Libby Jackson MBE

The move builds on the firm’s 2011 launch of its alternative legal services (ALT) team, headquartered in Belfast. It has established legal operations, digital transformation and emerging tech teams, which will join their ALT colleagues in the new practice of over 420 people.

Herbert Smith Freehills global CEO Justin D’Agostino said: “We have long used digital innovation to deliver better services to our clients. With every industry operating in increasingly complex environments, we need to keep pace with new digital solutions as they emerge.

“Bringing all our brightest legal tech minds into one practice, sharing resources and innovation, will accelerate these services.”

The digital legal delivery practice will be led by managing partner Libby Jackson MBE, working with the firm’s new chief technology officer David Turner.

“The new practice will enable us to rethink how we deliver all our core services to clients,” Ms Jackson said.

“We were an early adopter of traditional AI in law, often partnering with legal tech startups to transform how we managed and automated matters for clients. The new practice will enable us to scale up faster, redesign our technology stack and make the most of new research and tools as they emerge.

“We believe all HSF’s leading practices will be hugely enhanced by harnessing technology in this way.”