In early 2024, CS Disco, a leading legal technology and artificial intelligence company specializing in e-discovery platforms, faced leadership challenges following the sudden departure of its founder and former CEO. To steady the company, restore confidence, and accelerate a new chapter of growth in legal SaaS, the board engaged an external executive search process targeting experienced leaders from technology product and SaaS backgrounds.
The Company & Market Position
- CS Disco is a public company NYSE LAW) headquartered in Austin, Texas, providing AI powered discovery and legal software for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.
- As of 2024, Disco has over $130M in annual revenue, serves more than 1,300 customers globally, and is recognized for its use of AI and cloud infrastructure in reducing manual legal work.
Search Objectives
Proksch & Co was retained to find an external CEO who could:
- Reinforce trust and stability after a high-profile CEO exit amid controversy.
- Lead the company through a key phase of product innovation, particularly around AI-driven legal workflows.
- Re-energize Discoʼs go-to-market strategy and global expansion after public scrutiny on governance and leadership.
- Provide fresh, growth-oriented leadership to complement Discoʼs cutting-edge technical DNA.
The External Search Process
Candidate Profile Definition
The board and Proksch & Co defined a target profile: proven SaaS operator, strong track record in scaling B2B software, and a reputation for high-integrity leadership—preferably with experience in both private and public company settings.
Market Mapping
The search targeted senior tech and SaaS leaders in both legal-adjacent and horizontal cloud software sectors, prioritizing those with experience navigating rapid product cycles, commercial acceleration, and public company governance environments.
Screening and Assessment
The board and Proksch & Co interviewed a shortlist with demonstrated leadership in product-led organizations and experience leading post-crisis or turnaround situations.
Appointment & Onboarding
Eric Friedrichsen, formerly a senior SaaS executive (expense management and business software), was selected for his operational discipline, market credibility, and alignment with the company’s growth and culture objectives. He was appointed CEO and president, officially joining in April 2024.
The Appointment & Rationale
- Friedrichsen was chosen to navigate CS Discoʼs next chapter, reinforce a positive culture, restore external trust, and lead AI product strategy.
- Stakeholders welcomed the combination of outside SaaS expertise and a stabilizing, execution-focused leadership style.
- The board cited Friedrichsen as the “ideal leader to effectively navigate Discoʼs next chapter,” focusing on both operational rigor and product innovation. 1
Early Impact and Results
- Restored confidence among clients, employees, and investors through transparent communication and decisive action.
- Accelerated generative AI product development and introduced new AI-powered legal discovery features.
- Strengthened go-to-market strategy and broadened partnerships to drive international expansion.
Lessons for Legal Tech Executive Search
- External recruitment in legal tech provides a crucial opportunity to inject new expertise and restore confidence after periods of operational or reputational disruption.
- Working with specialized executive search partners Proksch & Co) who understand legal SaaS, public company expectations, and the importance of leader reputation is essential.
- Clear succession, onboarding, and change communication build momentum for the next chapter and signal stability to the market.
Sources:
- CS Disco official announcements, April 2024
- Reuters legal industry coverage April 2024 1
- Public company filings