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Al Hounsell is Gowling WLG’s National Director of AI, Innovation & Knowledge, bringing a decade of experience at the forefront of legal service design innovation. He is known for shaping transformative client solutions that reimagine how legal services are structured and delivered. Leading Gowling WLG's exploration of new avenues in client service, Al applies his unique background in law, entrepreneurship, and full-stack software and web development. His approach centers on leveraging advanced technologies to optimize internal processes and elevate client outcomes and experiences. His work spans a broad range of areas, including AI-driven legal processes, design thinking implementation, and the automation of legal operations workflows and documents. Al consistently pushes the boundaries of what is possible, anticipating future opportunities. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, he served as Director of Strategic Innovation & Legal Design at a major international law firm, leading a team of lawyers, developers, and legal engineers to streamline legal operations for firms and clients using various technology-enabled solutions. A respected thought leader and educator in the field, Al currently serves as an adjunct professor at Canadian law schools, teaching courses focused on Legal Innovation and AI Technology. He is an active member of the Ontario Bar Association’s AI Task Force, writing and speaking about the future of innovation in legal service design and inspiring others to explore emerging technologies that enhance the practice of law. His contributions to legal technology have earned him notable industry accolades, including the Innovative Leader of the Year (2024) from the International Legal Technology Association and the “Best Use of Technology by a Law Firm” awards (2022 and 2023) from the Canadian Law Awards.
Department of Sociology