AI Trust, BigLaw Leadership Moves & Tennessee’s Push for Legal Reform
Attorneys at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s annual conference warned that in-house and outside counsel risk damaging trust if they fail to discuss AI use upfront. As AI reshapes legal workflows, both sides need to establish clear expectations around tools, data, confidentiality, human oversight, pricing, risk and potential savings. Panelists emphasized that open communication and collaboration are essential to avoiding assumptions, protecting sensitive information and building effective AI-enabled client relationships. They also encouraged firms and clients to embrace experimentation and structured trial-and-error as they develop new ways to work together.
MARKET MOVEMENTS
Squire Patton Boggs has hired Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP partner Reid Avett
Debevoise & Plimpton announced Monday that it has hired two private credit practice leaders from Freshfields, Ian Bushner and Neal Reenan
Carlton Fields announced Monday it has elected Richard Choi, a veteran financial services attorney, as its next chief executive officer
Vinson & Elkins has found a new chief talent officer, Leslie Womble, a veteran talent and human resources leader at global investment firm Cambridge Associates
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP announced Monday that along with naming a new chair, the New York-based firm has expanded its leadership structure to include co-managing partners, in response to growth and the increased complexity of day-to-day operations. Michael Lynch, Bill Jackson, David Zalman, Dana Rosenfeld, Paul Rosenthal.
FIRM SPOTLIGHT - ARNOLD & PORTER KAYE SCHOLER LLP
Arnold & Porter is a global law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers across 16 offices and expertise spanning more than 40 practice areas. Formed through the 2017 merger of Washington, D.C.-based Arnold & Porter and New York’s Kaye Scholer LLP, the firm is particularly recognized for its antitrust, environmental, litigation, M&A, and capital markets practices. Its notable work includes advising on major M&A transactions, complex antitrust matters, and high-profile environmental litigation, including representing BP in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The firm was also recognized at the 2025 IFLR Americas Awards for its role in CVC Capital Partners’ $925 million acquisition of Therakos Healthcare Limited.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Quinn Emanuel is seeking nearly $750,000 in attorney fees after defeating claims in Texas state court that it conspired with rapper Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter to retaliate against prominent Houston plaintiffs attorney Tony Buzbee and two of his former clients.
Law360 Pulse's 2026 AI Survey found that the percentage of firm attorneys who said they use AI three or more times a week increased from 27% in 2025 to 47% this year. Among in-house lawyers, 56% reported that same frequency of use for this year.
Tennessee Keeps PE Out, Opens Door to Legal Reform
Tennessee’s Supreme Court rejected proposed changes that would allow private equity and other non-lawyer investors to directly own stakes in law firms, though it left the door open to revisiting the issue as more data emerges. The court instead signaled support for broader legal reforms, including alternative paths to bar admission, limited legal services by qualified non-lawyers and fewer barriers for out-of-state attorneys. Tennessee will also reduce the American Bar Association’s primary role in law school accreditation, allowing the court to consider other accrediting bodies in the future.
LawVu Launches AI Tool to Scan Contract Risks
LawVu has launched LawVu Lens, an AI-powered tool designed to help in-house legal teams analyze risks across their entire contract portfolios. Built into the company’s LegalOS platform, the tool uses natural-language queries to help teams identify trends, protect revenue, prepare for M&A audits and respond to regulatory challenges. After testing the technology with customers for several months, LawVu says it will continue refining Lens based on legal teams’ workflows and pain points. The launch reflects a broader push to help legal departments turn the data they already generate into actionable insights.
