The Freedom of Entrepreneurship — Why I Started Ethical eDiscovery
By James MacGregor, Founder of Ethical eDiscovery
Email: [email protected]
A post inspired by the 2025 Thought Experiment on Freedom. To read the original post outlining the goals and objectives of this experiment, click here. https://miklavelaw.com/a-2025-experiment-you-can-thank-ivan/ The second post in this series can be found here. https://miklavelaw.com/2025-thought-experiment-democracy-versus-freedom-i-miklave-law/
As covered in the previous blog on the subject, “freedom” means different things to different people. For me, true freedom was realised when I took the leap to establish Ethical eDiscovery, a boutique eDiscovery consultancy business. Matt Miklave’s musings about Freedom, I wanted to share my journey and explain why entrepreneurship has given me the kind of freedom I always dreamt of, but never fully grasped in my corporate career.
I’m originally from England, but I began my professional legal technology career in America after moving there in my early 20s, where I later became a citizen. I think of entrepreneurship as part of the fabric of America and a freedom cherished by those on both sides of the political spectrum, hence why I thought of its relevance in the context of this blog.
The Genesis of Ethical eDiscovery wasn’t just about starting a business, it was about creating a vision of how legal discovery services should be delivered. Having worked in the eDiscovery industry for 15 years, beginning my career in New York before moving back home to London, I’ve worked on many great projects with many great people, but across the various businesses I’ve had the fortune to work for and with, I always observed a gap between what clients needed and what traditional service providers offered. More importantly, I recognised that to truly serve clients ethically and effectively, I needed the freedom to make decisions that aligned with my values and not to deliver them in a manner that serves larger corporate interests.
In the corporate world, we often find ourselves serving clients whose values might not align with our own, or whose practices we might question, because we’re driven by financial targets that must be hit for our shareholders to reap their projected returns. Now that I am the shareholder of my business I have the freedom to set my own revenue and profitability targets, I can grow my business at my own pace allowing me to partner with clients who share my commitment to ethical practices and transparency. This selectivity isn’t just about personal satisfaction it’s about building lasting relationships based on mutual trust and shared values.
Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of running my own business is the freedom to take on pro bono cases that truly matter. In the corporate world, pro bono work often takes a back seat to billable hours and profit margins. Now, I can dedicate time and resources to cases that might not benefit me financially but align perfectly with my personal values and desire to make a meaningful difference. Whether it’s helping a vulnerable individual navigate complex legal waters, or supporting a charitable organisation in their mission, these cases provide a different kind of reward, one that nourishes the soul rather than the bank account.
In traditional employment, we rarely get to pick our teammates, but as an entrepreneur, I can now collaborate with professionals and organistions who not only possess exceptional skills, but also share my vision for ethical eDiscovery practices. This careful curation of partnerships has created a network of experts who complement each other’s strengths and work together seamlessly to deliver superior results for our clients. Many of the people I work with are also entrepreneurs (either operating as independent contractors, or running their own businesses) and therefore share a similar work ethic and value system as I do, which means that we serve our clients with the kind of motivation and flexibility that can only occur as business owners rather than employees.
Perhaps one of the most personally significant aspects of entrepreneurial freedom is the ability to set my own schedule. This doesn’t mean working less, often, I work more hours than I did in my various corporate roles. However, these hours are on my terms. I can structure my day to maximise productivity, while having the freedom to take my kids to and from nursery/school and to be available to look after them if they are sent home for not feeling well (as is the case on the day of writing this blog). I can then log back on in the evenings after they are in bed and speak with my US clients during their afternoon (my evening). I’m happy to work on weekends if the work needs to be done, and when the work goes quiet (perhaps because a case settles) I can enjoy the downtime.
Financial freedom, while important, has taken on a different meaning in entrepreneurship. I used to think of financial freedom as having a well-paying salary that provided me security, but I now relish not being bound by corporate salary structures and annual reviews, my success is directly tied to the value we create for our clients. This alignment has led to more meaningful client relationships and a more sustainable business model. It’s not just about making money, it’s about creating value in a way that feels authentic and ethical.
The path of entrepreneurship isn’t always easy. With freedom comes responsibility, and there are moments when the weight of decision-making can feel heavy. Every choice; from which clients to take on, which technologies to invest in, who to hire for a project; has consequences. However, the ability to make these decisions based on my own judgement, rather than to serve an agenda which is not my own, makes even the challenging moments feel meaningful.
In the end, entrepreneurial freedom isn’t just about being your own boss, it’s about having the autonomy to create something that matters, the flexibility to live authentically, and the opportunity to make a difference in your own unique way. That’s the kind of freedom that makes every day at Ethical eDiscovery feel like both a privilege and an adventure.