Welcome to Esteemed Colleagues, where independent and new‑law practitioners talk candidly about the weird, liminal work of building a better future for legal practice in Australia.
Hosted by LexNova Guild co-founders Iolanthe Gabrie and Yule Guttenbeil, each episode features lively discussion with the smart and slightly unruly Guild members and friends who are leading the way to reshape how law is practiced, led and lived - from technology, pricing and small‑firm strategy, to culture, collegiality and sustainable careers.
Expect magic, mischief and a practical look at co-opetition in action.
Compassionate Strength: Kath Navarro on Building a Legal Practice That Looks Like You
“You should let people know who you are, so they know what they’re getting when they engage you.”
In this episode of Esteemed Colleagues, Iolanthe speaks with Kath Navarro (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-navarro-pepr/), principal of Brunswick-based PEPRlegal (https://www.peprlegal.com.au/).
Kath shares her unusual journey to solo practice, having worked mainly as in-house counsel and in government before setting up a legal consultancy working across planning, environment, projects and regulatory review. Determined to avoid being constrained to just one area of law, Kath set up PEPRlegal to reflect her own personality and approach to doing business, defying conventions to build a personal brand that’s joyful and authentic in an otherwise ‘blokey’ niche.
Iolanthe and Kath also take deep dives into some thorny legal subjects - trauma-informed practice, compassionate strength, and why you don’t have to be an arsehole to be effective. They also discuss motherhood in legal practice, why lawyers are often among the most creative people you’ll meet, and Kath’s magical adventure to fulfil a lifelong dream of climbing Machu Picchu on a visit to Peru.
Learn more about the LexNova Guild (https://www.lexnova.com.au/)
Learn more about Iolanthe (https://www.iolanthegabrie.com/) and her agency Ruby Assembly (https://www.rubyassembly.com.au/).
Connect with Yule on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yule.guttenbeil) and visit his practice Attune Legal (https://attune.legal/)
31 Aug 2026
Jailing Is Failing: Greg Barns SC on Justice, Reform, and Why ‘Tough on Crime’ Doesn’t Work
“This constant idea that if you send people to jail, they will reform is absurd.”
In this compelling episode of Esteemed Colleagues, Iolanthe and Yule are joined by Greg Barns SC (https://republicchambers.com.au/barrister/greg-barns-sc/): barrister, human-rights advocate, criminal-law reformer and, by Iolanthe’s reckoning, a welcome disruption to the legal profession’s peace of mind.
Prepare for a big, bracing conversation about the state of the criminal justice system: what it promises, what it delivers, and where it keeps producing the same harm with disturbing consistency.
Greg, Yule and Iolanthe explore the notion of ‘paying your debt to society’, whether juries genuinely represent an accused person’s peers, and the complicated work of balancing a fair trial with a less traumatic justice process. Greg argues that policy too often runs on fear, emotion and political theatre rather than evidence, and that high imprisonment and recidivism rates are a policy failure, not proof of success.
At its heart, this is a call for lawyers to reclaim their voice and speak clearly and courageously in public debates.
Find more of Greg’s work at the links below:
Law The Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/033PLxnUZcBegtERQRlZKR?si=b826bc43a3164719&nd=1&dlsi=311f31962e7c4e82) ,hosted by Greg with former Supreme Court judge Lex Lasry AM
Australian Lawyers Alliance (https://www.lawyersalliance.com.au/)
Justice Reform Initiative (https://www.justicereforminitiative.org.au/)
Tasmanian Prisoners Legal Service (https://www.facebook.com/plstas/)
Learn more about the LexNova Guild (https://www.lexnova.com.au/)
Learn more about Iolanthe (https://www.iolanthegabrie.com/) and her agency Ruby Assembly (https://www.rubyassembly.com.au/).
Connect with Yule on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yule.guttenbeil) and visit his practice Attune Legal (https://attune.legal/)
12 May 2026
From Stigma to Strength: Making Neurodivergence Visible in Law with Justine McKeogh
“There’s a very narrow idea of what a ‘good lawyer’ looks like.”
In this episode of Esteemed Colleagues, host Iolanthe Gabrie is joined by Occupational Therapist and Neurodivergent Coach Justine McKeogh of Annara Consulting (https://www.annara.com.au/), to explore what’s possible when law firms stop treating neurodivergence as a risk to be managed and begin to recognise it as a strategic strength.
Iolanthe and Justine discuss the relative prevalence of neurodivergence in the legal profession, and how the traits that make great lawyers often sit squarely in neurodivergent territory.
