Zoe-Allen Robinson from Charles Russell Speechlys explains why onboarding a new client hinges on having the full picture. While they might pass as low-risk today, that profile could change in the future. Having the right technology tools from the start is key to getting a comprehensive view of their background, activities, and reputation. Lawyers also have to cut through lots of information, but AI can help by drawing out connections that they might miss. When adopting an AI tool, though, it’s crucial to understand where it collects information from, how it collects that information, and the sources of that information. Keep watching for more on adopting AI in your workflows.

The public and regulatory mood has shifted. Law firms no longer ask “can we do business?” with a client but “should we?” This is a complex and nuanced question that existing tools and processes are ill-equipped to answer. So, what role can AI play here? Or more precisely, what role should it play? The general consensus is AI technology has its role to play. But law firms need to be confident in, and understand, the capabilities of the systems they use to support their compliance activities. Where the technology really shows its value is in its ability to do the heavy lifting by providing large amounts of data about individuals or companies. Having access to open-source information to support decision-making is highly beneficial. Thinking about it in the context of anti-money laundering (AML), that’s one thing. But as we discuss in this session, compliance is expanding it into the wider ESG sphere and AI technology can help.