When Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, an esteemed international law firm, decided to implement artificial intelligence in their operations, they knew the foundation had to be robust. They developed Wendell Intelligence, their bespoke AI orchestration platform, and later integrated it with Lexis+® with Protégé™, marking a significant enhancement in their legal services.

Todd Friedlich, the Director of AI & Innovation at Willkie, explained the firm's long-standing appreciation for LexisNexis services. The decision to incorporate Protégé APIs and the comprehensive Lexis+ stack was seen as a major opportunity. Friedlich, who has over two decades of experience in legal technology, emphasizes the importance of integrating new technologies into daily operations to extract genuine value.

Friedlich points out, “Innovation without adoption is really just theory. We can buy and build the most incredible tools imaginable, but if the attorneys and staff aren’t using them, it’s just a waste of time and money.” This philosophy drives the firm's approach to AI, ensuring that technologies are not only advanced but also practical and user-friendly.

A core principle at Willkie is the importance of grounded legal data. In a field where accuracy is critical, the firm ensures each AI-generated response is linked to authoritative sources that attorneys can review and verify. This integration of Lexis+ with Protégé ensures fast access to trusted legal content, streamlining the research and verification process considerably.

The seamless integration into Wendell means that legal data requests are efficiently managed by Protégé, which identifies the optimal sources from the Lexis content library to address each query. This eliminates the need for attorneys to juggle multiple systems, enhancing productivity and focus.

Willkie’s adoption of AI extends to various aspects of legal work, including due diligence and deposition analysis. These AI-driven workflows standardize best practices and reduce variability, showcasing the firm’s commitment to human-centered AI. This approach not only boosts efficiency but also enhances the quality of life for associates and partners by automating mundane tasks and allowing them to concentrate on more impactful areas of their work.

Friedlich concludes, “We’re creating automated workflows that improve the quality of life for our associates and partners. It’s not just about automating a document; it’s about automating the simple tasks that bring little joy to our attorneys and little value to our clients.”

The Willkie case study highlights LexisNexis' commitment to partnering with law firms to thoughtfully approach AI, focusing on trusted content, attorney confidence, and tangible results. For more insights, the firm encourages viewing the associated case study and video testimonial available online.

Read the case study and watch the video testimonial: [Willkie LexisNexis partnership](https://bit.ly/4cez1Mc).