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and Telecommunication Law Practice at Rajah & Tann Asia

Rajesh Sreenivasan, Head of Technology, Media

Embedding Legal Technology Skills in Law Firms

Rajesh Sreenivasan

Rajesh Sreenivasan is a technology, media, and telecommunication law specialist, who is currently working as the head of technology, media, and telecommunication law practice at Rajah & Tann Asia. He co-founded companies like Rajah & Tann Technologies and Rajah & Tann Cybersecurity to embed legal technology skills in law firms.

In an exclusive interview with APAC CIOoutlook, Sreenivasan has given his valuable insights on the challenges lawyers face while understanding the technology, the latest innovations in legal technology, and more.

Could you talk about your role in Rajah & Tann Asia?

The team at Rajah & Tann Asia comprises over 50 legal practitioners who specialize in technology, media, and telecoms (TMT) law across all 10 Southeast Asian jurisdictions, as well as China. We believe that in addition to being leading practitioners in TMT law, it is important to embed legal technology skills into the firm to pivot and better understand clients' risk factors, particularly with issues like data safety. To facilitate this, Steve Tan and I created Rajah & Tann Technologies and Rajah & Tann Cybersecurity, two standalone private limited companies run by technology specialists and industry leaders in the telecom and technology space.

We co-founded these companies to provide governance oversight, while the day-to-day operations and management are run by the management team and technology specialists. I also oversee the firm's data and digital economy (DDE) initiative, an all-encompassing initiative that seeks to ensure every legal practitioner in the company understands the issues that impact their areas of expertise. For example, the shipping industry and shipping lawyers are now very familiar with digital technologies that streamline their processes.

We have a team of experienced lawyers who specialize in digital asset disputes. They are particularly knowledgeable about electronic bills of lading and the legal issues surrounding them, as well as cryptocurrency-related disputes, which are currently very prevalent. Our firm, Rajah, is known as a leading practitioner in this area.

To ensure that we provide comprehensive services to our clients, we bring in technology and cybersecurity experts who identify and address any risks that may arise during the acquisition or disposal of a company.

This is essential for risk management and valuation purposes and is just as important as the legal aspects of the transaction.

As a partner in charge of technology for the firm and a member of the Regional Management Council of Rajah & Tann Asia, I provide input on core technology issues and how law firms can best utilize new technologies like ChatGPT. This position also allows me to strategize and stay informed about the latest advancements in contract automation and other areas of legal technology.

What are some of the challenges you face while educating lawyers about digital infrastructures or the developments in the digital space?

Law firms run a very tight ship when it comes to productivity and every lawyer is expected to generate profits in terms of meeting targets and completing productive legal work. However, this approach means that lawyers' time and resources are often spent on execution or work, making it challenging for them to take time away from their billable hours to focus on important changes happening in the industry.

Lawyers should embrace technology to enhance their legal workflow, make them better lawyers, and expand their revenue streams

To overcome this challenge, law firms must allow their lawyers to not just look at the status quo but also look forward to technological advancements that increase their ability to provide legal services using state-of-the-art technologies. However, there are challenges to adopting new technologies, including lawyers' force of habit, internal workflows, and the difficulty of using new technologies. For example, some lawyers may be hesitant to switch to contract automation or management platforms as they can hinder or delay the speed at which work is completed. As a result, it is essential to understand the benefits of digital technology and work around the realization that such technologies do not always hinder workflow.

What are some of the interesting technologies you have come across that would streamline workflows for lawyers in the future?

The data management system (DMS) used by our law firm, Net Documents, has stood the test of time as it was one of the first systems to be fully integrated into the cloud. This was important for us to allow our lawyers to work remotely. We have a unified set of devices, networks, and applications across all offices in the region. Our IT deployment strategy, called the IT DNA, won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best law firm strategy. Another important application we use is Lupo, which powers the legal technology platform initiative of the Government of Singapore.

Is there any advice that you have for budding legal practitioners about adopting new technologies?

Legal practitioners should embrace technology to enhance their legal workflow, make them better lawyers, and expand their revenue streams. The notion that technology is a zero-sum game that will take away lawyers' jobs are meaningless. Lawyers should collaborate with technology experts in initiatives like the LTP by the Singaporean government, which invests in the development of legal technology. It is important to embrace new technologies like generative AI, rather than shunning them based on a few examples of inaccuracy. Law firms should adapt and implement the latest technology, like the upcoming version 4.0 of ChatGPT, to augment their legal services and deepen their relationships with clients.

The articles from these contributors are based on their personal expertise and viewpoints, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their employers or affiliated organizations.