In the latest edition of Xperate’s "Meet the Team" series, we spoke with Anand Ablack, President of our North American operations. As we expand into this area of the world, Anand’s extensive experience and background in the legal tech industry will play a key part in our growth. In this interview, we learn about Anand’s recent trip to ILTACON, what he brings to the team, his reasons for joining Xperate and more.
Tell us about yourself and your background
My entire career, spanning over two decades, has been dedicated to the legal tech industry. I've held various leadership roles focusing on strategic, commercial, and financial aspects of businesses serving law firms in North America.
My journey in legal tech began at LexisNexis, where I became part of the senior leadership team in Canada. From there, I moved on to legal-tech roles with a venture capital-backed growth company and then a private equity-backed firm, gaining diverse experience in growing and scaling businesses across the board.
Throughout my career, I've developed a deep understanding of the North American legal tech space. I've built strong relationships with law firms and legal tech companies, giving me valuable insights into the industry's needs and trends.
Why did you want to join Xperate?
I was drawn to Xperate for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, it's an exciting young company with a wealth of experience. The leadership team, including Simon Hill, Mark Garnish and Bharat Gidde, all have deep legal tech experience. Simon and Mark, in particular, are well-known figures in the industry from their time at their previous company. This level of expertise extends throughout all levels of the business, creating what I consider to be a dream team of professionals.
What really stands out about Xperate is its unique combination of being a nimble, growth-oriented business while also possessing extensive industry knowledge and expertise. It's a fast-growing company, and expanding into North America is the next logical step in its growth trajectory. I'm excited about the opportunity to introduce Xperate's innovative solutions to a market I know well.
But beyond the business potential, what truly convinced me to join was the team and the company culture. It's simply amazing. The synergy between our North American, Indian, and UK teams is remarkable. Xperate has cultivated a unique operating rhythm that sets it apart in the industry.
What excites me most about this role is the chance to contribute to Xperate's mission of innovating in the legal tech space, while also applying the lessons I've learned throughout my career to help the company reach new heights in North America. The opportunity to be part of this team and help shape Xperate's future in North America was too good to pass up.
What do you bring to the Xperate team?
My experience aligns perfectly with Xperate's growth ambitions in North America, and I'm eager to leverage my knowledge and network to drive our expansion.
What's particularly impressive about Xperate is the calibre of talent throughout the business. Our North American team consists of professionals with experience in some of the most prominent firms in Canada. This wealth of experience in the Canadian market will be invaluable as we grow our presence here.
But it's not just about the North American team. Xperate as a whole is composed of hand-picked experts who are among the best in the industry. This commitment to excellence is a common thread that runs through the entire company.
What sets Xperate apart is how deeply ingrained our knowledge and expertise are in the company's DNA. The way we collaborate across different jurisdictions and service clients globally is truly unique. I'm excited to contribute to and learn from this international, cross-functional approach.
In essence, I bring not only my individual experience but also the ability to harness the collective expertise of our exceptional team. Together, we're well-positioned to drive Xperate's growth in North America while maintaining the high standards of innovation and client service that define our company.
What motivates you to achieve success?
My main motivation is my passion for building businesses. Having been in the legal tech space for a considerable time, I've had the good fortune to lead functional teams and grow business lines with various firms.
I'm driven by the process of constructing not just a business, but also the culture and teams that form its foundation. There's something incredibly rewarding about seeing a company grow from an idea to a thriving enterprise.
I'm particularly excited to have joined Xperate because I'll be leading an exceptional North American team. These are experienced, self-motivated professionals who really know their stuff. My role is to point them in the right direction and align our tactics with our overall strategy, but they're the ones who make it happen. It's great to work with such a capable team.
What's even more motivating is the collaboration across the world. The way we leverage expertise and capabilities from various parts of the company in different countries - it's fantastic. I'm motivated by the potential to help Xperate grow into a dominant global firm in the legal tech space.
Tell us about your recent trip to ILTACON.
ILTACON 2024 was an amazing experience. With nearly 4,000 attendees, it's a massive conference that really showcases the dynamic and exciting state of the legal tech market right now. There is a lot of interest, capital, and investment flowing into our industry. ILTACON is one of the main conferences where law firms and legal technology companies converge and exchange ideas.
One of the key takeaways from ILTACON is that technology adoption is no longer optional for law firms. The leading firms are all leveraging technology in a myriad of ways to improve business efficiency and client experience, and it’s obvious all law firms - irrespective of size - will need to embrace tech to survive and thrive. There's a strong focus on cloud-based, scalable applications and, of course, AI was a major topic of conversation. On that latter, it’s clear that AI will be woven into how law firms operate moving forward but exactly what that looks like is still to be determined.
Beyond the business aspects, ILTACON in Nashville was a fun experience. It was great to see everyone embracing the Nashville vibe, and it provided a unique backdrop for networking and idea exchange.
What are your plans for Xperate in North America?
As for Xperate's plans in North America, our objective is to execute our unique strategy. What sets us apart is our neutrality - we work with a wide range of legal technology vendors - and our firm-centric approach. Our guiding philosophy as a professional services business is to help law firms drive the technology and business efficiencies based on their needs and workflows. That can take the form of better integrations across their existing product set or development of custom applications. On the other side of the market, we work with many legal technology vendors to help them achieve their growth objectives by providing high-end software development support to scale.
What do you get up to outside of the office?
Outside of the office, I'm passionate about maintaining an active lifestyle and indulging in my love for arts and culture.
Fitness is a big part of my routine. I've always been keen on staying active, and while I used to be an avid runner, I've transitioned to swimming as a gentler yet equally effective form of exercise. It's a great way to stay fit and clear my mind.
Music has been a lifelong passion of mine. I enjoy a wide variety of genres and styles. It's not just about listening, though. I also play the bass, which I love and is a nice change to the analytical thinking required in my professional life.
Connect with Anand on LinkedIn here.