Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) has named Laura Levine as Partner, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, formalizing its firm-wide approach to AI adoption and technology-enabled legal services.
The newly created role signals BLG’s intent to embed artificial intelligence and innovation directly into its core operations and client delivery. Levine will report to National Managing Partner and CEO David Di Paolo, sit on the firm’s AI Steering Committee, and work across practice groups and business teams to advance initiatives spanning AI adoption, knowledge management, legal technology, and new service delivery models.
The appointment builds on BLG’s existing work advising Canadian businesses on AI-related legal matters, as well as its internal exploration of generative AI since the technology’s rapid emergence. Levine’s mandate is to integrate and mature these efforts into a more coordinated, governed, and client-facing strategy.
“AI has evolved from a technical tool to a governance imperative and client partnership opportunity,” said Di Paolo. “Laura’s appointment reflects BLG’s commitment to treating innovation not as a siloed function, but as a strategic priority with direct access to firm leadership.”
A key focus of Levine’s role will be collaborating with lawyers across the firm to co-develop technology-driven solutions alongside clients, positioning AI as both a service enhancement and a competitive differentiator.
Levine joined BLG in 2022 and has since led knowledge and innovation efforts for the firm’s Securities and Capital Markets Group. She also serves on the Ontario Securities Commission’s Securities Advisory Committee and is a frequent contributor to discussions around legal innovation and responsible AI use. She is co-author of Canadian Securities Regulation, 6th Edition (2025), a text recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada as a leading authority in the field.
“I’m excited to take on this additional role and build on the strong foundation BLG has already established in AI and innovation,” said Levine. “This is about ensuring that technology empowers our lawyers to deliver greater client value and address the real challenges clients face, as legal and technological standards continue to evolve.”
The move reflects a broader shift across the legal industry, where firms are increasingly elevating AI leadership to the partnership level and aligning innovation strategy with executive decision-making.