Cooley chief executive and Ford general counsel warn AI threatens the traditional Big Law model
Ford's GC and Cooley's CEO warn AI is undermining the traditional Big Law model and pushing firms to adapt.Summary
Ford Motor Co.'s general counsel Steven Croley and Cooley CEO Rachel Proffitt separately warned that artificial intelligence is eroding the traditional Big Law model, noting that in-house teams are gaining AI-driven efficiencies faster than outside counsel and that AI-native firms are entering the market daily. Croley argued that Big Law's scale advantages may shrink and urged firms to adopt AI to deliver net savings or risk losing work to more agile competitors. Proffitt said treating AI as merely a tool weakens firms' foundations, pressured the billable hour model, and called for leaders to guide partners through change while experimenting with alternative fee arrangements. Both emphasized that legal professionals must adapt quickly, as client expectations shift and new tech-enabled competitors reshape the legal services landscape.
(Source：Complete Ai Training)