Retaining Top Legal Talent in 2026: The Playbook by Karen Mesmer

Retaining top legal talent often feels like an uphill climb. Unless you have Karen Mesmer’s playbook. In this episode of Between the Briefs, Karen, Legal Services Manager at Shook, Hardy and Bacon, joins hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens to explore how premier litigation firms are evolving their operations in the face of technological disruption. Drawing on nearly four decades of experience - from paralegal to operational strategist - Karen reveals the human-centered approach to hiring, staff development and technology adoption that sustains excellence in complex litigation environments. The legal industry is nothing without its people. So, it’s time we started paying attention to them.