Jonathan Bench speaks with Vidaur Mora, a Mexico-based managing partner at Rivadeneyra Treviño, about Mexico’s rapidly evolving investment and manufacturing landscape. Vidaur provides on-the-ground insights into nearshoring, USMCA renegotiations, and how global supply chain realignment is reshaping foreign direct investment—from automotive and aerospace to data centers and advanced electronics. He explains why reinvestment is outpacing greenfield projects, how infrastructure gaps in water and energy affect site selection, and what foreign companies must understand about Mexico’s multilayered regulations, labor reforms, and customs environment. They also explore the growing influence of Chinese companies, regional competitiveness across Latin America and Asia, and why Mexico’s integration with North America continues to define its long-term economic outlook.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Dr. Zach Boyd, Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence for the State of Utah, about the state’s pioneering approach to AI governance and innovation. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI capabilities, how Utah balances pro-business regulatory clarity with consumer protection, and what effective public-private partnerships look like in an era of fast-moving technology. Zach shares insights from his academic career in applied mathematics, his work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and his team’s efforts to build future-proof policy frameworks such as regulatory sandboxes and safe harbors. They also explore national and global regulatory contrasts, the sociological challenges of AI adoption, and what Utah’s AI landscape could look like in the next decade—plus a few personal stories, including how AI is reshaping everyday workflows.
In this episode of Lawbalization, Jonathan Bench speaks with Julia Pazos, partner at Cescon Barrieu Advogados and a leading voice on technology, AI, and intellectual property in Brazil. Julia shares her journey into IP law, what fuels her passion for the fast-moving innovation economy, and why Brazil is at a pivotal moment as it shapes its AI and tech governance landscape. She and Jonathan discuss Brazil’s emerging risk-based AI framework, the evolving debates around training data, authorship, and copyright, and how courts are increasingly embracing blockchain as evidence of creative ownership. Julia also offers an inside look at how Brazilian companies—and her own firm—are adopting AI, the challenges of training young lawyers in responsible use, and the growing role of self-regulation as technology outpaces legislation. Together, they explore the creator economy, Web3, and Brazil’s expanding data-center ecosystem, offering a candid and energetic view of innovation in one of Latin America’s most dynamic markets.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Dr. W. Scott Stornetta, widely recognized as the co-inventor of blockchain technology and CEO of SureMark Digital, about the evolution of trust in the digital age. They trace the origins of blockchain from its early research roots at Bell Labs to its modern implications for data integrity, digital identity, and the fight against deepfakes. Dr. Stornetta explains how decentralization principles can help verify authorship and authenticity without relying on central authorities—extending blockchain’s legacy into AI-era identity verification. He also shares insights on mentorship, innovation, and the mindset entrepreneurs need to build lasting value.
In this episode of Lawbalization, host Jonathan Bench speaks with Isaac Stone Fish, founder and CEO of Strategy Risks and author of America Second. A leading expert on China risk and geopolitics, Isaac shares insights on how companies can identify and manage their exposure to China, the complexities of decoupling, and what global executives often overlook about political and ethical risks. He and Jonathan explore Beijing’s influence abroad, the realities of doing business under Communist Party oversight, and the fine line between engagement and dependency. Isaac also reflects on his years as a journalist in China, how his perspective has evolved, and what corporate leaders should prepare for in an increasingly unpredictable U.S.–China relationship.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Timothy B. Anderson, senior attorney in Kirton McConkie’s International Section based in St. George, Utah, about his remarkable 47-year career in international commercial law and rural economic development. They explore how Anderson built a global legal practice from southern Utah—handling deals across Europe, Asia, and beyond—while remaining deeply involved in local community growth, higher education, and public service. Anderson shares stories from his early work with Soviet clients during the fall of the Iron Curtain, his unexpected link to Rocky IV through the landmark Anderson v. Stallone copyright case, and his philosophy of professional reinvention every six years. He reflects on balancing law, writing, and leadership, offering timeless advice for lawyers: stay curious, serve your community, and never stop adapting.