Robots as Companions: Exploring the Next Frontier in Digital Transformation and Insurance with Alexandre Colle, KONPANION, and Tom Hughes, IUA

On today’s episode, Ben Shillito, founder of digital transformation consultancy Olus, joins Leo von Gerlach for a conversation about what happens when AI starts taking on the mechanics of legal work and how that could change the role of lawyers for good. Drawing on his experience across private practice, in-house legal teams and digital transformation, Ben argues that AI adoption is about far more than efficiency. The conversation explores whether lawyers could learn judgment the way pilots train in simulators, how teams should divide work between humans and technology, and what will distinguish the most successful firms when everyone has access to similar AI tools. Ultimately, Ben argues that as AI takes on more of the mechanics of legal work, lawyers will be free to focus on what has always been at the heart of the profession: helping people cooperate, navigate competing interests, and find common ground. About Olus: Olus is a consultancy focused on digital transformation for the legal sector, helping law firms, legal teams and professional services organizations adapt to emerging technologies and new ways of working. Combining legal expertise with transformation experience, Olus supports clients in navigating AI adoption, workforce change, and the evolving future of legal services.

What happens when lawyers spend a day building AI instead of learning about it? Joining Charmian Aw and Leo von Gerlach, Arne Thiermann and Daniel Mattig discuss the Hamburg AI Negotiation Challenge, an office-wide initiative that brought lawyers together to create AI-powered solutions for one of the most fundamental aspects of legal practice: negotiation. The conversation explores why negotiation proved to be the perfect testing ground for AI adoption, how teams combined legal expertise with emerging technology skills, and why the most effective solutions went beyond efficiency to rethink how lawyers prepare, train, and make decisions. Just as importantly, Daniel and Arne discuss a principle that guided the challenge from the outset: AI can enhance judgment, but it should never replace it. Along the way, they share lessons for any organization looking to turn curiosity into capability. From experimentation and collaboration to practical problem-solving, the challenge demonstrated that AI fluency is not built through presentations or theory alone. It develops when people are given the opportunity to work with the technology on real-world challenges together. About the Hamburg AI Negotiation Challenge: The Hamburg AI Negotiation Challenge brought together lawyers from across the office to develop practical AI solutions for negotiation and client work. Combining principles from the Harvard Negotiation Program with hands-on experimentation, participants designed and tested AI-powered tools to support preparation, training, strategy, and decision-making. The project demonstrates how immersive, collaborative learning can accelerate AI adoption while keeping human judgment firmly at the center of legal practice. About Hogan Lovells Cadwalader: Our Digital Transformation offering helps clients navigate the full breadth and depth of the seismic forces impacting their organizations – and today’s society. Drawing on the experience of more than 3,000 lawyers across 36+ offices worldwide, we provide integrated advice on the regulatory, governance, risk, and enforcement issues arising from emerging technologies and the broader digital economy. If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue bringing insightful conversations on digital transformation and law. Thank you for your support.

We're back with Season Five of The Influencers. This season, we turn the spotlight on one of the most pressing questions facing the legal profession today: how can lawyers continue to learn, adapt, and create value in an age of AI?

In this episode of The Influencers, Sophie Sohm, Privacy and Data Policy Manager at Meta, joins host Leo von Gerlach to explore the future of AI regulation in Europe. As governments race to establish guardrails for emerging technologies, Sophie argues that the biggest challenge is not the technology itself, but creating clear, practical rules that allow innovation to thrive. From AI adoption to regulatory reform, she explains what Europe must get right to remain competitive. About Sophie Sohm: At Meta, Sophie helps navigate the intersection of AI, privacy, and digital regulation in Europe. Previously with the European Parliament, she brings a policy-focused perspective to some of the most important technology debates shaping innovation today. Sophie also founded the German-speaking chapter of the Women in Security and Privacy (WISP) Network. About Hogan Lovells Cadwalader: Our Digital Transformation offering helps clients navigate the full breadth and depth of the seismic forces impacting their organizations – and today’s society. Leveraging team members across our 3200 lawyers on six continents, we provide integrated advice on the multifaceted regulatory, governance and enforcement issues and risks that arise across the many technologies and trends that comprise the new digital future. If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue bringing insightful conversations on digital transformation and law. Thank you for your support!

In this episode of The Influencers, digital marketing and transformation advisor Steven Golus joins host Leo von Gerlach to examine what is really holding organizations back from getting value out of AI. Across global media and technology businesses, teams are experimenting, but very few are integrating AI in a way that changes how they operate or compete.