How law firm Gilbert + Tobin governs and scales AI with OpenAI

A major law firm implemented generative AI tools from OpenAI across its operations to handle research, drafting, analysis, and other support work while maintaining strict governance over how client information is handled. The firm prioritized CEO-led advocacy and role-specific training rather than mandates, resulting in adoption rates more than twice higher than the firm typically achieves with other tools. The implementation was designed to enhance operational efficiency without changing how the firm delivers legal advice or replacing professional judgment in client work. Specific workflows now complete in minutes rather than hours or days, such as recruitment research that dropped from four hours to twenty minutes and conflict checks that fell from three to eight hours to five minutes.