Next-gen transactions: Vision and Strategy from Conan Hines

The global AI surge is forcing organizations to confront the frank realities of economics, talent, and leadership strategy, even in industries that feel perpetually frozen, like legal.

That’s why we chose to step back from the noise to create space for a deeper conversation with @Conan Hines, Director of Practice Innovation at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, someone who understands both the promise and the real-world friction of transformation from the inside.

Conan leads practice innovation and AI initiatives with nearly two decades of experience spanning legal practice, eDiscovery, and legal technology leadership across Magic Circle and AmLaw 100 firms. His perspective is candid, pragmatic, and especially timely for this moment.

In less than two weeks, Conan will also join us at Future Transact USA for a fireside session: “Innovation Across the Transaction Lifecycle: From Pipeline to Post-Closing - Managing Complexity Through Technology.”

Scroll down for the complete interview.

1. Many legal innovators describe a persistent tension between the urgency they feel about change and the pace at which the legal profession moves. How do you personally manage that tension, and what keeps you energised when progress feels slow?

CH: As true as that may have been, the profession is about to pick up the pace. The tension is no longer about selling the solution but implementing it. The tension is the thrill. There is a lot at stake, which means there is a lot to gain. I'm energized now because things are ratcheting up.

2. There's an important distinction between AI that makes lawyers faster and AI that makes lawyers better. In your view, which should firms be prioritising right now, and is the industry focusing on the right thing?

CH: Most of what makes lawyers faster is intentional software. Document automation, doc assembly and purpose-built workflows will create most of the efficiency in this first wave – not AI. AI will provide expediency and a gateway into new emerging ventures, allowing lawyers to provide greater opportunities and comfort for clients.

3. Technology adoption in law firms is often less a technology problem than a people problem. What have you learned about what actually drives behavioural change among lawyers, and what rarely works?

CH: It's very much a technology problem. Law firms are not one-dimensional businesses, yet they work under one umbrella. It's a franchise model which benefits from shared resources, network,  and branding, yet solves bespoke problems which cannot be optimized with enterprise software. The market has realized this, and the tech is starting to mature.

4. There's an ongoing debate about whether AI will reduce the number of junior associate roles. What's your honest read on that question? And if it does, what does that mean for how the profession reproduces itself?

CH: The junior associate role as we know it is going away. That's a good thing, but it doesn't mean less juniors. To the contrary, it will become a more attractive industry. Industrious youth want freedom, acceleration, and a challenge. AI will inspire moreartisanal legal services, dispatching the baggage of undesirable, yet necessary work to software companies and ALSPs.

5. Practice innovation professionals are still a relatively niche group within the legal industry. What would it take to make this kind of role more central to how firms are structured and led?

CH: The new trusted law firm leaders are business-forward, with a deep understanding of the value law firms provide. Those buying SaaS will stay on the fringe. Those able to convince their leadership to focus and dig in will earn a seat at the table.

What stands out most from Conan’s perspective is that the organizations willing to rethink talent, technology, and leadership now will be the ones shaping the next era rather than reacting to it.

And with New York still freezing outside, we are looking forward to seeing how much his upcoming fireside conversation will warm up the conversations inside Future Transact USA.

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