Macfarlanes progresses AI strategy announcing partnership with Harvey

The firm continues to look closely at cutting edge, technological solutions for legal problems to offer innovative ways of tackling clients’ most complex issues, as well as developing and streamlining the firm’s existing services. Generative AI has the power to significantly enhance the efficiency of legal services. The firm is committed to exploring and supporting the development of these tools and the early adoption of new generative AI tools is just one part of the firm’s AI strategy which intends to complement and support the firm’s legal expertise.

The Harvey roll out follows a pilot programme undertaken earlier in the summer, carried out by more than 70 fee earners and knowledge lawyers across the firm.

Harvey, which is backed by the OpenAI Startup Fund, is built on OpenAI and ChatGPT technology. It is a platform that uses natural language processing, machine learning and data analytics to automate and enhance various aspects of legal work such as reviewing, analysing and/or summarising documents. It can answer general legal questions, as well as undertake drafting, providing new and efficient solutions which would not be possible without technological innovation. All outputs will be carefully monitored and reviewed by Macfarlanes lawyers.

Commenting on the partnership, Luke Powell, Managing Partner at Macfarlanes said: ‘‘It is clear that generative AI will become widely integrated into the way that the legal sector supports its clients. Our partnership with Harvey demonstrates how we continue to progress our AI strategy, which has the potential to transform the way we provide solutions and services for our clients.”

Head of Lawtech and Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer Chris Tart-Roberts said: “The potential for generative AI in law lies in augmentation; to support lawyers to do elements of their job better and smarter, benefiting users of legal services via improved efficiency and enhanced service. We are excited to be at the forefront of this technology’s evolution, which has potential to shift the paradigm. Partnering with Harvey provides a unique chance to be a part of the development of transformative AI.” 

Gabriel Pereyra, Co-founder of Harvey, said: "Building Generative AI systems requires deep partnerships with domain experts to ensure the systems are safe, accurate, and useful. We are lucky to have found such a partnership with Macfarlanes and are excited to work closely with them to develop more advanced Generative AI systems for law."

Winston Weinberg, Harvey Co-founder and President, said: "We are delighted to partner with Macfarlanes, a firm that shares our vision of using generative AI to empower lawyers and enhance legal services. Macfarlanes has been an invaluable collaborator in testing and refining our platform, and we look forward to working with them to unlock new possibilities and opportunities for their clients and lawyers.”