The Latin American Lawyer September 2018 LATAM MAGAZINE SEPT18 | Page 17

The Big Question
“We understand that this is a permanent global trend of which we must be part. We
understand there are processes that need to be optimised, although personal and
professional consultancy will also be a fundamental pillar when providing a quality
service focused on the needs of our clients. AI allows more repetitive tasks to be
delegated so that our lawyers can focus on offering advice that brings value, while
avoiding human error. We currently use AI through diverse tools and initiatives such as
eBrevia, a tool used to extract data from contracts, bringing precision and unprecedented
speed to the analytical process. For example, eBrevia is designed to recognise and extract
commonly used phrases in large documents. Tests show that it enables time savings of
between 30-90 per cent compared with manual revisions, and with at least 10 per cent more accuracy.
We also use Lancelaw, which is part of our digital transformation strategy in our Paris office. It’s a ‘robot-
assistant’ that provides lawyers with a weekly round-up of relevant and tailored news regarding the
transformation of the legal profession, as well as innovation.”
Raymundo E Enriquez
Mexico managing partner
Baker McKenzie
“Artificial intelligence is a natural ally for Hogan Lovells both in terms of our present and
future professional development. We are dedicating significant resources to capitalising on
the opportunities that it creates. This is to ensure that, rather than being taken by surprise
by AI, the firm is ready to take advantage of such technology from the outset. Time has
been wasted thinking that the role of lawyers can be replaced by AI. This is an exaggeration.
Firstly because many of our tasks involve personal interaction – as well as the capacity to
assimilate facts, perceptions, feelings and opinions – and this is something that AI is not able
to do, or at least not yet. While those variables remain true, AI will be channelled towards
facilitating the completion of mechanical and repetitive tasks, such as finding information and
comparing documents, as well as applying data and performing complex tasks that involve accessing archives
and generating answers.
AI can do many things for us, but its potential is even greater. We are making an effort at Hogan Lovells to
increase the number of tools we can offer our clients. We already use AI for legal auditing, making comparisons
of judicial precedents and performing basic contractual revisions, for example. However, in future, we will see
how our daily work will be flooded with a new arsenal of tools for quickly completing tasks that today take
more hours.”
Juan Francisco Torres Landa Ruffo
Partner
Hogan Lovells, Mexico
“As is the case in many other fields, artificial intelligence has recently begun to make inroads
into the legal profession. There is now a robot (branded ROSS) that law firms use when
handling a wide range of matters, in particular those relating to investigations and the
performance of repetitive and time-consuming tasks and processes. The aim of using AI is to
achieve increased operational efficiency through time and cost savings. This is done by freeing
up time that allows our lawyers to dedicate their time to more important matters, such as
providing legal counselling to clients in relation to much more complex issues.
Although in Morgan & Morgan we strive to remain up-to-date with advances in technology
that will, in one way or another, have an impact on the way we work, we are also aware
that there are issues – such as responsibility and confidentiality – that are fundamental principles within the
profession, and which should be taken into account when resorting to AI to help us perform our everyday tasks.”
Juan David Morgan
CEO
Morgan & Morgan, Panama
www.iberianlawyer.com/latin-america
September 2018 • THE LATIN AMERICAN LAWYER • 15