They unpack how stigma and risk aversion within firms can lead lawyers to ‘mask’ their neurodivergence, and look at the generation gap between senior partners’ and younger lawyers’ understanding of neurodiversity issues.
Iolanthe and Justine also talk about the simple, practical changes, both cultural and environmental, that can enhance performance for neurodivergent and neurotypical staff alike, and why inclusion is more than just a well-being issue.
Learn more about the LexNova Guild (https://www.lexnova.com.au/)
Learn about Communitas '26 (https://www.thecommunitas.com.au/), the legal event of the year in Hobart/Nipaluna, June 4-6 (tickets through Humanitix (https://events.humanitix.com/communitas26))
Learn more about Iolanthe (https://www.iolanthegabrie.com/) and her agency Ruby Assembly (https://www.rubyassembly.com.au/).
Connect with Yule on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yule.guttenbeil) and visit his practice Attune Legal (https://attune.legal/)
29 Apr 2026
Time Between Worlds: Dr Jason Fox on Liminal Leadership, Wyrd Work and New Law
“There’s a recognition that the current ways of doing things aren’t necessarily the ways that will carry us into the future.”
In this episode, Iolanthe is joined by Dr Jason Fox (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjasonfox/), wizard‑philosopher and closing keynote speaker at Communitas '26 (https://www.thecommunitas.com.au/), for a lively discussion of law’s current ‘time between worlds’, where old models no longer fit and the new ones aren’t yet clear.
Together, Iolanthe and Dr Fox (aka foxwizard (https://www.foxwizard.com/)) unpack the difference between ‘complex’ and ‘complicated’ systems, and the value of shifting from metrics and goal setting to the cultivation of conditions conducive to big picture outcomes. They also consider meaningful vs delusional progress, and why ‘doubling down’ on the familiar doesn’t move firms toward future relevance.
The conversation also explores the value of events as deliberate rituals of community, and how the right mix of people, ideas and intentionality can come together to spark inspiration.
Iolanthe and Jason champion the need for curious, quietly subversive leaders rather than experts with all the answers, and argue that some of the bravest work we can do is to question whether our daily activity still makes sense.
Learn more about the LexNova Guild (https://www.lexnova.com.au/)
Learn about Communitas '26 (https://www.thecommunitas.com.au/), the legal event of the year in Hobart/Nipaluna, June 4-6 (tickets through Humanitix (https://events.humanitix.com/communitas26))
Learn more about Iolanthe (https://www.iolanthegabrie.com/) and her agency Ruby Assembly (https://www.rubyassembly.com.au/).
Connect with Yule on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yule.guttenbeil) and visit his practice Attune Legal (https://attune.legal/)
22 Apr 2026
Small Law, Big AI: Building a Playbook That Actually Fits, with Talya Faigenbaum
“If AI helps us deliver better, more accessible and more sustainable services, then that's a good thing for us and a good thing for our clients.”
Welcome to the debut episode of Esteemed Colleagues, where LexNova Guild (https://www.lexnova.com.au/) co-founders Iolanthe Gabrie and Yule Guttenbeil are joined by Guild member Talya Faigenbaum, Managing Director and Principal Lawyer of Nest Legal (https://www.nestlegal.com.au/). In a frank and engaging discussion, confessed legal tech nerd Talya shares her insights on the future of small law firms in an AI-driven industry.
Their conversation explores intentionality in AI use and when ‘agility’ becomes an excuse for avoidance, why supervision remains an essential element of accountability, and the ethical considerations of AI in legal practice, particularly in regards to billing.
They also talk candidly about vendors treating small firms as paid beta testers, and explore the pros and cons of AI’s impact on access to justice. It’s a frank, plain-speaking episode filled with real world strategies for adopting AI responsibly.
Also mentioned in this episode: the Fitzroy Legal Service Law Handbook (https://www.thelawhandbook.org.au/)
Learn more about the LexNova Guild (https://www.lexnova.com.au/)
Learn about the legal event of the year, Communitas '26 (https://www.thecommunitas.com.au/) in Hobart/Nipaluna, June 4-6 (tickets through Humanitix (https://events.humanitix.com/communitas26))
Learn more about Iolanthe (https://www.iolanthegabrie.com/) and her agency Ruby Assembly (https://www.rubyassembly.com.au/).
Connect with Yule on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yule.guttenbeil) and visit his practice Attune Legal (https://attune.legal/)
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