In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, 2023 has been a pivotal year, particularly in the realm of generative AI. As the year winds down, many law firms find themselves at something of a crossroads, grappling with the need to develop strategic roadmaps to help guide proper investment, education, and deployment of tools and tech. While other firms are merely attempting to determine a point of entry on a train that’s already moving.  

This opening discussion embarks on a journey to decipher and make sense of the major developments, impacts, opportunities, and broader implications of generative AI on law firms. Drawing upon experience and observation, Marlene Gebauer (Assistant Director of Innovation at Mayer Brown) and Greg Lambert (Chief Knowledge Services Officer at Jackson Walker) – co-hosts of the ever-popular Geek In Review Podcast – will be sitting down with Daniel Martin Katz, a scientist, technologist and professor – and one of the smartest innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in law.  Together, they will attempt to define and give shape to this moment in time, making sense of 2023 while shedding light on the transformative capabilities and challenges that these AI tools have introduced into the legal sector.  

How are traditional operational paradigms going to be challenged and reshaped by AI in the near term? Join us in framing this monumental year as we embark on crafting the blueprint for navigating an increasingly AI-driven legal landscape. 

This discussion will delve into a number of different topics including practical applications of generative AI models, how to assemble the right stakeholders for an all-star AI Task Force, strategies for upskilling employees to get the most out of AI safely, as well as discussion on the 'Build vs. Buy' dilemma. 

Attendees will also learn why Gunderson decided to build its own internal generative AI chat application, ChatGD.  Gunderson Dettmer has deployed third-party AI tools for years—including some powered by Large Language Models (LLMs)—for a variety of use cases. 

With ChatGD, however, the firm has created its first proprietary internal AI tool incorporating the latest in generative AI technology, achieving a new milestone in Gunderson’s ability to marry its in-house legal expertise with cutting-edge engineering and technology. 

AI is having its moment this year with the arrival of the user-friendly ChatGPT interface and it seems that everyone is racing to adopt AI solutions. Confronting this AI tidal wave can be daunting. This program examines how to evaluate AI-enabled solutions, including the large language models of Generative AI to ensure optimal investment. Forming a data strategy is critical to developing an AI enabled environment, and this discussion covers the main tenants to developing a data strategy in your organization. 

Attendees will learn how to identify your “North Star” as you look to leverage data and what data initiatives have the highest value proposition by using a structured framework for evaluating AI use cases. This session also covers how to assess potential risks and benefits, prioritize the best use cases to optimize value for your firm, and how to develop an AI-driven innovation plan that aligns with your firm’s strategic plan and data strategy. 

n an effort to capitalize on the work already underway and the broad legal expertise the firm has in the AI space, Troutman Pepper launched their Generative AI Task Force earlier this year to help educate the entire firm and its clients around the benefits and risks of generative AI, as well as to consolidate and coordinate the various constituencies across the firm with a stake in building and supporting future initiatives. 

What follows is a multifaceted story about the firm’s journey, ranging from mandatory ethics training and a commitment to educating the firm’s clients, attorneys, and allied professionals about the opportunities and risks inherent to emerging generative AI tools, to the development and deployment of the firm’s own AI assistant, Athena, and its robust capabilities to answer questions and produce content. 

Yet this remains a story about a process and a journey – not a single product or a specific destination. Attendees will learn about the relevance of strategic partnerships, including the firm’s own clients, external solution providers, and technology consultants, as well as how collaborative inputs from all directions helped to inform and give shape to the firm’s strategic roadmap.  

Through the sharing of case studies, gathering of metrics, and the ongoing development of guardrails to ensure that AI initiatives are aimed at solving the right problems (and doing so safely and ethically), attendees will gain valuable insights into the decisions that have positioned Troutman Pepper as a law firm ready to capitalize on AI’s near limitless potential. 

Join us as we discuss the AI path Troutman has already traveled and the next steps for the firm and its clients in their continued exploration and adoption of generative AI.  

With the transformative power of AI and data analytics at its core, the firm envisions a seamless, ethical, and efficient operation, positioning itself at the forefront of the 21st-century legal landscape. Join us in this enlightening discussion as our panelists delve into their challenges, insights, and strategies in orchestrating this holistic transformation.  

As the legal industry grapples with change, this discussion stands as a beacon, illuminating a path to a more integrated, responsive, and innovative future. The session promises not only a glimpse into the beginnings of the firm’s transformative journey, but also serves as a blueprint for law firms aiming to harness the capabilities and potential in unlocking the many disparate data sets that comprise law firms themselves.  

Whether you are a law firm leader, legal professional, or technology enthusiast, this panel promises to shed light on the transformative potential of AI in the legal industry. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that promises to inspire and inform.  

Key topics to be addressed by the panel include: 

• The AI Adoption Journey: Panelists will outline the firm’s journey in adopting AI technologies, including the initial challenges and strategic decision-making processes that led to successful implementation. 
• Identifying Real Value: Learn how the firm has identified and harnessed the real value of AI, from automating routine tasks to enhancing legal research, contract analysis, and due diligence processes.
• Overcoming Ethical and Regulatory Challenges: AI in the legal field raises significant ethical and regulatory questions. The panel will explore how the firm has navigated these issues, ensuring compliance while embracing innovation. 
• Talent and Training: Developing a workforce who can leverage AI effectively is crucial. The panel will share their experiences in recruiting, training, and upskilling legal professionals to work alongside AI systems. 
• Leveraging Data: Data is the lifeblood of AI. Panelists will discuss how the firm has harnessed data-driven insights to improve client service, gain a competitive edge, and drive innovation. 
• Lessons Learned: The panel will conclude by sharing their most significant lessons learned on the AI journey, offering valuable takeaways for law firms at various stages of AI adoption. 

Guided by invaluable insights from our distinguished panel of solution providers—those at the technological forefront—we will deconstruct AI's vast capabilities, pinpointing areas ripe for automation—particularly those tasks that challenge the traditional billing model. 

Driven by audience input and guided by questions, ideas, and perspectives from our esteemed panel, we will create a vivid heat map, illuminating tasks and processes that AI might soon revolutionize. Grounded in the potential of generative AI, participants will then break into small groups to forecast the future of legal practice, creating visions that bridge the present to the yet imagined.  

Learn how your own foresights and projections from your peers dovetail with contemporary law firm strategies, billing practices, and talent dynamics.