Arnold & Porter has promoted from within to create its first chief artificial intelligence officer.
Roger Maeda moves up to the role after more than four years serving as director of IT enterprise applications and application development.
In his new role, he will be responsible for developing, evaluating and implementing AI-powered tools to support client work at the top 50 Washington DC-based firm.
Maeda will report to Sean Howell, Arnold & Porter's chief executive, and work closely with management committee member Reeves Anderson, a partner in the firm's appellate and Supreme Court practice who oversees the firm's AI initiatives.
He will also collaborate with Michael Folkes, the firm's chief information officer, Lauren Giordani, chief practice innovation officer, and counsel Melissa Weberman, head of Arnold & Porter's e-discovery and data analytics group and a firmwide leader on AI in legal practice.
Maeda said: “AI presents tremendous opportunities to enhance how we work and serve our clients. My focus will be on translating emerging technologies into practical solutions that empower our lawyers and business professionals while maintaining the quality, security, and service our clients expect.”
Ellen Kaye Fleishhacker, Arnold & Porter's global co-chair, said the firm had created the new role because AI was "reshaping how we deliver legal services”.
She added: “Roger brings a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and a clear understanding of how our lawyers and clients operate. He is the right person to help us put AI to work for our clients.”
Maeda joined Arnold & Porter five years ago from New York-based real estate firm Tishman Speyer, where he was director of IT applications. Previous roles include manager of applications systems and operations at law firm Proskauer Rose.
He was also a senior developer at KPMG and a web developer for wellness and fitness services firm Equinox.
The appointment follows a growing trend among major law firms to create dedicated AI leadership roles.
In December 2025, Farrer & Co appointed former Macfarlanes lawyer Oliver Jeffcott as head of innovation and AI counsel to help drive the firm's AI strategy and adoption, while Ropes & Gray recruited former Meta executive Gretchen Greene as chief of artificial intelligence strategy.
In May, Pinsent Masons hired former BCLP knowledge specialist Hayley Harris as its first global chief knowledge and AI adoption officer to oversee the firm's knowledge strategy and deployment of AI tools.
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