Willkie announced a collaboration with OpenAI that will accelerate the development and implementation of next-generation artificial intelligence solutions across all of the firm’s legal and commercial operations, including a firm-wide rollout of ChatGPT Enterprise.

Willkie is among the first international law firms to join forces with OpenAI to focus on accelerating the development and implementation of its own AI platforms and solutions. Through these joint efforts, Willkie will leverage OpenAI’s latest cutting-edge models, technical resources, and enterprise capabilities, supporting the continued evolution of the firm’s growing portfolio of AI-powered platforms while expanding access to advanced AI capabilities across the organization.

The collaboration is based on Willkie Works, the firm’s AI and innovation organization, which focuses on developing proprietary technologies and securely integrating them into legal and commercial workflows. Through Willkie Works, the firm has developed a growing portfolio of proprietary AI platforms and solutions that integrate into legal, commercial, and client-facing workflows, helping professionals work more efficiently and deliver greater value to their clients.

Thomas Cerabino, president of Willkie, stated, “AI is transforming the practice of law. We have already experienced crucial transformations and are embracing this generational shift, which reinforces our position as a leader in the evolution of AI. The opportunity that AI offers lies not simply in working faster, but in rethinking how legal services are delivered, how institutional knowledge is leveraged, and how clients are served. At Willkie, we achieve this by combining exceptional legal talent with transformative technology to better meet our clients’ needs.”

Through Willkie Works, the firm has developed a growing portfolio of its own AI platforms, including:

• Wendell Intelligence: Willkie’s enterprise AI platform, providing a unified interface for AI-powered legal and business workflows.
• Wendell Financial Insights: an enterprise-wide financial and business intelligence platform that supports operational and customer service decision-making.
• Wendell Horizon: an AI-powered professional development and lawyer training platform.
• Wendell Platform for the Private Funds Secondary Market: a specialized solution that supports complex private fund and secondary market workflows.
• Wendell Platform for Class Action Claimants: a technology platform that facilitates the analysis of claimants and litigation workflows.

OpenAI’s cutting-edge models will power the next generation of these platforms, enabling Willkie to accelerate the design, testing, and deployment of new AI-based capabilities in the legal and commercial areas.

The collaboration also extends to OpenAI Codex, which Willkie plans to integrate into its AI development environment through Willkie Works. These capabilities will help streamline the design, testing, and deployment of next-generation platforms, workflows, and solutions for clients by the firm’s AI engineers.

“The future of the legal sector will be defined by firms that can put the power of programming directly into the hands of their lawyers and technologists,” said Jason Boehmig, legal product manager at OpenAI. “With OpenAI’s cutting-edge templates and Codex, Willkie can transform its expertise and ideas into tools designed around the way its professionals work and serve clients. This buildable capability is truly groundbreaking, and we’re excited to support its innovation.”

John Elbasan, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Willkie, stated, “This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Willkie’s AI strategy. Through Willkie Works, we have invested in the personnel, governance frameworks, and engineering capabilities necessary to transform cutting-edge AI technologies into proprietary platforms that support legal and business workflows across the firm. Organizations that derive the greatest value from AI will not be defined solely by access to the technology. They will be those that can combine cutting-edge AI capabilities with expertise, workflows, and trusted governance to create differentiated solutions. OpenAI will help accelerate this vision across our growing portfolio of AI platforms.”

Kaylin Voss, Vice President of Enterprise and Industries for the Americas at OpenAI, commented, “Willkie has demonstrated a thoughtful and ambitious approach to integrating AI into legal practice, combining deep legal expertise with a strong commitment to innovation. We are proud to collaborate with the firm as they advance their AI strategy, expand their use of ChatGPT Enterprise, and develop new AI-powered platforms that empower their professionals and deliver greater value to clients.”

The collaboration with OpenAI complements Willkie’s broader AI strategy, which combines strategic relationships with leading AI innovators and the development of proprietary platforms through Willkie Works. Along with collaborations such as the firm’s role as Harvey Innovation Partner and the implementation of LexisNexis Protégé, this approach reflects Willkie’s belief that lasting competitive advantage comes from the ability to carefully integrate, manage, and develop the best available innovations to create differentiated solutions for lawyers and clients.

Willkie’s AI strategy is supported by a comprehensive governance framework, including the recent achievement of ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to responsible AI innovation and deployment.

Through continued investment in artificial intelligence, legal engineering, innovation, and responsible governance, Willkie is building the next generation of AI-powered platforms and solutions designed to enhance legal services, strengthen business operations, and create lasting value for clients.