Former Dentons UKIME innovation head Joe Cohen has joined UK top 40 law firm Charles Russell Speechlys as its new director of innovation.
Cohen, who has previously held senior innovation roles at both Slaughter and May and Linklaters, will spearhead the private capital firm’s initiatives and strategies for client service and internal operations.
While at Dentons he led the creation of fleetAI, a proprietary version of ChatGPT based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 Large Language Model. Cohen envisaged that fleetAI could be a less expensive alternative to Microsoft Copilot.
Simon Ridpath, managing partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, said: “We are confident that Joe’s appointment will enhance our ability to adapt to an ever-changing legal landscape and empower our clients with strategic and innovative solutions.”
Cohen added, “[Charles Russell Speechlys] has a stellar reputation for excellence in private capital internationally, and I look forward to collaborating with our talented teams across the firm to push the boundaries of innovation within the legal industry. By embracing cutting-edge technologies, we will enhance our capabilities, improve efficiency, and ensure our clients receive the best possible legal solutions.”
In June, Charles Russell Speechlys launched its ‘Private Office’ headed by former Barclays private banker Marcus Yorke-Long to provide clients with a broader range of advisory services.
Legal Business reported in August that Charles Russell Speechlys’ latest financial results saw revenue rise by 9% to hit £193.7m, while profit dipped by 8% to £37.1m. PEP also fell very slightly, from £524,000 to £521,000. The firm reported a total of 73 equity partners, down from 77 last year, while total lawyer headcount increased from 546 to 603. It is four years through a five-year strategy under which it plans to further unite its transactional and private client offerings.
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Dentons’ UKIME innovation head says private ChatGPT fleetAI could be alternative to Copilot