Hogan Lovells Cadwalader adopts dual AI platform strategy with Harvey and Legora

Dimitar Dimitrov is acting senior content and events coordinator at LawCareers.Net

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Hogan Lovells Cadwalader has selected both Harvey and Legora as part of a new firmwide AI strategy, departing from the approach taken by many large law firms that have opted to partner with a single legal AI provider.

The two platforms will be used alongside ELTEMATE, the firm's in-house legal technology business, which develops technology for both clients and lawyers. The move reflects a broader strategy focused on combining external AI products with proprietary technology.

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader CEO Miguel Zaldivar said the firm had chosen a multi-platform approach because no single AI provider could "meet every need of a global law firm”.

Zaldivar said: "Our strategy is to combine the best technology available with innovations we build ourselves, ensuring we remain agile, differentiated and focused on the needs of our clients."

The decision marks a contrast with a growing trend among leading law firms, where Harvey and Legora have increasingly competed for exclusive firmwide contracts.

Under the firm's model, Harvey and Legora will operate alongside ELTEMATE, which will continue to develop proprietary tools, workflows and client-facing technology solutions. The legal technology arm is led by co-CEOs Sebastian Lach in Frankfurt and Manon Cordewener in Amsterdam.

As part of the wider overhaul, the firm has established a new AI board responsible for determining which technology projects should be developed internally and which should be sourced from external providers.

Washington-based partner Paul Otto has been named managing partner for legal technology and AI, while London partner Oliver Campbell has taken on the role of chief transformation officer.

In addition, the firm has created a new commercial unit covering pricing, legal project management and client delivery. The division will be led by Washington-based partner Bill Ferreira.

The announcement comes three months after Hogan Lovells completed its merger with Wall Street firm Cadwalader, creating Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. Zaldivar said the enlarged firm had the scale to invest in technology and AI while maintaining strategic control within the partnership.

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