Inside Harvey AI’s Toronto strategy with CBO John Haddock
Last month, AI-powered legal technology firm Harvey expanded its Canadian focus with an office on Bay Street.
The downtown Toronto office, according to Chief Business Officer John Haddock, is situated in a middle ground between engineering and legal representation, combining the city's rich legal ecosystem with a hotbed for talent.
A strategically located campus
Harvey's Chief Technology Officer, Siva Gurumurthy, once said the Toronto office would be a "core development engine for Harvey." Haddock agrees, citing its double focus on talent and clients.
"We have launched our office around a really senior engineering leader who who runs that office," said Haddock, referring to former Netflix and Twitter software engineer, Gary Lam. "Recruiting folks that can help build the core platform is great, and having both them in the same office actually is very strategic for us."
He noted that many of the country's premier firms are located within a two-minute walk of the new campus. Harvey has already partnered with Wellington Street's Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP and Gowling WLG on King Street West. Harvey is currently working with around two dozen Canadian firms.
The company's legal software is designed to be custom-tailored to a firm's needs. Haddock added that, out of the box, the platform runs horizontally to provide general tools, ranging from litigation briefs to antitrust workflows, but can be tailored to an individual firm's needs, whether focusing on corporate, litigation, or other areas.
According to the CBO, Harvey distinguishes itself by the breadth of its platform capabilities. They want it to be the first "port of call" for lawyers.
The company has announced various integrations with numerous tech companies, including Lexus Nexus and iManage. In August, it launched an Outlook integration, along with other Microsoft 365 products, including Word and SharePoint. This fall, they announced a mobile app for iOS and Android, which is currently in beta testing. According to Haddock, on-the-go functionality is incredibly important, as around 60 per cent of a partner's time is spent when they're practising outside their office.
"That means they're with clients doing work on the ground, and Harvey needs to be there where they do their work," he added. "We're launching the mobile app so that they can transcribe client interviews or take pictures of documents that they need to upload and put into their vaults."
Increasing AI adoption among Canadian lawyers
In the past, Canadian lawyers have been hesitant to adopt AI technology in their workflows compared to other professions.
This summer, the Canadian Bar Association published guidelines on harnessing the benefits of technology while avoiding its drawbacks. The organisation noted that a high degree of customisation is needed to suit a legal practice's needs.
Recent data is showing a trend of increased adoption on a global scale.
Thompson Reuters research shows over 80 per cent of global lawyers believe AI will be transformational in law practice over the next five years. Around three-quarters believe it is especially useful for document review, legal research, and summarising documents. Among lawyers who had not yet adopted AI technologies, 13 per cent expressed concerns about the data security implications.
Haddock said, "The first question every firm wants to know is, 'The most important thing I have with my clients is trust. How do you replicate and enhance that trust?"
Harvey's response is a complete "eyes-off" policy. He assured that no access is given to underlying content, including firm and client data.
"We expect firms to be careful as they make technology choices, but it's been a great sign of momentum that so many firms are now embracing it."
