Global law firm Reed Smith announced the launch of the Reed Smith AI Leadership Program at Cornell University, a customized curriculum developed in partnership with the school’s Executive Education organization. The program, to be held at the Cornell Tech campus in New York City in September 2026, will equip the firm’s partners with advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence strategy, ethics, and digital transformation, enabling the team to better deliver more innovative, efficient, and forward-looking counsel to clients.
The program progresses from foundational AI knowledge to applied strategy, ethics, and governance, all with the goal of enhancing the firm’s ability to guide clients through the legal complexities of AI adoption and use. Through expert-led sessions and structured ideation workshops, participants will develop actionable roadmaps for AI transformation that directly strengthen client service, addressing workforce impact and responsible adoption within regulatory and professional standards.
“Our clients are navigating one of the most significant technological shifts in a generation, and they need trusted advisors who understand AI at the highest level. The Reed Smith AI Leadership Program at Cornell University equips our partners to meet that moment, combining strategic vision, ethical grounding, and practical insight to guide clients through the complexities of AI-driven transformation,” said Casey Ryan, Global Managing Partner of Reed Smith.
“By partnering with Cornell University, we are investing directly in a partnership that will enhance the insights we deliver to clients. As our partners gain further firsthand knowledge of AI strategy and governance, they will deliver increasingly forward-thinking counsel to clients across industries. This is what client-centered leadership looks like: anticipating the challenges our clients face and remaining one step ahead.”
“Reed Smith has demonstrated true leadership and innovation by partnering with Cornell to create this first-of-its-kind program at the intersection of AI and legal practice,” said Matthew D’Amore, Professor of the Practice and Director, Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School. “Cornell University’s ability to connect thought leadership across law, technology, and business will equip Reed Smith with the strategic and technical expertise needed to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The program sets a new standard for how the legal industry prepares its leadership for the future.”
The program will be led by a distinguished Cornell faculty team, including Matthew D’Amore; Karan Girotra, the Charles H. Dyson Family Professor of Management and Professor of Operations, Technology, and Innovation at Cornell Tech and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business; and Nate Schorr, Adjunct Professor of Law at Cornell Tech.
Reed Smith’s partnership with Cornell University’s Executive Education unit underscores the firm’s commitment to investing in its people so they can better serve clients. Cornell’s Executive Education programs have recently been recognized with multiple Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards for leadership development, including Gold and Silver honors in 2025.
Reed Smith, of course, is heavily invested in technology innovation via their subsidiary, Gravity Stack.
More via Artificial Lawyer.