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Leading Through AI: The Human Challenges Facing Law Firm Leaders

As AI reshapes legal work, how are law firm leaders navigating uncertainty, shifting professional identity and new capability demands?

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Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming embedded in legal work. Yet while technological capability is advancing quickly, many of the real challenges facing law firms are human: confidence in new tools, evolving professional identity, and how leaders guide their organisations when the future of the profession is still taking shape. 

In this webinar, RSGI and The Positive Group brought together senior law firm leadership and psychological insight to explore what effective leadership looks like as AI begins to reshape legal practice. 

Moderated by Yasmin Lambert (RSGI), the session featured a conversation with Wendy Butler Curtis, Chief Innovation Officer at Orrick, and Michael Gerstenzang, Senior Partner at Cleary Gottlieb, alongside psychologist and Chief Science Officer Dr Sinéad Devine-French (The Positive Group). 

Together, the panel discussed how leaders are navigating sustained uncertainty, how emotional and professional identity responses influence engagement with AI, and which human capabilities are becoming more important as automation takes on routine legal work. The discussion also drew on new research by The Positive Group and RSGI exploring the behavioural factors shaping AI adoption in law, based on interviews with innovators and leaders across the sector. 

The session concluded with an audience Q&A and reflections from panellists on what remains most unresolved as the profession navigates this next phase of transformation. 

The Contributors

Dr Sinéad-Devine-French

Dr Sinéad Devine-French

Chief Science Officer

Sinéad leads the design of science-led solutions, translating neuroscience and behavioural psychology into practical strategies for leadership and performance. She partners with senior leaders to build the human capabilities needed to navigate complexity and lead effectively in an AI-enabled world.

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Wendy Butler Curtis

Chief Innovation Officer Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Orrick has been ranked a top 20 law firm for innovation for 20 consecutive years by the Financial Times, which also named Wendy the Most Innovative Lawyer in 2018 and one of the Top 20 Innovators over the past 20 years in 2025. Clients note Wendy has "introduce[ed] many new technologies and delivery models that have transformed the way the firm operates and works with clients." 

Michael A. Gerstenzang

Senior Partner, Cleary Gottlieb

Michael became Senior Partner at Cleary Gottlieb in January 2026 after serving as Managing Partner from 2017 through 2025. As Senior Partner, Michael focuses on expanding the firm’s technology and practice innovation initiatives, deepening relationships with clients, engaging with its alumni community and supporting its Managing Partner and Executive Committee.

Yasmin Lambert

Managing Director and Founding Shareholder, RSGI

Yasmin has been a senior leader at RSG Consulting, and now RSGI, for 17 years, helping to grow the business into a leading advisory and intelligence agency for the global legal industry. Each year, RSGI conducts over 2,000 interviews with leaders and innovators at the world’s largest law firms and corporate legal departments, helping to chart the latest legal industry trends in innovation, AI, and new business and talent models.

Jazz Croft

Dr Jazz Croft

Senior Science Communications and Research Manager

Jazz leads Positive's research communications and content strategy, translating behavioural science into clear, compelling narratives. She holds a PhD in psychiatric epidemiology and previously worked with digital health start-ups on research and communications.