Richard Dawson LLB (Hons)

AI Strategic Counsel

to Law Firm Leaders

 

What Clients Say

Client Success Stories

  • Richard has been central to the pivot of my business on the back of the impact of AI. He's enabled me to see clearly who I can help and how, along with providing detailed plans on how to go about it.

    Most of us think we can do this alone but my work with Richard has shown me that is simply not true. Richard understands the current market in a way that I did not and has pushed me to expand my horizons as well as my business.

    He provides detailed workflows that are easy to follow, which also make him an ideal accountability partner. He is open to questions and always happy to provide additional details on anything I don't understand or can't figure out how to implement.

    On top of this he is one of the most informed people I know about how AI is affecting how we work and how best to use it to achieve our goals. This is a fast-changing field and he is well ahead of most people on thinking about issues that impact us now and will do into the future.

    If you have an opportunity to work with Richard, I highly recommend you do.

  • "It's nuts out there. Infinite AI options, endless opportunity... It's a mind melt. Talk to Richard for balance, perspective and common sense. When AI makes anything possible, everything can quickly start to overwhelm. Richard gives you the focus and steer to move quickly from smart ideas to smart outcomes."

  • "I was making a branding transition and feeling like I was spinning my wheels. Fortunately, I found Richard Dawson, an expert at helping entrepreneurs find strategic clarity.
    A wise and reliable guide, Richard was my trustworthy mentor and helped me get my groove back. He provided actionable advice and kept a close eye on my progress. Most importantly, he was incredibly easy to talk to and a keen listener.
    Immediately after he started working with me, I landed a client who is an executive with a US multinational corporation. Soon afterwards, I discovered how I want to be known in my work.
    If you're looking for a smart, reliable guide to unlock your future and open new avenues of possibility, work with Richard. You won't regret it."

  • ''When I was referred to Richard, I was 18 months into my business and still felt like I didn't know the basics. I lacked clarity in my brand message, struggled to focus on what I truly offered and felt unsure about how to communicate it effectively. Working with Richard has been an enlightening journey.

    As a mentor and sounding board, he provided the accountability I needed to stay on track. Richard also gave me great advice on social media and how to get my message across in a way that truly resonates.

    Thanks to his support, I now feel more focused, confident and aligned with my business than ever before. I highly recommend working with Richard if you want to gain clarity, build confidence and take your business to the next level.''

    Philippa Fairbrother

    Satori People Development

  • 'I started working with Richard in March 2023. I like the focus, motivation and confidence he gives me. My work is technical, and he has been able to help me define very clearly what I do and explain it well to clients and prospects. This has grown my business and bridged the gap with our branding and design partners so they understand my requirements more clearly.

  • 'I met Richard around two years ago through the chamber of commerce, and ever since he's played such a pivotal role in my business growth and my digital marketing strategy. I think it's so valuable to have a fresh and expert perspective on what you're doing in your business. And Richard really is that sounding board for me. He's somebody I can talk to about the ideas I've got going on. And it's so valuable to gain clarity with that. So if you are looking for accountability, focus, and most importantly clarity, then I would highly recommend Richard.”

    Rebecca Meadows

    Nexus Earth

  • “For years I have been approaching my marketing in a piecemeal fashion, doing a bit here and there as time allowed. I was never happy and my to-do list just kept growing.

    After co-hosting a webinar with Richard I decided to ask him for help structuring my approach, I was confident we would work well together.

    Over six months and eight meetings Richard has guided me to build a marketing plan that I like. It reflects me, the value I bring and my values. No one-size fits all approach or solutions.

    One of the things I appreciated most is how Richard answered my questions and worked with what I have already built. He would sit back (literally and metaphorically), reflect, and make suggestions. He often had ideas that I would never have generated myself or have got from marketing consultants that deliver a fixed package.

    He helped me refine my website, newsletters and ICP. But more importantly, he has given me a sound basis for further development. Marketing isn’t an instant results-driven process like sales, but I can see clear improvements in my communications and confidence.

    Before working with Richard, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of my path. While I still have a lot to do, I have a clear direction and a structured plan.

    His guidance has helped me move forward with confidence. I am happy to recommend Richard and his coaching services to anyone who has already started their marketing and needs refinement to reach the next level.”

    Michelle Spaul

    Delta Swan

  • “I was introduced to him through a recommendation, and from our very first conversation, he approached things differently from everyone else I had worked with.

