Many law firms face the same challenges, but often lack opportunities to connect with similar firms, swap stories, ask tough questions, and share what's actually working.
That’s what we saw recently in Brisbane, when we hosted our File Notes Live dinner at Rothwells. We brought together law firm leaders, operations managers, and tech partners to dig into some of the most complex challenges facing the legal industry right now.
No stage. No sales pitches. Just a curious, ambitious group of people sharing what’s actually working in their firms.
What is File Notes Live?
File Notes Live is the real-world version of the File Notes podcast. Its a show about building better law firms. Each dinner brings together a curated group of legal leaders for open, off-the-record conversations.
In Brisbane, we gathered law firm leaders together to explore a big question: what actually makes a law firm future-ready?
Leading this discussion was Tony Bleasdale. For over two decades, Tony has been working with law firms across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, focusing on strategy, knowledge management, and improving legal business operations through innovation and leadership.
Three big questions we unpacked in Brisbane
Over dinner, Tony shared what it actually looks like to run a high-performing law firm. He answered some burning questions and offered insights you’d normally pay a consultant thousands for. Here’s what stood out:
What can Aussie firms learn from New Zealand’s AML rollout?
With Tranche 2 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation on the horizon, the time to act is now. Our guest speaker, Tony Bleasdale, shared his experiences helping firms navigate compliance and transformation.
His advice? Don’t underestimate how long it takes to get this right. In New Zealand, even the most organised firms took years to fully comply.
Start by assigning ownership and getting crystal clear on your intake and verification processes. But most importantly: don’t confuse tools for transformation. People first. Then policy. Then tech.
Need help figuring out where to begin? Verlata works with firms across the region to roll out compliance strategies, choose the right AML tools, and ensure your systems are working as they should.
How do you get your team to actually use the tech you invest in?
It’s a familiar pain point. You buy the right software, train the team, and… nothing changes.
On the night we asked guests if they'd rolled out any new tech in the past year. That opened the door to real talk about AML tools, Actionstep, VXT, and what actually helps them stick.
Paul Watson, Director of Berrill & Watson Lawyers, shared his experience rolling out new tech this year. Despite not being a “tech person,” he described VXT as straightforward to set up and genuinely impactful for his team, calling it “the best piece of technology for law firms” they’d implemented.
Tony’s perspective on tech rollout? Adoption doesn’t start with a tool, it starts with a shared purpose. Your people need to understand the why, not just the how.
Whether it’s Actionstep, VXT, BonVoyage or something else…if the team doesn’t see the benefit, you’re just adding noise.
The most successful firms create champions, build feedback loops, and show their team how tech can reduce friction, not add to it.
Is your firm already using Actionstep?
Watch our 3-minute demo below to see how VXT integrates with Actionstep, helping you sync contacts, transcribe and summarize calls, and track time without lifting a finger.
What does it take to attract and retain top legal talent?
Tony also shared insights from his work with values-driven firms involved in initiatives like So They Can, a non-profit that partners with law firms to drive social impact.
Purpose matters. Especially to the next generation of lawyers.
That message was echoed by VXT CEO Luke Campbell, who’s leading a company growing annual subscription revenue by 10% month-on-month. Luke shared how VXT approaches culture-building with moves like choosing your own hours, pay transparency and automatic 5% salary increases every six months.
Culture isn’t about perks and ping pong tables. It’s about clarity, trust, and showing your people that they matter.
Change starts with conversations like these
A big thank you to Tony for leading such a thoughtful discussion, and to everyone who came ready to share openly. Special thanks as well to our co-hosts at Verlata and Actionstep for helping create the kind of space where real progress can happen.
As guest Robyna May, Chief Information Officer at McInnes Wilson Lawyers puts it:
“It was a really lovely evening. The gift bag was generous, but the format and conversation were what made it special.”
Want to join the next File Notes Live?
We haven’t locked in our next city yet. Got somewhere in mind? Send me an email and let me know where you’d like us to host the next one.
If you’d like to be in the room for the next dinner, sign up to the File Notes newsletter below to be first to hear when invites go out.
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