firms

AI and cloud technology are revolutionizing the legal industry, and law firms need to embrace these innovations to stay competitive. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Cody Walker, VP of Business of Law and Platform Engineering at Aderant, to discuss how Stridyn is driving Aderant’s cloud transformation and shaping the future of legal technology. Cody explains how Stridyn serves as the foundation for Aderant’s cloud applications, breaking down data silos and enabling seamless integration across products. He also zooms into how AI is enhancing firm-wide workflows, providing real-time insights, and enabling rapid innovation without complex upgrades. Join Cody as he shares his vision for the future of AI and cloud technology in law firms, and how Aderant is empowering firms to stay ahead of the curve. Highlights: Stridyn Framework: Revolutionizing Aderant’s Cloud Architecture AI-Powered Innovation: Enabling Smarter Legal Operations Across Products The Future of Law Firms: How AI and Cloud Technology Will Shape the Industry Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Cody Walker (01:31) Stridyn: The Foundation of Aderant’s Cloud Strategy (03:07) Unlocking AI Potential Across Legal Systems (05:32) Breaking Down Data Silos for Better Integration (07:08) Enabling Rapid Innovation with Seamless Adoption (08:42) The Future of AI and Cloud in Legal Practice (10:46) The Role of Trust in AI Development (12:08) Stridyn’s Data Plane and Autonomy in Legal Workflows (14:07) Why Data Foundations Matter More Than AI Models (16:46) Enabling Communication Across Systems (18:57) Governance, Permissions, and Client Trust (20:51) AI Without Disrupting User Workflows (22:35) The Importance of Native AI Integration (24:28) Balancing Autonomy and Human Involvement (26:10) Creating Long-Term Value with AI Innovation (27:19) Expert Sierra: Unlocking New Capabilities for Law Firms

How AI Is Reshaping Law Firms and Why 2026 Is the Year to Lean In.

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Aderant President and CEO Chris Cartrett for an in-depth discussion of the evolving landscape of legal technology. They discuss rapid advancements in AI and Aderant’s vision for the future of legal tech, including the role of AI in optimizing workflows. Chris also shares valuable insights on leadership during times of technological change and how Aderant is helping firms thrive in an increasingly digital world. Tune in to hear why embracing AI and cloud solutions is no longer optional for law firms, and what it takes to lead through transformation in the legal industry. Highlights: AI-Driven Transformation: Chris discusses how AI is reshaping legal workflows and why law firms must adopt these technologies to stay competitive Leading Through Change: Chris shares his insights on the leadership mindset required to navigate the rapid pace of technological change in the legal industry Aderant’s Vision for the Future: Chris reveals how Aderant is positioning itself to drive innovation and support law firms with AI and cloud-powered solutions

What 30 Years in Legal Tech Taught Me About the Future of Law

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers talks with LawNext Legal Technology Directory Co-founder Bob Ambrogi about how the relationship between the legal industry and technology has developed over the past 30 years. This conversation covers the rise of AI, the importance of founder mindset, and why legal firms thrive on innovation. Bob talks about LawNext and how it serves as a trusted hub for independent legal tech coverage. And finally, reflecting on the traits that separate thoughtful product builders from the rest. Learn why legal tech is now required and what it means to stay curious in a fast-moving environment. Highlights: Agentic AI: How automation is evolving from task-based to workflow-based solutions LawNext Origins: Bob explains how his work as a journalist shaped the platform Founders Who Last: Successful legal tech leaders from the rest Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Bob Ambrogi (01:28) Bob on blending journalism and law (03:36) The rise of agentic AI in legal workflows (05:10) What LawNext offers to the legal community (06:20) Favorite interviews and stories from the podcast (07:48) What makes great legal tech founders (09:36) How law firms should approach new technology (11:13) The role of podcasts in legal education (12:54) What keeps Bob excited about legal tech

