Highlights
- Nikhil Narendran, Partner and Head of the Digital Innovation Group at Trilegal emphasizes the firm’s commitment to leveraging AI and advanced technologies to enhance legal services, setting it apart from competitors through improved accuracy and efficiency.
- Trilegal’s Digital Innovation Group fosters a culture of continuous learning by implementing individualized Learning Management Systems and providing regular training sessions to equip associates with the necessary skills to excel in a technology-driven legal landscape.
- Thomas J. Vallianeth, Counsel, and Kuruvila M. Jacob, Senior Associate highlight their unique experiences in the firm, where they engage in leadership and project management roles, driving meaningful change and contributing to AI-driven initiatives that enhance productivity and strategic thinking.
Nikhil Narendran, Partner, TMT, and Head Digital Innovation Group, Trilegal speaks with ETLegalWorld on how Trilegal leverages AI and advanced technologies to enhance legal services. He highlights that Trilegal’s Digital Innovation Group drives efficiency and innovation through bespoke tools and strategic partnerships, like with Lucio, for document review and analysis.
Q. What is the role of technology in setting Trilegal apart from competitors, enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness of services, and enabling employees to deliver superior products?
Trilegal’s Digital Innovation Group (DIG) is leveraging AI and advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency and quality of our work.
DIG focuses on three themes: (1) Operational – Excellence through SLA-based delivery of IT services; (2) Change – Continuous improvements in the firm’s processes; and most importantly; (3) Transform – Adoption of new-age technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, data analytics). DIG is the convergence of partners, function heads, and IT leads to design, deliberate, and implement cutting-edge technological solutions to transform workflows.
Our approach involves building bespoke tools, procuring cutting-edge solutions, and incubating innovative ideas to drive transformation. For this, we work with not only the established players but also startups and create sandbox internally to test proof of concepts.
Our recent collaboration with Lucio exemplifies our commitment to transformative solutions by empowering lawyers to carry out several tasks efficiently while maintaining client data confidentiality. We are implementing a comprehensive document management system that will be integrated with AI capabilities, both generative and predictive. By deeply integrating technology, Trilegal as a firm aims to deliver exceptional, timely, and tailored legal solutions, distinguishing us within the legal industry.
Q. What role does technology play in the day-to-day functioning of your firm, especially in managing client interactions and case files?
At Trilegal, technology is integrated into every part of our operations, from internal workflows to client service, helping us streamline processes and deliver impactful results, while maintaining the highest standards of client data security and confidentiality. We use technology across several key areas:
Hybrid Document Management System (DMS): We’re finishing our implementation of a next-generation DMS, built internally, that auto-classifies and indexes content, making documents easy to search and access.
Document Review Automation: AI tools automate the review of compliance documents, contracts, and due diligence materials.
Knowledge Banks & AI Insights: AI-driven document analysis summarizes and compares large volumes of documents, providing comprehensive trend insights.
Partner Dashboards: Real-time dashboards allow us to plan engagements and allocate resources, improving business management.
Knowledge Management and Credential Management: Our internal database enables easy updates and searches, helping lawyers create targeted, persuasive client pitches and memos.
CRM and ERP: We manage client onboarding and billing through our internally built CRM and ERP systems
Regular feedback and reviews ensure we continuously improve and meet client needs.
Q. How advanced technology at Trilegal allow for the customization of legal services tailored to the specific needs of various service sectors (including any data/trend to be shared as results)?
We have implemented workflows based on advanced technology to deliver customized legal services tailored to clients’ specific needs. Our integration of Lucio augments our capability for document review, analysis of large document sets as part of due diligence, organisation of data room documents as well as other features such as OCR and translation and tracking of revisions. These empower lawyers to automate routine tasks, allowing them to focus on high-value strategic work for clients.
Q. How has the strategic partnership with Lucio and the specific AI features and capabilities enabled at Trilegal?
Our strategic partnership with Lucio marks an important step in Trilegal’s efforts to transform legal service delivery through Gen-AI technology. Lucio’s platform provides various tools, including AI-powered document summarization, interactive reviews, and efficient case file organization, helping us streamline tasks like due diligence and discovery. Additional features such as OCR, and redaction of sensitive information further improve efficiency and accuracy of our lawyers.
This collaboration allows our lawyers to focus on high-value, strategic legal work while maintaining the highest standards of data security and confidentiality in respect of client data.
This reinforces our position as a leader in AI adoption within the Indian legal sector.
Q. What are the ethical considerations and practices Trilegal adheres to when implementing AI-powered tools in their legal processes to ensure responsible use?
At Trilegal, we prioritize Responsible AI use with a strong framework to ensure accuracy, accountability, and reliability. Our processes include human oversight to address challenges like biases and errors, with rigorous testing and lawyer training to support responsible use. Additionally, we respect our clients’ AI policies, ensuring our use aligns with their standards. This approach helps us us.e AI responsibly while delivering trusted and professional services.
Q. How does your firm invest in the development and training of younger associates to equip them for leadership roles?
At Trilegal, we are committed to fostering the development of younger associates by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel and grow into future leadership roles.
Associates are trained and encouraged to adopt AI-driven tools that provide real-time insights and resources responsibly, enabling them to master complex legal processes and deliver high-quality results to clients.
Regular workshops, webinars, and feedback-driven improvement sessions are also organized to hone key skills.
We are also implementing an individualized and self-paced Learning Management System (LMS) tailored to each associate’s persona and role to enable them to build expertise in areas of interest while also addressing the specific requirements of their roles.
By embedding technology and mentorship and providing opportunities to be a stakeholder in key AI-driven initiatives, Trilegal ensures that our young lawyers are not just proficient practitioners but also dynamic leaders ready to drive the firm’s vision forward.
Insights from the Trilegal:
Thomas J Vallianeth (Counsel): “I have had the unique opportunity to be at the forefront of our firm’s efforts to drive efficiency through technology. The firm has entrusted me with responsibilities beyond technical legal expertise, exposing me to leadership, project management, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. These experiences have allowed me to drive meaningful change within the firm and shaped me into a more holistic professional.”
Kuruvila M. Jacob (Senior Associate): “Being a technology lawyer in the digital innovation group has expanded my role beyond conventional legal practice. I am actively involved in testing AI solutions, identifying solutions, and contributing to strategies that drive productivity in the firm. I have been able to contribute meaningfully to projects while developing skills like project management and strategic thinking. These unique experiences allow me to grow as a lawyer and as a leader, preparing me to tackle the challenges of a rapidly evolving profession. It’s a rare chance to think beyond the law and develop a well-rounded skill set that’s invaluable in today’s age.”
