Akin Hires Jeff Westcott as Director, Practice Technology & AI Innovation

(London) – Akin is pleased to announce that Jeff Westcott has rejoined the firm as director of practice technology & AI innovation, where he will further enhance the firm’s legal technology innovation efforts with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to enhance client service.

A legal technologist with more than 20 years of experience managing teams, projects, operations and innovation, Westcott has been at the forefront of launching the use of innovative generative AI tools in the legal industry. Westcott earned his Bachelor of Science from The University of Manchester and his MBA from Bayes Business School.

“We are enthusiastic about the potential for AI to enhance efficiency and client service,” said Akin chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “I’m delighted to welcome Jeff back to the firm in a new role that will accelerate the firm’s growth strategy and adoption of new and innovative AI tools that enable our lawyers to provide even greater levels of client service.  He will help further the work of our already stellar IT department.”

Based in the firm’s London office, Westcott will report to Chief Information Officer Aaron Ruleman and will help advance an ongoing strategic program of technology initiatives that contribute to the firm’s innovation strategy, roadmap and portfolio.

“Jeff is skilled technologist with a proven track record of innovating with new technologies while driving adoption of practical, real-world solutions,” said Akin chief information officer Aaron Ruleman. “He is a terrific addition to lead our practice innovation & emerging technologies group, leveraging the most cutting-edge technologies to empower our lawyers in delivering results for clients.”

“I’m thrilled to rejoin Akin, a firm with strong commitment to a culture of innovation at a time of exciting and rapid change for AI and emerging technologies,” said Westcott on his return to the firm. “I look forward to working with our lawyers and business professionals to utilize AI and other emerging technologies with applications that have immediate and practical applications on client service.”

Akin has been at the forefront of AI and machine learning (ML), including the groundbreaking legal data productivity platform, OverRuled, which uses Akin’s proprietary AI and ML algorithm to empower lawyers and compliance practitioners to search for and analyze sanctions and export control enforcement, interrogate guidance offered by regulators and calculate estimated penalties for suspected violations. The firm has also launched its own AI Law & Regulation Tracker, which contains curated global coverage of high-impact AI and ML developments with a searchable database as a quick resource for important updates.

The firm recently announced the addition of a three-partner technology transactions team in London, adding to Akin’s top-tier technology transactions platform, with Justin Stock joining as head of the firm’s international technology practice, along with Stephen Rosen and David Bresnick.

Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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