The firm's website indicates the total number of AI Practice Champions has grown to 40, suggesting additional appointees beyond the 38 announced this week. The specific responsibilities and metrics for evaluating the champions' performance remain unclear.
For attorneys advising clients on AI adoption or managing technology risk, the move signals how major firms are now institutionalizing AI capability through dedicated internal roles. As law firms compete on technological sophistication, this formalized approach—grounded in the realities of legal practice rather than theoretical implementation—reflects a practical response to managing both the opportunities and governance challenges AI presents. Firms without similar structures may face competitive pressure to develop comparable internal expertise.