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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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