EP #52: Succession Planning and A Seamless Transition with Yakub Hazzard Chair of MSK

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June 3, 2025 • 31 mins

Succession only looks seamless from the outside. Yakub Hazzard shares what it really took to step into the chair role at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, and why leadership transitions require more than just good timing.

How do you plan for change without disrupting what already works? Yakub walks through the nearly two-year succession planning process that prepared him to take over as chair, from building internal alignment to choosing the right leadership partner. He shares how the firm prioritized culture over convenience, and why that made all the difference.

Yakub also reflects on his journey from paralegal to partner, with a few unexpected stops along the way. Raised in a household of professional athletes, he learned early what discipline looks like up close. Time at NBCUniversal gave him a new perspective on what clients actually need from their lawyers, something he carries into every interaction today.

The episode also covers how the firm is growing with intention, where entertainment law is headed, and how AI is already reshaping the conversation. Yakub’s perspective is steady, strategic, and refreshingly grounded.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Yakub Hazzerd’s Background

04:46 Starting in Law: From Paralegal to Partner

07:06 Going In-House at NBCUniversal

09:00 Returning to MSK and the Shift Back to Private Practice

10:05 Succession Planning and Leadership Transition

13:30 Strategic Growth and Culture-Driven Hiring

18:35 Industry Disruption: Streaming, Gaming, and AI

27:34 Building High-Performing Teams

Links

Connect with Yakub Hazzard:

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yakub-hazzard-1469b113/