Macfarlanes, a London-based law firm, has revealed its forward actions in AI development by announcing its participation in the UK commercial preview of LexisNexis' latest launch, Lexis+ AI.

This participation is a clear signal of the progression of the firm's AI strategy which advocates for the exploration and nurturing of advanced generative AI in the legal sector, the company states.

LexisNexis is a globally recognised supplier of legal information and analytics. Lexis+ AI, its innovative generative AI solution, is built on LexisNexis' rich repository of legal content and has the advantages of AI combined with the company's proprietary search technology. This mix aims to enrich the legal content by enhancing both its accessibility and comprehensibility.

The features of Lexis+ AI technology includes conversational search, intelligent legal drafting capabilities, document upload capabilities, and robust summarisation.

At the same time, it secures sensitive data with unrivalled encryption and privacy technology. Macfarlanes' intention to trial the tools and provide feedback to the Lexis+ AI team underlines the law firm's commitment to improving the effectiveness of legal services with the help of technology.

Macfarlanes' involvement with AI expands beyond their use of Lexis Nexis; the firm also develops its own generative AI tools and collaborates with new external ones. Recently in September 2023, the firm announced its alliance with Harvey AI.

Macfarlanes' Managing Partner, Luke Powell, said: “This latest initiative solidifies our position as a firm of the future. Our generative AI strategy provides innovative ways of tackling clients’ most complex issues.”

Chris Tart-Roberts, Head of Lawtech and Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Macfarlanes, highlighted their expectation from the Lexis+ AI solution, commenting: “We are very excited to access the Lexis+ AI solution. Generative AI has the power to significantly enhance the efficiency of legal services and we are at the forefront of utilising these technologies to augment our lawyers.”

LexisNexis UK Managing Director, Gerry Duffy, also conveyed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying: “We’re thrilled to work with a firm who is so invested in supporting the development of generative AI. We look forward to seeing how the Lexis+ AI solution can streamline the existing services at Macfarlanes and support their legal expertise.”

The holistic and proactive approach Macfarlanes is taking towards AI adoption in law practice demonstrates its strong commitment to innovation and adaptability, cementing its place as a leading law firm of the future.

The firm states it is focused on bringing together a unique blend of expertise, agility and culture, providing the flexibility to meet challenging demands and adapt to the changing world.