Ropes & gray develops AI tool to streamline legal due diligence

Ropes & Gray, in partnership with OpenAI, has developed a proprietary AI tool to enhance transactional diligence. The tool automates document analysis, identifying relevant files and grouping them by themes and issues. It generates summaries and reports in Ropes & Gray’s format, allowing lawyers to focus on high-level judgments. Howard Glazer, Partner and Head of Practice AI at Ropes & Gray, emphasized that the tool enables lawyers to concentrate on core responsibilities. The AI initially focuses on material commercial contracts, refining its output through comparisons with human-authored reports. Lawyers review interim summaries and documents before delivering final work to clients. Lichtenstein, another firm representative, highlighted the importance of prioritizing client needs while leveraging AI to create collective knowledge within the firm. The tool aims to produce detailed diligence reports in hours rather than weeks, significantly accelerating the process. Ropes & Gray’s AI initiative reflects a broader strategy to integrate AI into all aspects of legal practice, from daily tasks to long-term knowledge sharing. Glazer noted that the firm’s goal is to use AI to directly create value for clients, ensuring that the technology serves the firm’s core mission. The tool, alongside GPT-6 Astra, enables faster problem-solving and more efficient client service. By combining AI with human expertise, Ropes & Gray aims to deliver high-quality, timely legal insights in an increasingly complex landscape.