Pinsent Masons

Early adopters with purpose

Following the arrival of ChatGPT in late 2022, Pinsent Masons took a considered approach to exploring generative AI, both in terms of developing internal use cases and potential efficiency saving opportunities for clients. The firm made responsible exploration the foundation of its approach to Large Language Models, ensuring that client data and sensitive information were never used or completely protected.

That balanced mindset created a fertile ground for structured pilots. The firm trialled several systems, starting with tools like Copilot, and then moved to domain-specific solutions, like Lexis+ AI. Tim said that with Lexis+ AI, “The use case was clear: This is grounded on the Lexis content. You can use it for legal research. It fits very neatly with the lawyers day-to-day. It was part of their regular workflows, and it was already embedded into the rest of the Lexis suite”.

The pilot that proved the case

Thirty volunteers across the firm, including partners, paralegals, and knowledge specialists, took part in the trial of Lexis+ AI. Each tested the software against six practical scenarios:

• Quick research

• Detailed research

• Document summarisation

• Document drafting

• Clause drafting

• Case summarisation

Participants documented every use, comparing both manual and AI-assisted approaches.

Using cautious estimates, the firm saw average time savings of around half an hour per week for each volunteer who engaged with the scenarios. Tim said that since the trial, “the user numbers have been consistent and positive”.

Trust built on authoritative content

From the start, data security and content accuracy were non-negotiable. Clients rightly wanted reassurance about confidentiality. Tim said “all of them were concerned or at least interested to know that we had done some due diligence on the data security and information security of these tools”. He noted that with Lexis+ AI,
“the incidence of hallucinations has been relatively low. I don’t hear people saying, ‘this isn’t getting the answer right’, or ‘it’s making things up’, because of the way that it’s working on trusted, curated, managed and structured content. That is a LexisNexis USP”.

“Fundamentally, with these technologies, the content is king. If you have got the content, the product will be better”.

This confidence changed how people across the business thought about AI. Lawyers began to see AI as a drafting partner, not a replacement. Tim said that Lexis+ AI “removes the blank sheet of paper and gives lawyers something to start from”.

Storytelling to champion widespread adoption

When it came to the broader rollout, Tim said that storytelling from those involved with the pilot played a vital role. Staff shared how they had been using the tool: For example, “I had to summarise this case, and normally that would take me twenty minutes or half an hour. Whilst I still had to read the case, I got to the main point in five minutes using Lexis”.

Peer advocacy, coupled with steady usage data, convinced the broader firm that Lexis+ AI was not a novelty, but a dependable productivity tool.

Large-scale integration that feels natural

Lexis+ AI’s design meant that broader adoption required little disruption. For Pinsent Masons, simple workflow implementation was critical. Because the product is accessible, responds to clear prompts, and directly links to the Lexis+ environment their lawyers already knew, there was no need to step outside existing workflows. It just sat naturally within them.

That seamless experience matters. The LexisNexis ecosystem, built for AI, connects research, guidance, and drafting in one environment:

Pinsent Masons’ experience illustrates exactly that promise. Tim said “Lexis+ AI was already embedded into the rest of the Lexis suites. You don’t have to go off somewhere else. It is just there. Click on it and ask your question in the box. It’s fairly simple, and it was already sort of built into the workflow lawyers have”.

Results beyond efficiency: enhancing the thinking process

Beyond saving time, Tim said, “One of the best use cases I find for it is coming up with ideas or different angles of things”. Lexis+ AI helps lawyers explore ideas by testing alternative arguments or asking for counter positions to stress test original reasoning. “it's like having an assistant or a colleague sat nearby where instead of doing the work yourself, you're bouncing off between you. Two heads are better than one”.

Tim provided an example from the firm’s pilot of an antitrust competition lawyer who had spent hours researching a “very niche point”. Putting it through Lexis+ AI, “the tool came back with similar thinking, verifying his own research. But it came up with a different angle as well that he hadn’t thought of or come across in his own research. The great thing about these tools is that the lawyer can decide whether or not to pursue that angle – the tool is there to support, not to replace”.

This ability to generate and verify ideas directly contributes to the quality of advice lawyers can provide. If a tool can help anticipate counter arguments and other ways of thinking, lawyers walk into court or a client meeting better prepared. That is “real value”, he added.

Overall Results

• Consistent time savings: Average 30 minutes per week per user

• Sustained engagement: Usage stable and increasing over time

• High accuracy: Low incidence of hallucination reported

• Improved confidence: Lawyers trust outputs grounded in authoritative content

Shaping the next chapter

Looking ahead, Tim sees the next evolution in deeper integration: “Lexis Vault could bring more opportunities for due diligence on a large set of data, uncover arguments, and develop timelines for litigators”. He also anticipates greater document drafting abilities: “that might have quite a profound impact on people’s approach to document automation”.

Conclusion

Pinsent Masons’ journey with Lexis+ AI demonstrates how legal innovation succeeds when it is grounded in quality content, secure technology, and a culture willing to explore. From cautious experimentation to measurable impact, the firm has proven that AI can strengthen client service, while preserving the rigour that defines the profession.