Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model

2025 Edition

Generative AI-CentricLaw Firm Model

A revolutionary approach to integrating Generative Al into legal practice.

Discover how the Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model is shaping the future of the legal industry. Developed from insights gathered from 87 global leaders, this framework introduces an innovative approach to strategically integrating Generative AI, connecting key operational areas. The outcome is a transformed legal practice, featuring optimized processes and elevated legal services to a new standard of excellence.

Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Framework

The global legal sector is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by Generative AI. While this technology is already known, its full potential is still being uncovered. Recognizing this, we developed the Generative AI-Centric Legal Services Models series, offering frameworks for the strategic adoption of this innovation in law firms and legal departments.

Given the complexity of its application, knowledge sharing is crucial to maximize AI's benefits, overcoming uncertainties and risks. Collaboration is key to strengthening the legal market, enabling strategies that extend the impact of this innovation. The competitive edge of each organization will be directly tied to its ability to align AI integration, fostering a cultural and organizational transformation.

In this context, we present the first publication in the series, focusing on law firms: the Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model. Conceived by Paulo Silvestre, who invited the renowned professional Alexandre Zavaglia to collaborate in its development. Grounded in extensive research, hypothesis validation, and dialogues with global organizations, this framework proposes a strategic integration of AI into law firm operations.

The structure is built around four operational cores: Client Service, Legal Services, Risk Analysis, and Knowledge Management. By strategically aligning these cores, we set a new standard for the legal sector, where each, driven by AI, plays a crucial role within a dynamic ecosystem.

The key differentiator lies in the synergy between these cores, enhancing service quality and amplifying results. This approach enables data-driven decision-making, increasing agility within the firm and systematizing organizational knowledge. The result is a virtuous cycle of growth and innovation, where technology not only integrates but also amplifies the potential of firms to deliver exceptional service.

Open Letter

Dear colleagues,

Throughout history, the fear of the future has always been present. Every innovation, no matter how promising, has brought with it doubts and uncertainties. This was predictable. We are naturally inclined to question the unknown, hesitating in the face of changes that are beyond our control. Yet, without exception, it has been these very transformations that have redefined our potential, elevating what we once believed to be possible.

Today, we are witnessing a new chapter of this narrative in the legal sector. The arrival of Generative Artificial Intelligence is provoking the same kind of reaction: distrust, fear, and even resistance. The issue is no longer how this technology works but how it will impact our work and even our relevance in the market. Contrary to what some may believe, the answer doesn't lie in what we might lose, but in what we are about to gain.

Looking back, we see that the greatest leaps in evolution occurred when we embraced technology as an ally, not as a threat. Generative AI follows this same logic. It hasn't come to replace legal intelligence but to amplify it: to take on repetitive tasks, process vast volumes of information, and allow us to focus on what truly matters—strategy, ethics, innovation, and critical judgment.

Imagine a scenario where, instead of investing hours in searches and mechanical processes, we are able to dedicate our time to what truly differentiates lawyers in the market: vision, strategic reasoning, and the human touch in relationships. Generative AI does not diminish the value of legal practice; it redefines the way we create that value.

But here's the truth that few are willing to admit: it's not the technology that intimidates us. The real challenge is how we will use it. And this is where the "Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model" comes in. It not only provides a structured path but also aligns AI with business strategy. It transforms AI into a tool that works for us, enhancing our intellectual capital and freeing up time for what truly makes an impact.

Those who believe that the democratization of Generative AI will eliminate our competitive advantage are oversimplifying the scenario. The difference doesn't lie in the technology itself but in how each firm integrates it into its reality, adapting it to its specific needs. The secret isn't in adopting AI in a generic way but in tailoring its application, combining the power of technology with our legal intelligence, making AI an extension of who we already are.

Firms that think simply acquiring an AI solution will solve their problems, without aligning it with their business strategy, will certainly be left behind. The true competitive advantage will come to those who know how to unite innovation and purpose, without losing sight of what makes us essential in this process: our ability to think, to decide, and to solve problems with empathy and foresight.

