The evolving firm-client relationship in an AI age

Many law firms have approached AI with eye towards internal efficiency gains. At the same time, however, their corporate clients are also educating themselves around AI use — and are ready to have that conversation with their firms. Today, IDEX Corporation’s Eric Berg explains how he approaches AI from a corporate development and governance perspective, why transparency is crucial in AI conversations, and how the pace of change has made constant education a necessity.

Why you should listen:

1. Discern the differences in AI approaches — Many law firms are approaching AI from how it impacts legal work, but Berg explains that he’s more invested in how it impacts the business at large, including “physical AI” that impacts manufacturing and industrial tools. Understanding these differences goes a long way towards closing the communication gap.
2. The case for transparency — Although some legal practitioners may not feel ready to have conversations with clients about AI approaches, Berg makes the case for vendors to be up front with his legal department, even positioning AI knowledge as a potential differentiator for a firm that understands the business implications of AI for its clients.
3. Identify is what a client really wants — Data privacy might have been a “sleepy corner of the law” previously, Berg says, but data governance is now front and center in an AI age. Berg explains what he wants from his outside law firms and other vendors approaching him with AI-enabled work, including how he balances risk, cost, and productivity gains.