The First 90 Days vs The First 5 Years: Leading Innovation in Law Firms | Legal Soundings EP05

Legal Innovation Is No Longer Optional — It's Expected

Host Zena Applebaum talks with Wendy Curtis (Chief Innovation Officer, Orrick) and John Koss (Head of Innovation, AI, E-Data Consulting, Mintz) about leading innovation inside law firms — from day one to long-term impact.

Wendy brings 15+ years of building Orrick's innovation function; John is fresh off his first year after transitioning from litigation. They cover the real challenges: change management failures, measuring ROI beyond hours saved, combating tool fatigue, and why law departments are emerging as surprising early AI adopters.

Key takeaways:

• 92% of law firm COOs say innovation/KM is a 2026 priority
• Innovation teams need independence — own budgets, own structure
• Change management ownership must be assigned before buying any tool
• Measure success by the problem you set out to solve, not hours saved
• "Process pros, not tech pros" will unlock AI value
• Law departments are becoming early adopters of AI as a business function
• One word for 2026: "Hope" (Wendy) and "Confidence" (John)

Legal Soundings is the podcast from Harbor. 

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