#USA #Cleary Gottlieb #New York #AI Innovation #Stanford Law

Cleary Gottlieb and Stanford Law School: Shaping the Future of Legal Technology

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, a prominent name in the legal field, has embarked on an innovative partnership with Stanford Law School’s Frontier Technology Lab, commonly referred to as liftlab. This collaboration aims to pioneer the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies within the legal sector, striving to modernize the way legal services are delivered.

The Role of a Founding Advisor

In a significant development for both institutions, Cleary Gottlieb will serve as a Founding Advisor on the advisory council of liftlab. This role allows the firm to engage in groundbreaking research that investigates how AI can reshape legal practices. Michael Gerstenzang, Cleary’s Managing Partner, emphasized the firm’s commitment to innovation, particularly in training and developing legal professionals. He noted that integrating AI into their operations could significantly enhance client service.

“At Cleary Gottlieb, our commitment to innovation has always included how we approach the training and development of our people,” Gerstenzang stated. By leveraging AI technologies, the firm aims to enhance the learning experience of lawyers, preparing them for the evolving landscape of legal services.

Focus on Legal Personas

A focal point of this partnership lies in the development of 'Legal Personas' – AI systems designed to simulate the reasoning abilities of experienced attorneys. This pioneering work provides a unique opportunity to reshape legal education, as it encourages dynamic learning experiences based on comprehensive research insights.

Victoria Albrecht, who directs AI Acceleration at Cleary, highlighted the transformative potential of these Legal Personas. “Liftlab is reimagining learning and development for the age of AI,” she explained. By utilizing these AI systems, younger lawyers can better understand the diverse perspectives of senior partners while ensuring the retention of crucial institutional knowledge.

Balancing AI with Human Insight

As Cleary Gottlieb advances its focus on AI innovation, a clear commitment to combining technological capability with human insight remains essential. Jeff Karpf, who will take on the role of Managing Partner beginning January 1, 2026, reiterated this sentiment. He affirmed that the collaboration with Stanford is focused on how AI enhances lawyers' capabilities without compromising the critical human judgement that epitomizes high-quality legal counsel.

Karpf remarked, “Our collaboration with Stanford will focus on advancing research that explores how AI can enhance the capabilities of our lawyers while preserving the critical human judgment that defines exceptional legal counsel.” This dual focus on technology and human skill is expected to set new standards within the legal industry.

Conclusion

The partnership between Cleary Gottlieb and Stanford Law School's liftlab marks a significant advance in the integration of technology in legal practice. By merging AI innovation with traditional legal expertise, the collaboration seeks not only to modernize legal education and practice but also to enhance the overall quality of client services in a rapidly changing world. As these two institutions work hand in hand, they are poised to redefine the future landscape of legal services, establishing a new paradigm that values both technological prowess and human intuition.