Erika Pagano

Erika is the Head of Legal Innovation and Design at Simmons Wavelength. She is an award-winning lawyer, innovator, and educator whose sweet spots include culture creation, leadership, strategy, teaming, technology, and cross-border initiatives. 

Having dedicated more than a decade to change, creativity, and client centricity in the legal profession, Erika works with a wide variety of clients across the globe to apply legal design to reimagine the legal experience. 

Erika was recognized by LawTechUK, a Ministry of Justice-backed initiative, as a legal tech trailblazer. She was named Rising Star of the Year (the Lynne Freeman Award) by WeAreTheCity in 2021, as well as “highly commended” for Rising Star of the Year at the 2019 British Legal Awards. She is a regular speaker and published author, and co-chair of the firm’s Neurodiversity Network. 

Erika sits on multiple boards (Georgetown Foundation of Spain, Georgetown Class of 2008 Committee, LawWithoutWalls Advisory Board, University of Miami School of Law Alumni Board) and is a graduate of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the University of Miami School of Law, where she served as Managing Editor of the University of Miami Law Review. 

Corporate Experience 

• Head of Legal Innovation and Design, Simmons & Simmons, 2019 – Present

Academic Experience 

• Adjunct Professor at at IE University, 2013 – Present

• Guest lectures at Oxford, Harvard Law School, Kings College London, Sciences Po, and other global institutions, 2013 – Present

• Director, LawWithoutWalls and Faculty, University of Miami, 2013 – 2019

Academic Background 

• JD, University of Miami School of Law, 2013

• BSFS, Georgetown University, 2008