Artificial intelligence has become a routine topic of discussion between law firms and their corporate clients, but the nature of those conversations has changed significantly over the past few years. Early discussions often centered on whether outside counsel should use AI at all. Today, clients have moved beyond that threshold question and instead want to understand how AI is being used, what safeguards govern its use, and how it can create greater value without compromising quality, confidentiality, or professional judgment.
To better understand this evolving landscape, The National Law Review spoke with leaders at Vinson & Elkins, Crowell & Moring, Cozen O'Connor, and Blank Rome.
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The industry leaders consistently emphasized that clients do not view innovation and risk management as competing priorities.
As Ashton Batchelor, Chief Innovation and Value Officer at Blank Rome, explained: “Innovation and AI governance aren't mutually exclusive; they reinforce each other.” Rather than trading confidentiality or quality for efficiency, clients increasingly expect firms to leverage AI responsibly while maintaining the same standards of legal excellence they have always demanded.
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Batchelor compared AI governance to the evolution of cybersecurity requirements, observing that “AI governance is becoming as ubiquitous as information security and pricing in outside counsel engagements.” While governance expectations continue to evolve, she expects greater convergence across the legal industry as clients and firms develop more consistent standards for responsible AI use.
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“What Corporate Clients Want to Know About Law Firms' Use of AI,” by Olivia Gang was published in the National Law Review on August 21, 2026.