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As AI reshapes legal services, one BigLaw executive has reinforced that firms must balance practical adoption and responsible governance while ensuring human judgement remains key to the future of law.
Luke Kendall, chief investment officer of BigLaw firm Gadens, spoke with Lawyers Weekly about how the firm is moving beyond AI experimentation to embed the technology across its operations, balancing innovation with governance and professional accountability.
A finalist in the Australian AI Awards 2026, Kendall shared with Lawyers Weekly why thought leadership in the legal profession is paramount to responsible adoption, along with noting how AI is reshaping client service and professional development.
Along with many other professionals, Kendall stressed why human judgement will remain integral to the future of legal practice, particularly as technology continues to evolve at an exponential rate.
From AI trials to adoption
Kendall highlighted that the firm’s approach to AI has evolved as the technology has matured, shifting the focus from experimentation to practical implementation.
“Gadens was an early adopter of generative AI, including partnering with Lext in 2023 to customise its Playbooks platform for faster contract review,” Kendall said.
“As the market has matured, we’ve expanded our approach and consolidated onto the platforms that best suit how we work, including Microsoft 365 Copilot and Harvey.
“While AI continues to evolve rapidly, our focus has shifted from experimentation and adoption to enablement and integration.
“We’re embedding AI into day-to-day work and equipping our people with the training, guidance and governance needed to use it effectively.”
This implementation is assisted by dedicated leadership and a governance framework designed to balance innovation with professional accountability.
“More recently, we’ve appointed a dedicated head of AI to drive enablement across our practice groups.
“All of this sits within an AI governance framework aligned to ISO/IEC 42001, the international standard for AI management systems, which builds on our existing ISO 27001 certification for information security.
“Each AI system is risk-assessed before it’s approved for use, and our lawyers remain accountable for any advice or work delivered to clients.”
Leading AI in the legal sector
Beyond their own implementation, Kendall believes that law firms have a responsibility to contribute to more extensive conversations about how AI can be adopted across the legal profession.
“As a leading national law firm, we have a responsibility not only to adopt AI, but to help shape the conversation around its role in the future of legal services,” Kendall said.
“The decisions we make today will define how we work tomorrow, and we want to be at the forefront of that change.
“We feel we’re dealing with a truly transformative technology, and many aspects of how law firms operate will continue to evolve as AI becomes more deeply embedded in legal practice.
“That applies across the whole transformation, from how we serve our clients, to how we run our teams, to how we train our people and how we govern the use of AI.”
Kendall noted that sharing practical experience can help organisations combat the challenges of implementation, governance, and capability.
“Many of our clients are working through the same questions around governance, risk, capability and implementation,” he said.
“We see real value in sharing what we’ve learnt along the way and contributing to a practical, informed conversation about how organisations can adopt AI responsibly and effectively.”
The future of AI in law
Looking towards the future of law, Kendall expects AI will not only change how legal work is completed but also how firms interact with their clients and deliver services.
“I believe we’ll see a progressive shift in how legal services are delivered and how they’re consumed, with firms and clients increasingly exploring new ways of working and engaging,” Kendall said.
“I also expect a shift in deeper collaboration with clients, including the development of integrated solutions that combine legal services with technology and other adjacent offerings.”
However, Kendall ultimately believes technology will also create issues for professional development, specifically regarding ensuring emerging lawyers continue to build the judgement required for legal practice.