    He didn’t just offer advice; he listened. Instead of telling me what to do, he asked thoughtful, insightful questions that helped shape a strategy that worked for me, my business, and my commitments.

    Before working with him, I felt like I was throwing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something would stick. It was overwhelming. But now I have solid foundations, a clear direction, and a strategy that actually works - not just in digital marketing but in how I approach my entire business.

    One of the most significant lightbulb moments has been learning the power of repetition - sharing my message in different ways, through video, carousels, and testimonials. The difference has been brilliant. Since working with Richard, people finally get what I do; that clarity has had a huge impact.

    Beyond all of this, Richard is more than just a marketing expert - he’s become a trusted sounding board. His guidance keeps me grounded, focused, and aligned with my vision.

    I am so grateful for his support and the confidence he has helped me build. Thank you Richard ''

    Ellie Lloyd-Jones

    Elevate With Ellie

  • ''We can’t thank Richard enough here at PCC for helping us with our Digital Marketing and helping us grow towards where we want to be. He has helped us target the right type of client, define our message, and keep us focused and motivated. We strongly recommend that other businesses like ours who want to grow speak to Richard about how he can help them.''

  • We started working with Richard late last year, a few months before we launched Femme Health, our e-commerce brand, in January 2024. The three founders, Stef, Sarah, and I, wanted to get some clarity about our Digital strategy and stay focused on our plan. He helped us build our confidence and was generous in sharing business ideas, and process improvements. Richard provided accountability and was great at questioning decisions and actions. We are now at a point where we have additional inhouse resources on board and the three of us can focus on brand building and creating content.

  • I started my journey to becoming a full-time journalling guide, wellbeing resource creator and author in late 2022 but had trouble finding direction. I wanted to work with someone who could help me clarify my offering and formulate a consistent and effective digital strategy. I had done a lot of thinking and planning and wanted to work with a coach who could help me define my approach to implement my plan. Richard helped me prioritise my marketing activities and develop a consistent online presence. He was generous in sharing business ideas and made suggestions for process improvements. While working together, we focussed on a digital content strategy and fine-tuned my ideal client and social media platforms. Richard provided accountability and was great at questioning decisions and actions. He made a real difference in getting me to knuckle down and stay committed to my strategy

What I Do and Who I am

I‘m an AI Strategic Counsel to Law Firm Leaders and Solo Professional Consultants, helping both navigate the AI transition safely, profitably, and confidently.

My practice operates across two distinct tracks:

⚖️ TRACK 1: FOR LAW FIRM LEADERS

AI Governance, Compliance & Margin Protection
Independent law firms are currently caught in the "Squeezed Middle." You are facing fierce competitive pressure from agile ‘boutique’ law firms on one side and highly capitalised mega-firms on the other. Between rising operational costs and the AI squeeze on the billable hour, you know you must adopt AI to protect your margins.

But there is a trap: adopting AI to cut costs without a ‘Walled Garden’ risks sudden regulatory intervention or a failed PII renewal. You don't protect a multi-million-pound firm by circulating a PDF—an 'honour-based' policy is a paper shield against SRA Rule 4.2 violations.

As your AI Strategic Counsel, I bridge the gap between your Risk Policy and your IT execution. I help firms map their "Shadow AI" exposure and build auditable, 'Human-in-the-Loop' workflows that satisfy the Regulators (the SRA, FCA and ICO), the Courts, Corporate and Public Sector Procurement panels, and your Insurer—allowing you to safely accelerate adoption and defend your bottom line.

💡 TRACK 2: FOR SOLO PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS

AI Advantage & Scaling Capacity
If you sell your knowledge, your time is your ceiling. Right now, raw knowledge is being commoditised by Large Language Models. But your pattern intelligence, contextual judgment, and lived experience, your 'Judgment Premium ', are irreplaceable.

I help solo professionals stop dabbling with ad-hoc prompts and start building a true AI Advantage. In a 90-minute strategic session, we audit your positioning and build a 90-day execution roadmap to integrate the exact AI infrastructure you need to automate your back office, scale your capacity, and win new clients without hiring staff.

📌 ABOUT ME:

LLB (Hons): Fluent in AI, risk, regulation, and partnership models.

25+ Yrs Experience: Deep expertise in how technology impacts legal workflows.

CPD Certified in AI: Focused exclusively on governance and compliance.

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