In a recent appearance on LawNext, Sean West, cofounder of Hence Technologies and author of the newly released book, Unruly: Fighting Back When Politics, AI, and Law Upend the Rules of Business, delved into how contemporary businesses are being reshaped by the evolving interplay of geopolitics, artificial intelligence, and shifting legal frameworks. These dynamics, West argues, are causing the orderly structures that governed global business to dissolve, creating what he refers to as an “unruling” world.
During his discussion with host Bob Ambrogi, West emphasized that while volatility is universally acknowledged, understanding its roots and navigation strategies remains elusive for many. Recognizing this gap, Hence Technologies has developed Hence Global, an AI-powered tool aimed at helping corporations and their legal teams manage geopolitical risks more effectively. This platform offers tailored risk analysis and insights, empowering legal professionals to better advise and protect their businesses in this unpredictable climate.
Before launching Hence Technologies, West served as the global deputy CEO of the Eurasia Group. There, he provided strategic counsel to high-level corporate stakeholders on navigating geopolitical and legal risks. His academic contributions as a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law further bolster his insights into contemporary challenges facing the business world.
As the conversation suggests, businesses today must not only adapt to these sweeping changes but also proactively engage with them to transform potential threats into strategic opportunities. West’s approach underscores the essential role of strategic legal counsel, particularly in a world where political, technological, and legal landscapes are fluid and often unpredictable.