Global law firm Freshfields has announced it is ‘joining forces’ with Google Cloud to roll out its Gemini LLM capabilities across the business, as well as use Google’s Vertex AI platform to create bespoke AI agents for its legal and business processes.
The firm said that ‘alongside existing tools, Gemini with Google Workspace will give Freshfields’ employees access to [gen]AI that is embedded in tools like Docs, Sheets, and NotebookLM’.
In turn, this will allow the firm to provide a broad range of technology solutions that support the needs of Freshfields’ clients, alongside existing tech tools, they said.
In addition to Workspace, the firm will make use of Google’s Vertex AI platform, to create bespoke AI agents for its legal and business processes.
Freshfields also plans to use Agentspace, deploying agents that bring together Gemini’s advanced reasoning, Google-quality search, and enterprise data. As part of this upcoming work with Agentspace, NotebookLM will give employees the ability to quickly synthesize large quantities of information and uncover new insights, they said.
They gave the example of how Gemini will power Dynamic Due Diligence, Freshfields’ proprietary tool that is designed to enhance legal reviews and due diligence, ‘significantly improving the scale, accuracy, and efficiency of these processes’.
Freshfields Global Managing Partner, Alan Mason (pictured), said: ‘We have a mindset of client-centric innovation, delivered in a responsible way. This partnership with Google Cloud supports our innovation strategy by allowing us to tap into Google’s generative AI expertise for the benefit of our clients. We are focused on using the right tool for the right client, with the Google Cloud partnership enhancing our ability to collaborate more closely with clients to find the best solutions for their business and ours.’
Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud, commented: ‘Generative AI has the potential to transform the way people and teams navigate work, helping streamline everything from daily tasks to complex problem solving—especially in highly regulated industries. We’ve been a proud partner of Freshfields’ innovation journey for years with Google Workspace. We believe that our AI technologies can help Freshfields deliver new innovations for its organization, clients, and the legal industry overall.’
Is this a big deal? ……yes!
While other firms have charged ahead with announcement after announcement about their genAI moves, Freshfields – one of the Magic Circle in London – has remained fairly quiet. Now, in a major step they’ve teamed up with Google to roll out genAI capabilities across the business all in one go.
Moreover, they’re not making a small foray into AI, they’re getting into agentic tools, and creating products that will help internally and externally. So, quite a step. It also shows that systemic change in terms of AI adoption is taking root now right across the legal market. In fact, not making such grand moves may soon be the exception…
Congrats to the firm on this ambitious project.