DLA Piper: Staying Ahead Through Technological Innovation and Global Expansion

Rapid Growth Fueled by Global Expansion and Technological Investments

The story of DLA Piper’s rise, from a modest regional law firm in Sheffield to one of the world’s largest legal practices through a series of bold mergers, is one of the great modern business success stories. This success has inevitably drawn some cynicism, with some calling DLA the “Coca-Cola of the legal world,” but even the firm’s harshest critics acknowledge that its rapid growth over the past two decades has been broadly solid.

Today, DLA Piper has more than 90 offices globally (including alliances) and over 4,000 lawyers working in dozens of practice areas. The firm is particularly praised for its expertise in data protection, privacy, and security.

One of the most impressive aspects of the firm is that it has built a strong reputation both for high-end legal expertise and for handling high-volume work. This reputation even extends to the trainee level, with one insider noting, “The work is really valuable because you are dealing with complex, high-profile transactions, often covered by national media.”

These high-profile deals have clearly paid off for DLA, which has seen eight consecutive years of growth. Global revenue grew by 4% to $3.7 billion (£2.91 billion), while profits per equity partner (PEP) increased by 11.7% to $3.1 million (£2.44 million) compared to the previous year. DLA attributes its recent growth to its diversified practice areas and global footprint, with significant recruitment efforts across its many offices. While overall performance remains strong, UK profits dipped slightly by 1.2%, to just under £200 million, due to rising wage and transport costs driven by inflation.

Global expansion has been key to DLA Piper’s rapid rise. Its extensive network of offices worldwide allows it to provide cross-border legal services to clients on every continent, giving it a distinct advantage in handling international transactions and disputes. The firm spans a wide range of industries, including technology, financial services, real estate, energy, and life sciences. By having a broad array of practice areas and a global presence, DLA Piper has successfully established itself as a leader in the global legal services market.

By investing in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence and data privacy, DLA Piper has not only helped clients navigate increasingly complex legal issues but has also enhanced its own ability to innovate. This sustained focus on technology has kept the firm ahead of the competition and prepared it to meet future legal challenges.

Achieving Greater Operational Efficiency Through IT Transformation

As major law firms prepare for the generative AI economy, top firms are investing resources in stress-testing AI models used by corporate America, essentially combining lawyers and data scientists to ensure that machines do not create legal risks for businesses. “What we’re doing is building automation and artificial attacks, challenging large language models to see if they violate legal standards,” said Danny Tobey, DLA Piper’s head of AI and data analytics. As companies roll out chatbots and other generative AI tools, this work is critical in ensuring they comply with legal requirements in areas like bias, compliance, copyright, and privacy. This rare insight into how law firms handle AI comes at a time when others are hiring chief innovation officers or partnering with tech companies. DLA Piper’s approach, known as “algorithm audits,” is an example of how the legal industry is adapting to and leveraging technology to win new business.

AI had already begun to emerge when DLA Piper launched its AI practice in 2019. At that time, AI typically referred to “narrow mathematical models that would tell you whether someone might get sick, repay a loan, or qualify for insurance,” according to Tobey. “These models were easy to manage because they only did one thing.” However, generative AI requires a different approach because it has “nearly infinite prompts and nearly infinite outputs.” DLA’s strategy has been to create teams of subject matter expert lawyers—such as in health, financial services, and insurance—who are also equipped with data scientists, who are often also lawyers.

DLA’s 100-member team has worked with insurance regulators to understand how to test traditional AI models and is developing entirely new mechanisms to test the trustworthiness and anti-bias elements of generative AI systems.

This kind of “crash testing” is critical for generative AI, says Megan Ma, associate director of Stanford’s Program on Law, Science, and Technology: “It provides better oversight and transparency, helping reveal potential causes behind dangerous use cases and harmful outputs.”

The rise of AI is changing business models, and the winners in the legal sector will be those firms that adapt, while the losers will be those that fail to adapt or bet on the wrong technology.

In a Microsoft client case, Andrew Gastwirth, DLA Piper’s Chief Information Officer, shared insights into how DLA used technology to create business value for the firm. As a large multinational law firm, DLA Piper migrated its 3,500 US employees to the Microsoft 365 cloud platform in under a year.

The IT team also provided employees with better user experiences and security, such as simplifying access to applications through single sign-on (SSO) and enhancing security through multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The implementation of this suite of technological solutions significantly improved client experiences and gave DLA Piper a competitive edge in both the legal and IT talent markets.

Future Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its global success, DLA Piper still faces several challenges. First, as global economic uncertainty increases—especially amid inflation, geopolitical tensions, and technological changes—the firm will need to maintain flexibility in its operations. Second, it must continue to adapt to the rapidly changing legal landscape, particularly in emerging areas such as data privacy, AI, and fintech.

However, DLA Piper also has significant opportunities, particularly in handling complex global transactions and disputes. With its vast global network and deep expertise in multiple industries, the firm is well-positioned to help clients navigate an ever-changing business and legal environment.

Furthermore, DLA Piper has demonstrated outstanding capabilities in managing cross-border legal matters, especially in light of shifting global markets and regulatory changes. Facing increasingly complex international business, the firm assists clients in mitigating multiple legal, regulatory, and commercial risks through close collaboration among its global teams.

DLA Piper’s international expansion not only solidifies its influence in the global legal market but also earns the trust of many prominent multinational corporations. In areas such as international investment, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and compliance audits, DLA Piper’s expertise ensures that clients remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global environment.

At the same time, DLA Piper is actively involved in various pro bono and social responsibility initiatives, aiming to promote the rule of law and social justice. The firm participates in legal aid programs, providing fair legal support to disadvantaged groups, and has established a strong reputation in areas like sustainability and corporate social responsibility. This not only enhances the firm’s public image but also strengthens its relationships with clients and partners.