依赖人工智能改变法律行业的律师们继续离开传统律所，转而加入自称为“AI原生”的新创律所。最新动态是，Goodwin Procter私募与成长股权合伙人Leon Johnson周三表示，他将领导一家名为OmniLex Partners的美国新律所，该律所与总部位于苏黎世的科技公司Omnilex AI有关联。
Lawyers banking on artificial intelligence transforming the legal industry are continuing to leave traditional law firms for new startup firms that bill themselves as "AI-native." In the latest move, Goodwin Procter private equity and growth equity partner Leon Johnson said on Wednesday that he'll lead a new US law firm called OmniLex Partners associated with Zurich-founded technology company Omnilex AI.
此前曾在Kirkland & Ellis担任合伙人的Johnson告诉路透社，他过去两年一直在思考人工智能对法律实践的影响，以及这项技术如何能够使法律行业摆脱传统的“大所”商业模式。
Johnson, who was previously a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, told Reuters he spent the last two years thinking about AI’s impact on the practice of law and how the technology could allow a shift from the traditional Big Law business model.
随着人工智能能力的提升，“从初级律师开始，通过迭代审查和修改，直到资深律师最终完成工作”这种模式“实际上已经不太合理”，他说。
As AI capabilities improve, “that model of starting with junior attorneys and having iterative review and modifications until it gets all the way up to the senior attorney doesn’t really make as much sense,” he said.
身处旧金山的Johnson表示，他设想一种基于项目、成果和固定费用的律所模式，而不是按计费小时收费，并且在这种模式下，资深律师的工作将由人工智能辅助完成。
Johnson, who is based in San Francisco, said he envisions a law firm model based on projects, outcomes and fixed fees rather than the billable hour, and one in which the work of senior lawyers is facilitated by AI.
过去两年，其他具有传统企业律所背景的律师也做出了类似转变。Sidley Austin前执行委员会主席Mike Schmidtberger于1月加入了AI原生律所Norm Law，该所也从其他知名律所聘请了其他合伙人。Schmidtberger是Norm Law的主席及其私募基金和监管业务小组负责人。
Other lawyers with traditional corporate law firm backgrounds have made similar moves over the past two years. Mike Schmidtberger, the former executive committee chair of Sidley Austin, in January joined AI-native law firm Norm Law, which has also hired other partners from prominent firms. Schmidtberger is Norm Law’s chairman and head of its private funds and regulatory group.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan人工智能与数据分析小组的创始人Christopher Kercher于8月成立了一家律所，他告诉路透社，该所将重点利用人工智能进行诉讼。前Cooley律师创立了Soxton AI，而前Holland & Hart律师则在去年成立了Landfall IP。
Christopher Kercher, who founded Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan’s AI and data analytics group, launched a firm in August that he told Reuters will lean into using AI for litigation. A former Cooley associate founded Soxton AI, and former Holland & Hart lawyers launched Landfall IP last year.
Burford Capital副董事长David Perla以及曾为大型律所提供创新咨询的Sanjay Kamlani上月共同推出了一家专注于就业谈判和纠纷的AI律所，名为FairPlay Law。
Burford Capital vice chair David Perla and Sanjay Kamlani, who has advised big firms on innovation, last month unveiled an AI firm focused on employment negotiations and disputes called FairPlay Law.
法律招聘公司Whistler Partners的创始合伙人肖恩·伯克表示，该公司的合伙人和顶级律所合伙人都对AI原生律所感到好奇，该公司曾为包括Norm在内的AI原生律所招聘律师。“当他谈到此类律所时，每个人都会回电话，”他说。
Associates and top law firm partners are both curious about AI-native firms, said Sean Burke, founding partner of legal recruiting firm Whistler Partners, which has recruited lawyers for AI-native firms including Norm. “Everyone returns the phone call" when he's talking about such firms, he said.
一个AI原生律所的在线目录目前列出至少60家此类律所，尽管并非所有律所都这样自称。
An online directory of AI-native firms now lists at least 60 such firms, though not all describe themselves that way.
与许多AI律所一样，约翰逊表示，OmniLex将采用管理服务组织结构，这将使公司能够从投资者那里筹集资金。管理服务组织可以得到外部资本的支持，而传统律所则在很大程度上被禁止接受投资者所有权。
Like many AI law firms, Johnson said OmniLex will use a management services organization structure, which will allow the company to raise money from investors. MSOs can be backed by outside capital, unlike law firms that are largely prohibited from being owned by investors.
约翰逊表示，该美国律所最初将处理风险投资和初创企业工作以及常规、高诉讼量的事务。该律所将在加利福尼亚州启动，并计划在纽约开设办事处，此外还有更多律师招聘正在进行中。古德温律所的一位发言人暂未就其离职发表评论。
The US law firm will initially handle venture capital and startup work and routine, high-volume litigation matters, he said. The firm is launching in California with plans to open an office in New York, and has additional lawyer hires in the pipeline, Johnson said. A Goodwin spokesperson did not immediately comment on his departure.