The Challenge
In early 2025, a top 25 Am Law firm found itself at a crossroads. With over 2,000 attorneys and a global reach, the firm faced mounting pressure to define its stance on generative AI (GenAI). Internally, associates and innovation teams were eager for direction. Externally, clients wanted answers—what was the firm’s AI plan, and how would it ensure responsible, secure adoption?
Despite past investments in innovation, efforts had been piecemeal—driven more by vendor outreach than strategic intent. AI initiatives were springing up in silos, often lacking coordination, oversight, or measurable goals. It was time for a shift: from scattered pilots to a firmwide, actionable strategy.
The Context
The firm had built a reputation for thoughtful legal work and client service. But when it came to GenAI, there was no central vision or clear governance. Tools were being tested by individual practice groups, often duplicating effort and introducing risk. Without a framework for evaluating ROI—especially in a billable-hour environment—leaders were left guessing where to focus. The stakes were rising fast, and the firm needed to lead, not follow.
Our Approach
Unbiased Consulting had previously partnered with the firm on other high-impact initiatives. Recognizing the urgency, the firm brought us in directly—no RFP required. What set us apart wasn’t just experience, but relevance: our team includes former law firm CIOs, innovation leads, and consultants who know how legal business works.
We delivered a structured, fast-moving engagement to move the firm from uncertainty to clarity.
1. Discovery
We kicked off with targeted interviews across key roles—partners, associates, IT, innovation teams. We didn’t ask what tools they liked—we asked what problems they still couldn’t solve. The result was a revealing snapshot of inefficiencies, frustrations, and opportunities hiding in plain sight.
2. Use Case Development
From the insights gathered, we built and prioritized a library of high-impact AI use cases. Each was fully documented and validated, with clear business rationale and risk awareness. These weren’t generic ideas—they reflected real challenges, real workflows, and real potential.
Use cases included:
- Contract review and analysis
- Legal research and summarization
- Knowledge management and precedent access
- Drafting assistance for internal and client-facing documents
3. AI Strategy & Governance Framework
We wrapped the engagement with a practical playbook. The firm walked away with:
- A tailored governance structure for AI adoption
- Education paths for lawyers and staff
- A repeatable process for evaluating, piloting, and scaling AI tools
- Risk guidance aligned to ethical and client requirements
- Metrics to measure progress and avoid vendor-driven hype
The Results
The outcome? Strategic clarity—and confidence. With Unbiased Consulting’s support, the firm now had a firmwide AI roadmap it could act on immediately.
- A prioritized list of use cases backed by stakeholder input
- Internal alignment across departments and leadership
- A framework to evaluate future tools with rigor
- Clarity on ethical and operational risks before they became issues
- A method to move from AI theory to firmwide implementation
“This was the best consulting deliverable we’ve ever received. Unbiased brought legal-specific insight and gave us a strategy we could act on immediately.” – Chief Innovation Officer, Am Law 25 Firm