Pillsbury Continues to Forge Human-Led AI Path with Appointment of Oz Benamram as Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer

With Benamram’s hire, Pillsbury becomes among the first major law firms to establish a dedicated Chief AI Officer role focused on data science and artificial intelligence. Consistent with the firm’s belief that AI is most powerful when used to augment human expertise, Benamram will leverage AI tools to streamline workflows, improve information analysis, accelerate access to knowledge, and support high-quality legal work while ensuring that legal judgment, strategic thinking, and client counseling remain firmly in the hands of experienced lawyers.

“As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the world and our industry, we are investing in the people, technology, and governance necessary to help our clients access the expertise of Pillsbury lawyers,” said Pillsbury Chair David Dekker. “Oz will help us harness this transformational tech responsibly, leverage our vast data across leading areas of practice, and accelerate innovation across the firm, all in service of delivering exceptional outcomes for those we represent.”

Benamram has focused on helping legal organizations leverage institutional knowledge, emerging technologies, and data-driven processes to improve the delivery of legal services throughout his career. He has built and led innovation functions at several of the world’s premier law firms—including Simpson Thacher, White & Case, and Morrison & Foerster—and has also advised law firm leaders, legal technology companies, and investors on legal AI strategy and transformation initiatives.

He is the founder of SKILLS (the Strategic Knowledge & Innovation Legal Leaders’ Summit), a long-running community that brings together AI, innovation, and knowledge management leaders from many of the world’s largest law firms to share insights and best practices. Benamram is also a frequent speaker and writer on law firm usage of AI, having recently co-authored Law, Reinvented: Leading AI Transformation in Legal Practice, a practical guide for legal organizations navigating AI adoption and organizational change and current #1 best-seller on Amazon.

As Chief AI Officer at Pillsbury, Benamram will lead the development of Pillsbury’s AI strategy, governance frameworks and enablement infrastructure, partnering with practice and business leaders to support the responsible deployment of AI solutions across the firm, along with business transformation initiatives and collaboration with clients and technology partners. He will lead the firm’s data science and knowledge management functions as well, helping to ensure that Pillsbury’s collective experience, work product, and legal insights are effectively leveraged across practices and markets.

“What drew me to Pillsbury is its rare combination of a legacy of innovation, a deeply collaborative culture, and a clear conviction that AI must be pursued with both ambition and discipline,” said Benamram. “The firm understands that AI can do more than just change how legal work gets done; it can expand clients’ access to Pillsbury’s collective knowledge, experience, and judgment. I’m excited to work alongside Pillsbury’s lawyers and clients across industries and around the world to help shape a human-led AI future.”

Pillsbury has long been recognized as one of the leading technology law firms, representing innovators, disruptors, and market leaders worldwide, including on artificial intelligence matters. The firm’s top-ranked Global Sourcing & Tech Transactions practice—the first and largest of its kind—has been at the forefront of helping develop, procure, govern, and deploy AI. The firm is also a recognized innovator in critical related areas of the law, including data centers, nuclear and fusion technologies, and AI and other technology disputes. Pillsbury is also among the top five most active law firms advising AI and other entrepreneurs and investors globally.