Herbert Smith Freehills, a global law firm with roots in London and Australia, has announced the creation of a new “global digital legal delivery practice”. This new initiative will integrate teams that specialize in digital transformation, emerging technologies, and alternative legal services. With the help of a 420-strong team, this new entity aims to assist businesses in their digitization efforts and in adapting to technological advancements. This move foregrounds the increasing significance of blending digital considerations with legal practice. The full details of this development can be found here.
Simultaneously, Wilson Sonsini’s Chief Innovation Officer, David Wang, voiced his opinion on the state of AI in the legal industry. While acknowledging that the sector hasn’t seen drastic changes that match the hype around AI, Wang asserted that with technology like ChatGPT, the expectations of professionals, including general counsels and judges, have been fundamentally transformed, eliminating the possibility of returning to the pre-AI era. Wang’s views on this subject can be found on Artificial Lawyer.
In other legal news, Mark Grisanti, an Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice who was involved in a physical altercation with his neighbors, will not lose his seat but will be censured, according to a decision by the New York Judicial Conduct Commission. Coverage of this issue can be found in a detailed article by the New York Times
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Bloomberg has also reported on several changes of personnel across different legal practices. Notably, Marty Walsh has moved from Armstrong Teasdale to join Snell & Wilmer as a partner in Denver, while Savi Hebbur has transitioned from Linklaters to White & Case, joining as a partner in London. A comprehensive list of such lateral moves in major law firms can be found on Bloomberg’s legal news page.