LVN Spotlight: Esther Bowers

Greg Lambert speaks with Esther Bowers, Chief Practice Innovation Officer at Honigman LLP and LVNx 2026 Conference Committee Co-Chair, about what innovation truly looks like in practice. Esther explains how her multidisciplinary team partners with attorneys to rethink pricing, staffing, and client engagement to create new ways to deliver value. She also shares how LVN provides a platform for candid conversations that strengthen relationships and spark change across the legal industry.

Greg Lambert: Hi everyone, I’m Greg Lambert, Editor for the LVN Newsletter. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on LVN member Esther Bowers, who serves as the Chief Practice Innovation Officer at Honigman. Esther, thanks so much for joining us.

Esther Bowers: Happy to be here, Greg. Thanks for having me.

Greg Lambert: I was looking at your title—Chief Practice Innovation Officer—and thinking about how that really represents the transformation happening in the industry. So let’s start big: What does innovation look like on a day-to-day basis at Honigman, and how does it show up in how your teams deliver legal services?

Esther Bowers: Our innovation group brings together a range of disciplines—legal project management, pricing, knowledge management, practice technology, alternative staffing, and more. That means we provide comprehensive, end-to-end support for our practices.

When someone comes to us with a problem, we don’t just solve it—we look for ways to improve on it. Maybe we can price it differently, staff it differently, or deliver it in a new way. We’re constantly introducing new ways of thinking and working to better serve our clients.

Greg Lambert: And are you finding that attorneys are receptive to those ideas and new approaches?

Esther Bowers: They are! Our attorneys are very receptive and eager—hungry for this, really. Of course, not every conversation starts that way, but we meet them where they are. Many members of our team are client-facing, which means they understand and can articulate the voice of the client. That awareness helps us align our services with client needs and guide our attorneys accordingly.

Greg Lambert: Are clients themselves starting to expect that level of involvement from your team?

Esther Bowers: Yes, absolutely. Some clients have even requested specific members of our team be staffed directly on their matters. That’s a shining moment for us—it really validates the value we’re bringing.

Greg Lambert: That’s fantastic. Let’s talk a bit about LVN. You’ve played a key role in building that community, and now you’re serving as co-chair for LVNX in 2025 and 2026. What has that experience meant for you personally and professionally?

Esther Bowers: It’s been such a meaningful journey. Personally, the relationships I’ve built through LVN have brought tremendous value to my life. Professionally, I see this role as a responsibility—to give back, to mentor others, and to contribute to the community that has poured so much into me. When Aaron Boersma and I were leading in 2024, our focus was on transformation—seeing LVN members as catalysts for change in the legal industry. We wanted to provide them with the tools, content, and support to drive that change. That spirit will definitely continue into 2025 as I start working with Shanna on what’s next.

Greg Lambert: (Laughs) I hate to break it to you, but we’re already in 2025!

Esther Bowers: Oh my gosh—you’re right! Time flies. It all starts to run together after a while.

Greg Lambert: It sure does. Speaking of change, legal professionals like you are under pressure to drive innovation and efficiency—but so are the firms themselves. From your perspective, where do you see the biggest opportunities for meaningful change?

Esther Bowers: I think the greatest opportunities come from re-examining how work moves through the firm—end to end. That means looking at how it starts with the client: What are they trying to achieve? Where does the handoff occur? How can we help them from the very beginning so that, when it reaches us, we can deliver the best results possible?

It’s not just about technology. Change happens when we rethink processes, staffing, and workflows holistically.

Greg Lambert: That’s a great point. And if you were speaking to a peer at another firm who isn’t part of LVN, how would you describe what LVN provides?

Esther Bowers: LVN creates space for open, honest conversations between clients and law firms. I remember one session where just two in-house counsel spent hours talking about how they approach outsourcing. I thought, “Where is everyone else? This is the conversation we all need to hear!” That’s what LVN offers—a platform for collaboration and sometimes uncomfortable, but necessary, discussions. Topics like billing rates or value delivery can be tough, but within LVN, those conversations happen in a supportive and constructive way.

Greg Lambert: I love that. Now, before we wrap up, let’s talk about what keeps you energized and creative outside of work. How do you recharge?

Esther Bowers: I’m not sure true recovery ever happens! But I love being active—anything outdoors or fitness-related helps me reset. I also love watching my kids do what they love, whether it’s sports or music. That said, my daughter is currently learning the recorder and played “Hot Cross Buns” on repeat last night—that wasn’t exactly relaxing! But everything else definitely keeps me energized. And yes, the louder instruments stay in the basement where they belong.

Greg Lambert: (Laughs) Smart move! Well, Esther, thank you so much for joining us today and for letting us shine the LVN spotlight on you this month.

Esther Bowers: My pleasure, Greg. Thanks for having me.