Leading UK legal services provider Lawfront has taken a significant step toward advancing its technological capabilities by appointing a Head of Innovation and AI. This new role will focus on driving the adoption of AI-powered solutions across its regional firms, ensuring the company is well-positioned to navigate and capitalize on anticipated transformative changes in the legal industry.

James Grice, a seasoned expert with over a decade of experience in innovation and a strong focus on AI, steps into the role. Formerly the Head of Legal Service Design at Eversheds, Grice spearheaded initiatives to design and implement cutting-edge legal solutions, fostering efficiency and continuous process improvement for both employees and clients.

The appointment aligns with findings from a LexisNexis report, which reveals that 95% of legal professionals expect generative AI to have a significant impact on the sector. By investing in this leadership position, Lawfront aims to maintain its competitive edge and position its firms at the forefront of technology adoption and innovation in legal services.

James will support Lawfront’s partner firms -FJG, Nelsons, Farleys and Slater Heelis – to better understand the challenges they face in terms of working efficiencies, collaboration across the Group, and the provision of the best possible service for clients across the country.

James said: “With the tech landscape consistently changing, my career has evolved in the last ten years from a broad focus on innovation to the specific benefits of harnessing AI.

“Many businesses are struggling to successfully adopt AI because it is forced into their processes without the proper understanding of how best to utilise it. Part of my role at Lawfront will be to support the partner firms with navigating the further use of AI and looking at how this evolving technology can continue to make the service provided and received even better.

“After building the firms Legal Service Design offering and driving a number of AI initiatives over the last two years, I was ready for a new challenge. From researching how Lawfront works to empower its market-leading regional firms and speaking to the team, I could see their passion for building a high-quality, forward-thinking national business.

“Joining a group of firms that embrace change and place its people at the heart of the business is an exciting prospect. This role allows me to do the part of the job I love most – solving problems and designing solutions using a ‘human centred’ approach. I look forward to helping drive strategic growth and digital transformation across the group.”

Backed by private equity fund Blixt, Lawfront helps its regional firms to achieve their growth ambitions through investment in people, technology, cross-group collaboration and further local acquisitions, with the support of a highly experienced central team.

Axel Koelsch, Chief Operating Officer of Lawfront, said: “We believe in technology-enabled professional services. Generative AI, digital client interfaces and enhanced workflows are essential to both productivity and a modern client experience. They shift administrative tasks away from our lawyers, creating space to focus on clients, their needs and delivering what it truly valuable to them.

“We see smaller firms struggle to remain competitive because they lack the scale to invest in modern technology. Our model supports firms with innovative legal tools with a real focus on adoption, business impact and growth.

“James is a specialist in this area and is the ideal person to head up our innovation and AI strategy, offering an understanding of how tech can make law firms work smarter. His human-centred approach to AI is refreshing, focusing on delivering solutions to real people and educating them on the benefits and risks of this technology.

“We’d like to welcome him to Lawfront and look forward to seeing the impact he makes for our partner firms, and the wider group.”

Following its eighth acquisition this spring, Lawfront has invested in its staff at a group level to enhance its offering to partner firms. With the arrival of Ajay Solanki as Head of Digital Marketing in August, Lawfront aims to drive strategic growth and digital transformation across the group’s law firms.