CL Talk

Law firm culture suffers when rock star bullies run the show

Sep 22, 2026

Law firms spend a lot of time writing about their culture. Laura Williams has spent more than 30 years watching what they actually do – and the gap between the two is where most of the damage happens. Williams is the managing partner of Williams HR Law LLP and CEO of Williams HR Consulting Inc. She has advised organizations across industries on HR law, workplace investigations, and culture recovery for over three decades. In this episode, she sits down with Canadian Lawyer Managing Editor Tim Wilbur to discuss the specific pressures law firms face, why high-revenue partners who bully their teams so often go unchallenged, what inclusive leadership actually looks like on a busy file, and the one habit she says is quietly eroding culture at firms across the country.  Williams will take part in the closing fireside chat on building competitive advantage through leadership and culture at the Canadian Legal Summit on October 14 at The Carlu in Toronto. Register now!