John Hutchinson, managing partner of top 100 law firm Broadfield, joins the podcast to discuss the firm’s transformation from BDB Pitmans into a tech-enabled, internationally focused mid-market player.

He explains the thinking behind the rebrand and the partnership with SHP, a subsidiary of Alvarez & Marsal, designed to support investment in technology, talent and global expansion.

He outlines how that relationship works in practice, with Broadfield remaining independent but gaining access to infrastructure, strategic insight and tools like Harvey. The goal is to build a more integrated, end-to-end platform for delivering legal services, while improving efficiency and client value.

Hutchinson also shares his perspective on private equity in law, arguing it works for some firms but isn’t the only model. Broadfield is instead focused on long-term growth, international reach and more "sensible pricing", moving beyond simply increasing hourly rates.

Looking ahead, the firm is targeting expansion across Europe and the the Middle East, with a focus on private capital and cross-border work. Hutchinson says success in today’s market will come down to combining technology, talent and a clear value proposition for clients.

The Non-Billable Podcast is sponsored by Legora. To find out more about Legora, visit: https://legora.com/

Today’s episode is also supported by Definely. To find out more about Definely, visit: https://www.definely.com/nonbillable

Chapters

00:01 Introduction

02:40 From BDB Pitmans to Broadfield: the rebrand and strategy shift

06:18 The Alvarez & Marsal connection and tech-driven model

09:55 Private equity in law firms: opportunity and limits

14:12 Building an international platform: US, Hong Kong and beyond

17:43 The mid-market squeeze and rethinking pricing models

22:09 AI, Harvey and the impact on law firm economics

24:21 Leadership, culture and managing rapid change

27:25 Hiring strategy and attracting the next generation of partners

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