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Evelyne Mbula Nzuki, Nairobi-based founder of MN Legal and co-founder of Tenakata Enterprises, about Kenya’s rise as East Africa’s innovation hub at the intersection of fintech, sustainability, and law. They discuss how a young, tech-driven population, shifting compliance priorities, and AI-fueled disruption are reshaping business and legal practice across the region. Mbula shares her journey from lawyer to multi-industry entrepreneur and offers advice for global investors: enter Africa with cultural humility, trusted local partners, and an openness to rapid change.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Julia de Luca, São Paulo–based Business Development lead at Banco Itaú and former tech investment banker, about Latin America’s tech ecosystem—where a maturity gap with the U.S. coexists with abundant real-world problems to solve. They unpack why fintech still dominates, how Brazil’s pro-competition Central Bank and the instant-payments system Pix—along with “payment institution” rules—accelerated financial inclusion, and where AI wrappers and stablecoins are gaining traction. Julia offers an investor playbook (visit the region, build trusted on-the-ground networks, and avoid treating LATAM as a monolith), contrasts Mexico’s recent venture surge and U.S. proximity with Brazil’s scale and stronger institutions, and reflects on founder challenges, women’s underrepresentation, and her Sunday newsletter (~14k subscribers) syndicated by Nasdaq.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Kato Aerts, a Belgium-based partner at Lydian and international employment lawyer, about the evolving realities of EU employment law amid remote work and cross-border teams. Kato breaks down choice-of-law and mandatory protections, contrasts termination regimes in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, and unpacks practical guidance on expatriate assignments vs. temporary secondments. They also explore workations and digital nomads, gig-economy and influencer/child-labor questions, migration-driven diversity and rising discrimination claims, Brexit-era permit timelines, and the legal and ethical implications of AI in hiring and training.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Roick Feng, co-managing partner of Zhong Yin Law Firm in Taiwan, about life and business amid rising cross-strait tensions. They explore generational attitudes, supply-chain strategies from “China-plus-one” to commit-or-exit, Taiwan’s rule-of-law advantages over mainland China, and the island’s evolving blockchain/VASP regulatory landscape—plus why Taiwan is an ideal launchpad for Asia and how lawyers act as strategic partners.
Jonathan Bench speaks with John Brittell, an East Africa–based managing partner at Six Figure Ventures, about the region’s evolving tech and investment landscape. John shares on-the-ground insights into intra-regional trade, regulatory fragmentation across 54 countries, common investor misconceptions, and where infrastructure and AI are creating near-term opportunities—from ISP/Wi-Fi and EV charging to insurtech and fintech. They also explore how startups, multinationals, and policymakers navigate informal markets, election-year dynamics, and protectionist rules, and why his fund blends VC and PE with short hold periods to accelerate exits.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Azmul Haque, founder of Collyer Law LLC and a tri-qualified lawyer in England, India, and Singapore. Azmul shares insights on Singapore’s rise as a financial and legal hub, the opportunities and risks for investors in Southeast Asia, and how cultural nuances shape business across the region. They also explore Singapore’s unique approach to innovation, regulation, and its growing role as the “Delaware of Asia.”
Jonathan Bench speaks with Katarzyna "Kasia" Szczudlik, a Warsaw-based lawyer and partner at Schoenherr, about the evolving legal and business landscape in Poland and Central Europe. Kasia shares insights on MiCA delays and their impact on crypto, renewed U.S. tech interest in the region, and the growing role of defense investments. They also explore how financial institutions, startups, and regulators are navigating AI, data privacy, and overregulation in a rapidly changing European market.
Jonathan Bench speaks with Matias Otero Johansson, founder of Sihai Business Consultancy, about navigating China's evolving business landscape post-COVID. They explore cultural perspectives, branding challenges, social media trends, and the role of technology and AI in shaping opportunities for companies on the ground. Connect with Matias on LinkedIn here.