Insights from Scott Marmer: Building Bridges, Not Resistance, in Legal Transformation
- cosmonauts
- Oct 23
- 3 min read
We had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Marmer, former Associate General Counsel at Roku, who shared valuable insights on AI adoption and the ongoing automation transformation in legal operations.
With nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of commercial transactions and intellectual property, and a strong technical background in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University, Scott brings a rare blend of legal acumen and technological expertise.
He will join In-House Day at Future Lawyer USA for the panel discussion “The Legal Department of the Future: Tech-First or People-First?” - where he and other leading in-house professionals will explore how technology and human insight can coexist to shape the next generation of legal departments.
As a legal leader, how do you see AI and automation transforming legal work under your leadership?
AI gives lawyers a power tool instead of a hand saw. You can still cut wood with the saw, but why would you when the power tool gets you there faster and with less strain? For in-house teams, that means instant research on complex regulations, rapid issue-spotting in contracts, and smarter automation of routine requests.
Our business clients get faster, more tailored, and more user-friendly support, and our legal teams get time back. The real value is that lawyers can spend less energy on repetitive tasks and more on the complex, high-judgment issues where their expertise makes the biggest difference.
How do you suggest senior leaders can address and overcome resistance to change?
Start with empathy. Resistance isn’t a flaw - it’s a natural human reaction. Expect it, plan for it, and lean into understanding the concerns behind it. People want to feel heard. When you involve the right stakeholders early, consider their input, and give them the time and opportunity to shape what’s coming, you’ll find resistance softens into buy-in. Pair that with clarity and certainty: explain the “why” behind the change, break the process into clear and simple steps, and communicate consistently.
It’s like trying to get a team across a river. If you just point at the opposite bank and tell everyone to swim, you’ll lose half the group along the way. But if you explain there’s a smoother, faster way of working on the other side and you build a bridge together - with people helping place the planks - they’ll not only cross with you, they’ll feel proud of the journey.
In the end, change succeeds not because you pushed harder, but because people believed in where you were leading them.
What leadership qualities do you think will define the most effective legal leaders in the future?
Some qualities never go out of style: strategic thinking, sound judgment, courage, the ability to connect across the organization, and strong communication skills. Legal expertise, of course, will always be table stakes. But the future will also demand new capabilities. Legal leaders will need to harness technology, especially AI, to elevate their teams’ efficiency and impact. The expectation from business leadership will be clear: deliver even greater value with limited resources, and do so while guiding the company through unprecedented complexity.
I’m reminded of a story of the ship’s captain who said, “The compass and the stars will always guide me - but I’d be foolish to ignore the radar.” Technology won’t replace your timeless leadership traits, but it will help you navigate complexity faster and more safely. The most effective legal leaders will be those who combine the old navigation tools with the new.
What is your advice to junior lawyers on how to become successful? In your opinion, what new skills will in-house lawyers need for the future?
The fundamentals still matter most: provide excellent service, be responsive, understand the business, and deliver practical solutions that balance enabling growth with managing risk. Those skills have always separated the good from the great. Looking ahead, though, I expect in-house lawyers to function less as narrow specialists and more as broad legal problem solvers who can confidently tackle a wide range of challenges. AI will make deep subject-matter knowledge more accessible, so the differentiators will be your ability to ask the right questions, apply judgment, and integrate insights across disciplines. My advice: stay curious, embrace technology, and lean into challenges outside your comfort zone—that’s how you’ll stay relevant and thrive in the future.
Don’t miss out your chance to hear direct insights from Scott Marmer and other in-house experts at Future Lawyer USA, October 29-30. Reserve your complimentary pass now
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