What In-House Teams Actually Need from Law Firms in the AI Era | ILTA x ILTN x Khaitan & Co. | Event Recap

The legal profession is entering a new phase of AI adoption—one where the focus is shifting from experimentation to practical implementation. Against this backdrop, the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) x Indian LegalTech Network (ILTN) Innovation Panel, supported by Khaitan & Co, brought together legal leaders, in-house professionals, and innovators for an engaging discussion on "What In-House Teams Actually Need from Law Firms in the AI Era."

The conversation moved beyond AI as a buzzword and explored how legal teams are adapting to changing client expectations, evolving workflows, and new ways of delivering legal services.

A key theme throughout the discussion was that in-house legal teams are looking for more than technical expertise. They increasingly value law firms that understand their business, communicate proactively, leverage technology responsibly, and provide commercially practical advice. While AI is improving efficiency across functions such as legal research, drafting, and knowledge management, the panel agreed that human judgment, strategic thinking, and trusted client relationships remain irreplaceable.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of collaboration. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in legal practice, stronger partnerships between law firms and in-house teams will be essential to ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, high-quality legal service delivery.

More than a conversation about technology, the panel reflected what truly drives legal innovation: openness, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from one another.

A sincere thank you to our wonderful panelists Punya Patra, Sumitro Chatterjee, and Roushan Verma for sharing their insights and experiences.

Special appreciation to Shantanu Gupta for moderating the discussion, as well as Deena McKenna and Laura O'Hara from the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), and Rohit Shukla, Nimrat Dhillon, and Aditya Srikanth from Khaitan & Co for their support in making the event possible.

We are grateful to our partners, International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) and Khaitan & Co, for helping create a platform for meaningful conversations around the future of legal services.

More conversations. More collaboration. More innovation.