Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has launched a new in-house hub to develop AI tech to complete legal work more efficiently.
The firm says its new initiative – Womble AI Labs – is an internal innovation and client-driven service where its team will work closely with practice groups to deliver bespoke AI tools.
Its principal aims include using AI to automate repetitive legal and administrative tasks, such as enhancing contract reviews, monitoring regulations and compliance, and early-stage legal analysis.
Merrick Benn, US chair and CEO of Womble Bond Dickinson, said: “Womble AI Labs builds on our firm’s long history of innovation and entrepreneurial approach to how we serve our clients.
“We are excited to bring together the talent and ideas across our firm to develop cutting-edge AI solutions that improve efficiency, enhance the client experience and deliver better outcomes.”
Chad Ergun, chief AI and technology officer, who has been chosen to lead the Womble AI Labs team, said the initiative has already had a “positive impact” on the firm’s internal processes and client services.
He added: “Through extensive engagement with our attorneys and clients, we’re able to develop technology solutions that are designed around actual workflows.
“These solutions require no additional software licenses or advanced training and meet the firm’s strict standards for security and client confidentiality.”
The lab is an extension of the firm’s applied AI team, which comprises AI engineers, machine learning specialists and legal engineers who are focused on building practical AI solutions and improving them with hands-on implementation and feedback.
Alongside the initiative, the firm is also continuing its work on AI training and adoption. It has a company learning scheme that teaches lawyers and business staff how to use generative AI effectively and safely during everyday tasks, incorporating the Generative AI for the Legal Profession course delivered by Berkeley Law Executive Education.
The firm’s AI Champions Initiative is an internal network of employees who help their colleagues embrace AI, focusing on training and AI adoption.
The network was launched in the early part of this year, and since then 200 of Womble’s legal and business professionals have joined, with all of the firm’s departments represented.
Womble has 42 offices across the UK and US with a headcount of more than 1,300 lawyers and technical specialists.
Other recent launches in the legaltech market include Microsoft last week moving further into legal AI, unveiling more than 20 purpose-built legal AI skills for its Copilot platform. Commentators described the move as a potential “game changer”, following similar launches by Google, OpenAI and Anthropic.
Last month, law firm Lewis Silkin established an AI platform aimed at the creative industries to help creators, talent managers, agencies and brands manage commercial deals.
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