The Untold Story of How AI Is Quietly Rebuilding Law Firms

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers welcomes back Cody Walker, Vice President of Cloud Development at Aderant, for a conversation on how to approach AI adoption with clarity and efficiency. Recorded at Momentum Global 2025 in Dallas, Cody outlines how solutions like Cloud AR, Cloud GL, and MADDI are integrated to simplify financial management, modernize back-office processes, and deliver end-to-end visibility. He explains how Stridyn and Aderant’s multi-agent AI framework creates new opportunities for law firms to align data, automate processes, and optimize the user experience. Hear how Aderant unifies systems, streamlines operations, and prepares law firms in this new era of technology. Highlights: AI Across the Suite: Learn how MADDI powers in-app help and real-time insights Financial Management in Focus: Explore how Cloud AR and Cloud GL support revenue capture The Stridyn Platform: See how data transparency enables stronger firm-wide decision making Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Cody Walker (01:21) How Cloud AR and Cloud GL work (02:26) MADDI as more than a chatbot (03:32) Stridyn powering next-generation legal technology (05:14) Connecting AI across third-party systems (07:41) Why a common data plane matters (11:55) What excites Cody most about MADDI

Why Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP Chose Aderant and Expert Sierra

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers speaks with Andrew DeBratto, Chief Information and Security Officer at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, about how they are navigating cloud adoption, security demands, and the fast-paced world of gen-AI. By shifting critical systems such as Aderant Sierra to the cloud and building internal safeguards around these tools, Andrew shares how his team balances innovation with operational stability. He also tells us about how client expectations are evolving, and why collaboration across finance, compliance, and IT is essential. Hear Andrew’s perspective on modernizing legal technology while keeping a focus on trust and reliability. Highlights: Cloud at Scale: Why Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP embraces a cloud-first approach Responsible AI: How training and guardrails prepare teams for new tools Client Value: New technology directly improves client service and transparency across the firm Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Andrew DeBratto (02:13) Planning for innovation in a cloud-first world (03:59) Opportunities for AI across legal and business teams (05:44) Overcoming fears of cloud migration in law firms (07:57) Why Aderant Sierra became a cloud-first priority (09:48) Building compliance and vendor trust for data security (13:14) Training teams for ethical use of generative A

Why Empathy Is the Most Powerful Tool in Legal Tech

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers speaks with Mike McKay, Vice President of R&D at Aderant, about how law firms and technology benefit from practicality. Drawing from his time at IBM and NCR, Mike shares how patents, empathy, and common sense shape the approach to building useful software for legal professionals. He explains how Aderant modernizes our products through a new data platform and integrations with Stridyn or Milana, as well as AI initiatives powered by MADDI and askMADDI. Hear how Aderant makes legal technology simpler, more consistent, and designed to scale alongside law firms. Highlights: Innovation in Action: Mike recalls patents and lessons that influence his work today MADDI and askMADDI: How Aderant implements AI across its product suite The Data Plane: Why holistic data access impacts legal technology Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Mike McKay (01:24) Patents that shape practical technology solutions (03:01) Building tech that matches law firm needs (04:04) Why empathy drives better software development (05:48) How MADDI and askMADDI operate (07:24) The power of Aderant’s new data plane (08:35) Making legal software easier to use (09:17) What’s next for VI and Milana