Generative AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to amplify the value we deliver to our clients. It does not replace us; it enhances us. It creates space for human intelligence—the kind that interprets nuances, balances interests, and sees beyond the obvious—to shine even brighter.

The future of law is ahead of us. And it will not be shaped by those who wait, but by those who act. It will not be claimed by those who resist but by those who understand that, just as in the past, the new can elevate us to previously unimaginable heights.

With confidence and vision,

Paulo Silvestre de Oliveira Junior

Highlights

of firms see Generative AI as a disruptive opportunity, transforming legal services.

of clients already frequently show interest in new technologies, like Generative AI, in legal services.

of firms plan to increase their investment in Generative AI over the next three years.

believe Generative AI will create more collaborative, data-driven relationships between lawyers and clients.

Redefining and Empowering Today's Lawyer to Shape the Future

Download the Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model

The Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model is a holistic and strategic approach, promoting the integration of artificial intelligence across all aspects of a law firm. It covers client relationships, legal service delivery, knowledge management, and risk analysis. The model emphasizes the importance of governance, ethics, and strategic alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring continuous and sustainable growth for law firms.

About the creators

The Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model is a fully independent initiative that reflects the vision and expertise of its creators. With a technology-agnostic approach, this model was developed through practical testing, in-depth research, and strategic references, condensing insights gathered over years of experience in the legal sector. Notably, the entire effort was undertaken without sponsorships, funding, or external influences, ensuring that its content offers a critical and specialized analysis of how Generative AI is transforming legal practice. The publication of the model underscores the authors' commitment to sharing knowledge with the market, fostering an open-source environment that encourages collective learning and the development of strategies to shape the future of law and legal services.

Paulo Silvestre de Oliveira Junior
is a specialist in innovation and strategic development with over 14 years of experience in the legal sector. He has collaborated with some of the most prominent law firms in Brazil and internationally, leading high-impact projects in litigation, advisory, and administrative areas. Paulo is the creator of the globally recognized Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model, a framework designed for the strategic adoption of Generative AI in the legal field. He also led the first generative AI project applied to law in Latin America, in partnership with Microsoft, further solidifying his expertise in addressing global challenges in the sector.
Paulo holds a degree in Strategic Management from IBTA, with specializations in Business Innovation and an MBA in Information Security from FIAP. He also completed a specialization in Corporate Innovation and Digital Strategy from MIT. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the title "Data & AI - Inspiring Leader 2023" and nominated for the "Forward Future - Visionary Leader 2024."
Currently, he is the founder of IT Legal Experts - Innovation & Technology, the author of Direito em Transformação – Estratégia e Inovação para Advogados, and co-author of several publications on the strategic use of technology in law.

Alexandre Zavaglia Coelho
is one of the pioneers in applying artificial intelligence to the legal sector in Brazil, with nationally and internationally recognized projects. He is the director of Legal&Tech Design and serves as an advisor and consultant to several startups and tech companies. As a Master of Law and Ph.D. candidate at TIDD/PUC-SP, his research focuses on AI Governance and Ethics.
He also holds degrees in Digital Law from FGV-SP, Strategic Data Storytelling from the University of Chicago, and Management of Technology: Roadmap & Development from MIT.
In addition to his academic achievements, he is a postgraduate and LLM (Master of Law) professor in AI & Law at the University of Lisbon. He is also a member of RECSAI.org, an international consortium of experts in AI regulation, economics, and computer science. Furthermore, he leads research on AI regulation and governance at CEPI-FGV Direito SP.

This report provides a detailed analysis, blending quantitative and qualitative approaches on the development of the Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model. The study gathers insights from 87 professionals from global law firms, including leaders in strategic markets such as Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Generative AI-Centric Law Firm Model sets a new standard for AI integration in the legal sector. Focused on efficiency and innovation, the model transforms law firm operations, balancing automation with human expertise. Beyond optimizing knowledge management and risk analysis, the model reinforces a commitment to responsible governance and alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, preparing firms to lead the next era in legal services.

Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.