Eversheds Sutherland Establishes AI-centric, US Innovation Department Focused on Strengthening Client Service and Operational Performance

The US department will be led by Senior Director Katrina Dittmer, who previously served as the firm’s US Director of Legal Technology.

The US Innovation Department consolidates several existing capabilities into an integrated operating model, including data and analytics, research and knowledge services, legal technology, client-facing technologies, and change management and adoption. Bringing these teams together will help better identify new opportunities, test solutions, and scale what works across practice areas and business functions.

“This move reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to progress and innovation—particularly in embracing AI-driven solutions that are practical and grounded in real client and business needs,” said Lino Mendiola, Global Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland and US Chief Executive. “By uniting these teams under a dedicated US Innovation Department with a focus on AI, we’re strengthening our ability to support our lawyers and meet client expectations in a rapidly changing legal environment.” 

“Innovation isn’t only about new tools,” added Ms. Dittmer. “It’s about understanding how we work and making deliberate choices that help our lawyers work smarter, collaborate more effectively and deliver better outcomes for clients. Formalizing this department gives us an effective structure to do that work in a coordinated, sustainable and strategic way.”

Members of the US Innovation Department will also work closely with the firm’s AI service offering to support client-facing training and advisory efforts—including AI-focused workshops and academies for in-house legal teams—and the responsible and effective use of AI across the firm. Already, the US Innovation team is expanding the firm’s use of a legal-specific generative AI platform that is now being used by nearly 40% of the firm’s US lawyers, growing the firm’s data lake to support future products, and working with internal firm business departments to streamline administrative processes. 

The US Innovation Department includes approximately 20 professionals who regularly engage with the firm’s attorneys to ensure technology investments reflect real-world needs—and are tailored to the distinct requirements of different practice areas.