Wellbeing focus isn't limited to just offering resources and support, the partner says
Earlier this week, A&O Shearman partner Simone Lowes shared why relationship building is so important to her as a lawyer. In the second part of this interview, she tells Australasian Lawyer her thoughts on AI and why cultivating a supportive and safe environment for those who work in the law is critical to the legal profession.
What should the profession focus more on?
I believe the legal profession needs to place greater emphasis on mental health and wellbeing. The demands of the job can be intense, and it’s crucial that we foster a supportive and safe work environment for everyone. This means not only providing resources and support for those who need it, but also actively working to reduce the stigma around mental health issues. By prioritising wellbeing, we can help ensure that our colleagues are able to thrive both professionally and personally.
What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
A significant challenge is the rapid advancement of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, which is changing the way legal services are delivered. Firms need to adapt quickly to these changes in order to remain competitive and continue to meet clients’ evolving needs.
What are your thoughts on new technology and its impact on the legal profession?
I see new technology, especially artificial intelligence, as a positive development for the legal profession. AI has the potential to streamline many routine tasks, allowing lawyers to focus on more complex and strategic work. This can lead to greater efficiency and better outcomes for clients. A great example of this is Harvey – we were the first law firm to deploy generative AI enterprise-wide. It now saves 2-3 hours per week on routine tasks, generates first drafts of materials to reach a final version more quickly, and provides us with information drawn from vast data sets to help inform our advice.
A&O Shearman and Harvey are now launching a series of agentic, multi-step reasoning AI agents for complex legal tasks. The agents integrate A&O Shearman’s legal expertise and will be rolled out internally as well as being sold to clients and other law firms. Embracing technology also enables us to deliver services in more innovative ways, which is essential in a rapidly changing business environment.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
What I’m most looking forward to in the coming year is working closely with my colleagues and clients on their M&A and private capital deals. There are already several interesting opportunities in the market, and even more are expected soon. With new regulations to consider and ongoing global challenges, I’m keen to continue to help clients successfully complete their deals, no matter what comes up.
