Ep. 132 AI in Legal Tech: A Deep Dive with Skribe Co-Founder Tom Irby

Show Notes:

In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk, Co-Founder of HLH Growth Solutions, sits down with Tom Irby, Co-Founder of Skribe AI, to discuss how technology is reshaping one of the oldest processes in the legal world: depositions.

Tom shares his 40-year entrepreneurial journey in Texas, how owning a court-reporting firm led to the idea behind Skribe, and why virtual proceedings and AI have fundamentally changed how testimony is captured, analyzed, and used.

He explains how Skribe is modernizing the deposition experience by removing outdated, high-cost processes and replacing them with an AI-powered platform designed for accuracy, speed, cost savings, and legal-grade compliance.

Tom also dives into:
 • How COVID accelerated a decade of innovation in legal tech
 • Why general transcription tools aren’t enough for admissible legal testimony
 • The real opportunity cost when firms fail to use the data inside recorded conversations
 • How AI is reshaping preparation, questioning, and case analysis
 • Why personal injury plaintiff firms are Skribe’s ideal customer
 • Lessons from 230+ discovery interviews and niching down effectively
 • The role of humans and AI in the legal workflow
• What it takes to refine a niche, identify product-market fit, and scale a legal tech company

Whether you're curious about AI, operate in the legal space, or want a masterclass in niching, discovery, and business evolution — this conversation is filled with practical gold.

Bio

As the Founder and CEO of Skribe.ai, I'm driven by a thirst for entrepreneurial success and a relentless desire to transform how testimony is captured and shared in the legal industry. With 35+ years in C-level roles, sales, operations, and business coaching, my focus has always been on overcoming challenges, setting bold goals, and making things happen.

Before founding Skribe, I led AcuScribe Court Reporters as President and CEO. During the 2009 recession, I took on the tough task of restructuring debt, cutting costs, and driving growth in new directions. After leading the company through a successful recovery, I sold AcuScribe to Veritext Legal Solutions in 2014, marking their first Texas office.

Along the way, I’ve mentored and coached 50+ business owners across a range of industries—from startups to companies valued over $30M. I thrive on helping people tap into their potential, break through barriers, and build lasting success. As a Traction/EOS facilitator, I’m passionate about creating cultures of accountability, transparency, and growth.

I’ve also been lucky to have been part of growing companies like Silicon Services Consortium, where I helped grow sales from $1M to $10M, and CompuAdd, where we took a startup to $500M over nine years.

I live in Austin, Texas, with my wife (our two sons are elsewhere), and we’re fortunate to have an incredible daughter-in-law and grandson—who’s the bomb. When I’m not working, I’m all about the outdoors, sports, and helping others succeed. I’m a huge believer in servant leadership and use my experiences to help people and businesses tackle tough challenges and win.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomirby/

Website:  www.skribe.ai

Connect with me:

🎁Spotlight to Scale: Spotlight to Scale Blueprint

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/