He was previously the Barreau du Québec’s advisor on predictive technologies and AI
Philip Louis, formerly the Barreau du Québec’s former advisor on predictive technologies and artificial intelligence, has joined Lavery as its senior director of innovation and digital transformation.
Louis will be key to developing Lavery’s innovation and digital transformation strategy, collaborating with the legal, technology and compliance teams as well as with the legal affairs and innovation chief to structure and spearheading a technology initiatives portfolio. He is also tasked with tracking technological developments and evaluating their effect on the legal sector.
He will help set development processes, define acceptance criteria, and implement appropriate governance.
“Innovation in the legal field truly comes into its own when it tangibly enhances professionals’ ability to better serve their clients. When properly managed, artificial intelligence becomes a powerful tool for improving the quality of analysis, accelerating information processing, and refocusing lawyers’ work on higher value-added issues,” Louis said in a statement.
At the Barreau du Québec, Louis helped design organizational guidelines and guided decision-makers on professional ethics and access to justice-related issues. He developed tools, guides, and training programs centered on responsible AI use.
He brings experience and strategic knowledge on ethical and responsible AI use in the legal profession. He trained in responsible AI and human rights at Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, and was in the first-ever AI Brigade of the Conseil de l’innovation du Québec cohort.
By combining his responsible AI training with programming and emerging technology expertise, Louis could close the gap between legal, technological and operational dimensions in innovation, Lavery said.
“Integrating AI into a law firm like ours requires a structured, well-governed approach aligned with our professional obligations.Philip’s expertise allows us to go further, more efficiently, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and protection for our clients,” said Loïc Berdnikoff, who was named chief innovation officer at Lavery last month.
The firm recently debuted its closed-loop generative AI interface Billy in line with its strategy to develop in-house tools instead of adopting what it described as “generic commercial solutions.” Lavery said Louis would contribute to the firm’s responsible innovation capacity and help integrate compliance, professional ethics, confidentiality and user acceptability considerations into its solutions.
Louis will be based in Montréal.
