🎙️ Belief, Balance & Boldness: Portia Thornhill on Leadership and AI at Elixirr

Lessons I Learned in Law

Season 8 of Lessons I Learned in Law continues in partnership with Wordsmith AI, the legal-AI platform built for in-house teams.

This week, Scott is joined by Portia Thornhill, General Counsel and Partner at Elixirr, the challenger consultancy competing with the Big Four. Portia shares her journey from nearly a decade at Allen & Overy to building a thriving in-house career that ultimately led to partnership an exceptional recognition for an in-house lawyer.

Her lessons are grounded in resilience and reinvention. She reflects on stepping away from private practice to focus on family, rebuilding confidence after five years out of work, and rediscovering her professional voice through roles at Johnson Matthey, Kambi, and now Elixirr. Portia also shares how mentorship, trust, and belief, both given and received, were key to her transition into leadership.

In her second lesson, she dives into how Elixirr integrates AI across legal and consulting functions, offering a pragmatic take on how lawyers can use technology to amplify, not replace, human insight. Finally, she explores the power of communication, self-awareness, and integrity in leadership skills honed through coaching, self-reflection, and a commitment to personal growth.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Wordsmith AI — visit https://wordsmith.ai

to learn more.

About Heriot Brown:
Heriot Brown is a leading global recruitment business specialising in the in-house legal market. We help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers by matching them with exceptional in-house opportunities, while fostering a thriving community of legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth.

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