ILTA Awards
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1545624
2026 / T R A I L B L A Z E R O F T H E Y E A R Legal. Lawyers actively stress tested the platform, evaluated workflows, challenged assumptions, and provided direct feedback that helped shape product development before launch. In one instance, Thomson Reuters redesigned elements of the user interface based on the firm's recommendations. A defining factor in the project's success was executive-led adoption. Rather than relying solely on traditional training sessions, Womble Bond Dickinson U.K.'s Chief Innovation Officer Sam Dixon launched the "Cocoa with CoCo" roadshow, hosting 35 in-person training and discussion sessions across all seven staffed U.K. offices. The initiative combined practical demonstrations with candid conversations about AI adoption, expectations, and responsible use. The teams focused heavily on "human-in-the-loop" messaging to ensure lawyers understood the importance of validating AI-generated outputs, even as the technology demonstrated increasingly sophisticated results. Through direct conversations and additional workflow training, the firm reframed how lawyers integrated AI into their work processes, significantly improving adoption. Today, Womble Bond Dickinson U.K. has positioned itself at the forefront of AI-enabled legal practice. By combining strong executive leadership, collaborative product development, and a culture that actively supports innovation, the firm and Thomson Reuters created a model for successful enterprise AI adoption within the legal industry. ILTA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2026 5 9

