Compliance by Design Podcast

Deal timelines are getting longer. Risk profiles are evolving mid-process. And regulatory and investor scrutiny is only increasing. In this episode of Compliance by Design, Laurence Baker speaks with Andrew Whittaker, Director of Legal at Precede Capital Partners, about how operating models must adapt when the deal you originate in month one is not the same deal you close in month six. As a real estate credit asset manager backed by private equity, Precede operates in an environment where underwriting discipline, regulatory compliance, and investor confidence all need to hold under extended timelines and shifting capital structures. The conversation explores: • Why efficiency in private markets is no longer just about speed • How elongating deal cycles change legal and compliance risk • The transition from startup “all hands on deck” to deliberate operating design • When outsourcing KYC and compliance strengthens governance rather than weakens it • How Precede approaches AI — investing internally where it defines competitive edge and partnering externally where it enhances reliability For General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers, and private markets leaders, this discussion offers a grounded look at how focus, specialist expertise, and disciplined operating models can become a competitive advantage at scale.

NDAs might not be the most glamorous part of private markets, but as deal timelines compress and AI becomes embedded in legal workflows, they are fast becoming one of the clearest signals of operational readiness. In this episode of Compliance by Design, Laurence Baker is joined by Walt Nichols, Managing Director of Contracts for the Americas, and Chrys Marincich, Co-Head of Contracts for EMEA/APAC, to unpack the rise of the “AI NDA” and what it reveals about how firms manage contracts at scale. What used to take weeks now happens in days. Speed is no longer a competitive advantage. It is the cost of entry. Against that backdrop, firms are seeing a surge in AI-related clauses, increasingly complex NDA playbooks, and a growing tension between risk aversion and deal momentum. The discussion explores how AI clauses are evolving, why early blanket restrictions often fail in practice, and how a more proportionate, outcome-focused approach can better protect sensitive information. Walt and Chrys also examine the weaponisation of NDAs, the rise of non-solicits and other restrictive terms, and why over-engineering contracts can slow deals and increase risk rather than reduce it.

Global compliance has never been more complex — or more business-critical. Yet even the best-intentioned programs often fall short. Policies exist, but aren’t followed. Processes slow deals down. Regional requirements clash. In this episode, we’ll explore what doesn’t work in compliance today — the pain points of running global programs under pressure — and contrast that with what leading firms like TowerBrook are doing differently. From embedding a genuine culture of compliance to leveraging technology intelligently, we’ll unpack how to move from box-ticking to business alignment. We’ll also look ahead to 2026: what’s changing, where the pressure points are shifting, and how compliance leaders can prepare for what’s next.

What does it really take to embed AI into a law firm? In this episode of Compliance by Design, Avantia COO Hannah Thompson joins host Laurence Baker to share the operational reality of building a tech-enabled law firm. From her journey as a litigator to leading operations, Hannah explains why traditional law firm models reward inefficiency, how lawyers actually respond to AI tools, and why trust and human judgment remain at the heart of legal services. We cover: • Why the billable hour is the enemy of innovation • How to overcome lawyer scepticism and drive adoption of AI • Turning messy legal processes into workflows ready for automation • The reality of AI in law today — and what the future holds

The legal AI market is buzzing with new tools — but how much of it is hype, and what’s actually working for legal teams? In this episode of Compliance by Design, Laurence sits down with Avantia’s CTO, Paul Gaskell (ex-BlackRock, Bloomberg), to unpack the state of play. They discuss why the first wave of AI “platforms” fell short, how legal teams should think in workflows not point solutions, and the three critical questions every GC and CCO should be asking their legal tech providers. Plus, Paul shares how Avantia built its own AI, Ava, to integrate directly into Word and Outlook — and why the future of AI might just involve rocks and octopuses.

In the first "Compliance by Design" episode, hosts PD and James Sutton welcome Rob Johnston of Lowenstein Sandler to discuss US AML compliance updates, focusing on the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and new FinCEN AML rules. Johnston explains the confusion and uncertainty for registered investment advisors under the Bank Secrecy Act, as the clock is counting down to the Jan 1 deadline. He advises asset managers to document processes and strengthen internal policies, especially for private transactions, and we discuss AI’s potential in compliance.