Artificial Intelligence (AI): A new-frontier in legal services competition in Asia

Linklaters, where Singapore-based Sophie Mathur, a firm Partner and global co-head of innovation has been helping the firm to adopt AI, including a program dedicated to reading, analyzing and reporting on large amounts of documentation without reference to practice area. MinterEllison, where Partner and innovation leader Andrew Cunningham is helping the firm innovate across a range of areas including AI. Baker & McKenzie -- In an email interview for this article, Sydney-based Partner Adrian Lawrence, who is strongly engaged in the firm's innovation strategies explained that: "AI is an increasingly important tool in the arsenal of any law firm, in particular for large-scale matters which involve significant quantities of both structured and unstructured data, such as large litigation matters and major M&A transactions. Given these larger matters tend to be undertaken by BigLaw, rather than NewLaw, my expectation is that BigLaw is likely to be more advanced with use of AI solutions at this stage. The majority of commentators see AI as an enhancement of existing capabilities, allowing services to be provided more efficiently and effectively, rather than a replacement of traditional client-facing legal services. There will always be an important role for the experience and human judgment which is an inherent part of good legal advice."