How Orchestrated AI Can Transform Every Law Firm

AI is reshaping how law firms work, but only if they know how to stay in control. In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers sits down with Lisa Erickson, SVP of Product Management and AI at Aderant, to discuss how law firms can move beyond basic automation and into orchestrated, AI-powered workflows. Lisa explains how AI agents increase productivity by connecting systems, teams, and processes, thereby creating more efficient, client-focused operations. She also shares how Aderant’s recent Hercules Legal Assets acquisition strengthens MADDI and advances timekeeping, OCG compliance, and AI capabilities across the Stridyn platform. Hear Lisa’s perspective on how firms can stay in control of AI adoption through strong data strategies and thoughtful policy decisions. Highlights: Beyond Automation: How AI agents connect workflows across the entire firm Data Strategy and Control: Why structure and scalability matter in AI adoption The Future of Legal Work: How Aderant’s innovations are shaping more innovative practices Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Lisa Erickson (01:20) From automation to orchestrated workflows (03:03) Breaking down silos with orchestrated AI systems (04:40) Keeping humans in control of AI (05:44) Measuring AI success beyond speed and KPIs (07:09) Inside Aderant’s Hercules Legal Assets acquisition (08:44) What’s next for AI in legal practice

The Hidden Friction Slowing Down Every Law Firm (And How to Fix It)

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers is joined by Nicholas Wolter, Senior Director of Applications Architecture at Aderant, to explore how Stridyn shapes a unified experience across the firm’s product portfolio. Recorded at Momentum Global 2025, Nicholas explains what “one Stridyn UI” is, from faster workflows to native applications. He also shares how real-time metrics are being built into the platform to surface issues and insights before they reach the help desk. Hear why the groundwork today sets the stage for rapid innovation in the year ahead. Highlights: One Experience Across Apps: How Stridyn eliminates context switching with shared actions Speed and Efficiency: What faster really looks like for attorneys in daily practice Real-Time Insight: How metrics give firms visibility and control at every step Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Nicholas Wolter (01:55) Leading applications architecture across the portfolio (02:57) What one Stridyn UI means for firms (04:36) Taking actions anywhere without leaving your screen (06:27) Real-time metrics that prevent hidden issues (08:24) Building momentum for Stridyn’s next breakthroughs

How Aderant is Using AI to Redefine Legal Tech

In this episode of Studio A, Will Ayers reconnects with Andy Hoyt, Chief Technology Officer at Aderant, for a conversation recorded live at Momentum Global 2025. Andy explains how MADDI has progressed from a rule-based engine into an Agentic AI system that continuously learns, automates complex workflows, and supports law firms with intelligent recommendations. He outlines the distinction between MADDI and askMADDI. Andy describes how the latter enables users to query their data, receive instant insights, and even troubleshoot in real time. The conversation also touches on responsible AI development, training models with curated firm data, and the role of user experience in driving adoption. Hear how Aderant is helping firms simplify operations with scalable, purpose-built AI. Highlights: askMADDI Unpacked: Andy breaks down how the interface delivers smarter answers and actions Responsible AI: Learn how Aderant is building secure, bias-aware, and trustworthy systems Smarter Workflows: See where automation is eliminating delays from billing to AR matching Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Andy Hoyt (02:29) Hype vs. reality in legal AI (04:33) Where AI truly helps law firms (06:24) What MADDI does and how it works (09:30) askMADDI's role in data insights (12:00) How to use AI to save on business costs (14:17) Building responsible and secure AI tools (20:56) Progress on Stridyn and unified UX

How Bold Idea Brings Tech Education to Underserved Students

In this episode of Studio A, we sit down with Robyn Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of Bold Idea, a nonprofit organization providing computer science education to underserved students in Dallas. Robyn shares her inspirations for starting Bold Idea and the impact of mentorship on young people. And why accessible, hands-on coding opportunities are essential for the next generation of innovators. We also talk about the crucial role of partnerships at the corporate and volunteer levels. Hear this conversation to learn about Bold Idea and how they help young minds find their way in tech, and also their careers. Highlights: Coding Clubs and Code Prep: After-school programs to make coding approachable for students Mentorship Matters: Connecting students with industry professionals to build confidence and career paths Breaking Barriers: Why bringing programs into schools is key for tech education Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Robyn Brown (01:29) The early experiences that shaped Bold Idea (02:58) Making coding fun and accessible for young learners (05:24) The role of mentors and corporate partners (08:06) Impact stories from students in the program (10:55) What’s next for Bold Idea and the future of coding education