Reflecting on the 12th Annual Buying Legal Conference: The AI Moment in Legal Ops Has Arrived
Reflecting on the 12th Annual Buying Legal Conference: The AI Moment in Legal Ops Has Arrived
A recap by ProSearch’s Farhat O’Neill
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the 12th Annual Buying Legal Conference at 3 Times Square in the heart of New York City—a gathering that, true to form, brought together forward-thinkers from the world’s leading corporate legal departments and law firms. With the backdrop of Manhattan’s iconic skyline, this year’s program drilled down into perhaps the hottest topic in legal operations today: the emergence and impact of internal AI teams at corporations and law firms.
A New Era: Internal AI Teams & Predictability in Legal Ops
What resonated throughout the sessions was a collective recognition: legal functions are being called upon to deliver more predictability and insight, and AI—especially when developed with proprietary data and thoughtful governance—is our leverage. Multiple speakers emphasized how harnessing AI can unlock new insights to make us all better, safer, and faster at what we do.
Standout Session: PiperAI’s Real-World Impact
A big highlight for me was the DLA Piper session. The firm unveiled PiperAI—an in-house platform developed to help their attorneys strategize and resolve cases more effectively. The numbers spoke volumes: in one use case, PiperAI helped drive $2M in savings off a settlement simply by surfacing key facts in medical records faster than any human reviewer could. This is AI at its most practical and business-impactful.
Reverse Auctions and Building Vendor Relationships
A recurring (and hotly debated) topic was the place of reverse auctions in law firm selection and fee arrangements. I learned from fellow attendees they use reverse auctions for law firm intake (almost always), while using them only occasionally with other vendors. Panel discussions suggested auction outcomes can be mixed: they might drive prices down but, if misused, can actually damage the trust and collaboration needed for great legal outcomes. The consensus? Pick your auction moments, and don’t shy away from negotiation for high-impact, complex work.
Core Muscles for Modern Legal Ops
If there was one rallying cry to take back, it’s this: success in legal operations now requires a few key muscles:
- Leading through rapid change
- Embedding AI adoption into the organizational DNA
- Championing constant experimentation
- Establishing agile governance and vetting for AI in an environment that changes by the minute
Why GenAI, Why Now?
Multiple sessions drilled into the why. The answer? GenAI adoption is redefining speed—keeping legal operating at the pace of modern business. The benefits are clear: improved productivity, faster business opportunity realization, and streamlined practices.
Getting AI Off the Ground: A Playbook
For those looking to launch or expand internal AI programs, several good practices emerged:
- Uncover potential use cases. Start with what’s painful, inefficient, or high-impact in your workflow.
- Find internal champions. Get buy-in from people who can inspire and drive the change.
- Test and celebrate wins. Let users experiment; share results often; and reward early success.
- Narrow in on scalable use cases. Once you find gold, focus on the opportunities with real, industry-grade impact.
In short, the 2025 Buying Legal Conference was proof that operational excellence is no longer about simply managing costs or negotiating better rates—it’s about harnessing AI to deliver value faster, safer, and more intelligently. I walked away energized and equipped, ready to experiment, champion, and lead my team into this AI-powered future for legal. Here’s to the next step forward.
