{"id":362538,"date":"2026-08-01T22:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T22:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/legal\/holiday-read-the-innovators-civil-war-artificial-lawyer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T22:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T22:12:23","slug":"holiday-read-the-innovators-civil-war-artificial-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=362538","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Read \u2013 The Innovators \u2013 \u2018Civil War\u2019 \u2013 Artificial Lawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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[ Artificial Lawyer is on holiday until Wed, Aug 5<\/strong> \u2013 here\u2019s Part 4 of \u2018The Innovators\u2019. ]<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

\u2018We have a leak,\u2019 Timothy Marks told the assembled group. \u2018A very serious one.\u2019<\/p>\n

Katie, Angela \u2013 the head of PR, and Tabitha \u2013 the head of marketing, all looked at each other. The only other person in the room was Harry Harmer, the firm\u2019s feared General Counsel.<\/p>\n

Harmer was one of those people you never wanted to meet. He was rarely seen \u2013 spending most of his life on a plane, dealing with hush-hush matters the firm was involved with in distant corners of the planet. And if he ever did suddenly appear at the office and tap you on the shoulder, it usually meant something quite terminal for your career.<\/p>\n

He waited for Tim to finish his summary of the damage caused by the \u2018senior insider\u2019 who had spilled to Redline about the Project Rubicon AI fiasco. The managing partner added that whatever hole they had dug for themselves by backtracking on the plan, they were several miles deeper underground because of the leak.<\/p>\n

Now Harmer spoke. He was a short man \u2013 hard to put an age to, perhaps anywhere between 40 and 65. He had no wrinkles, a ruddy complexion, and was as bald as a billiard ball. He cracked his fingers and began.<\/p>\n

\u2018From the limited forensic work I have been able to conduct: phone logs, audio files \u2013 direct and indirect, location tracking, personal device inference, timings, and so on, we can assume that it was no-one in this room.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Of course not!\u2019 Angela suddenly blurted out.<\/p>\n

Harmer paused and looked at her very carefully, as if adding that outburst to his files. Then he continued.<\/p>\n

\u2018No-one here had a motive. So, we have someone in ExComm who wants to sabotage the leadership of this firm. No-one else knew the details, aside from Katie\u2019s team.\u2019<\/p>\n

Timothy, who didn\u2019t seem that surprised by the conclusion, nodded.<\/p>\n

\u2018I can assure you, everyone on my team \u2013 in fact, the whole of the IT and KM groups \u2013 are onboard. They would never leak,\u2019 Katie said, feeling she had to say something.<\/p>\n

\u2018Indeed,\u2019 Harmer replied with a thin smile. \u2018Forensics support that. Besides, the Redline story said \u2018senior insider\u2019. Their journalistic pride was very helpful.\u2019<\/p>\n

She let out a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n

\u2018Of course, your call to the head of innovation at another law firm, complaining about what we were doing, was not very helpful,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

She gulped and decided not to add to that. Tim then handed out some damage control orders and ushered Angela and Tabitha out. Katie was surprised to be told to stay where she was.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s Keating,\u2019 said Tim, leaning forward, pressing his palms onto the desk, as if he were about to leap up onto it.<\/p>\n

\u2018Without a doubt,\u2019 Harmer concurred. \u2018They\u2019ve been geolocated with the editor of Redline three times in the last year. Their personal phone was tracked to the Red Lion pub on the Strand last night. Redline\u2019s office is nearby.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Bastard!\u2019 Tim let out, then blushed slightly.<\/p>\n

\u2018Erm\u2026.are you sure you need me in this meeting, much as it\u2019s fascinating to learn you\u2019re tracking our personal phones as well?\u2019 Katie asked.<\/p>\n

Tim explained that they very much did need her in the meeting. And what Harmer said next was even more surprising.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Katie was walking out of Liverpool Street station when the black Mercedes pulled up next to her at the side of the road. A darkened window scrolled down and Sara Keating leaned out.<\/p>\n

\u2018Get in, we need to talk.\u2019<\/p>\n

The chauffeured car drove on, seemingly without any specific destination. Katie sat next to the firm\u2019s head of property \u2013 someone who had quite possibly damaged her reputation, and based on what she\u2019d heard from Harmer, was extremely disloyal and a serious threat to the firm.<\/p>\n

\u2018My apologies about the Pinocchio picture in Redline, I had no idea they were going to do that,\u2019 she said and brushed back some strands from her perfect brunette bob.<\/p>\n

\u2018So you admit it?\u2019 Katie shot back, stunned.<\/p>\n

\u2018Of course; and Tim knows, he\u2019s always known.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Why the cloak and dagger then? Why not just pop down to my little office if you wanted to chat about stabbing people in the back.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sara Keating paused for a moment, then forced a smile.<\/p>\n

\u2018Because I\u2019m staging a coup and Harmer has the place under surveillance. Plus, it\u2019s more fun like this, don\u2019t you think?\u2019<\/p>\n

Katie was just starting to frame the best way to ask to be let out of the car when it pulled over again. Standing at the side of the road was another partner she recognised, but didn\u2019t know well. He deftly opened the front passenger door and slipped in. The Mercedes peeled away and lost itself in the morning rush hour.<\/p>\n

\u2018Sunil,\u2019 said the partner and reached out a hand, which Katie took on impulse. \u2018Welcome to the rebellion.\u2019<\/p>\n

Katie had plenty of questions. Some they answered, others they were vague about. But the key message they wanted to get across to her was this: Timothy Marks was leading the firm into oblivion, partners were leaving, clients were slipping away, he was strategically lost \u2013 lurching from one failed plan to another \u2013 and getting nothing done.<\/p>\n

The AI debacle was just the latest example of his mismanagement, they both stressed. For now, in part because the legal market was so buoyant, many of his mistakes were getting papered over, profits were still \u2013 even now \u2013 good enough to keep many partners on-side.<\/p>\n

But, they added, all it would take was a market hiccup that triggered a drop in transactional work, or the loss of two or three more institutional clients, and that was it. The death spiral would accelerate beyond their ability to control things.<\/p>\n

Katie wasn\u2019t sure she agreed. She had seen the PEP figures. How on Earth could anything really be the matter? They saw the incredulity on her face.<\/p>\n

\u2018Look,\u2019 explained Sara, \u2018Smyth & Marmalade was once one of about five top firms in London. Now that little group that serves our segment of the market has swelled to about a dozen, mostly because of all the US firms that have grown like wildfire over here.<\/p>\n

\u2018Today, we are at the bottom of those dozen in terms of profitability, once we were number one in this market. In a world where everyone is working 24\/7, mostly for the same type of clients, doing the same type of work, what difference does it make where you are? Only the money matters at the end of the day for some of our partners.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018At the moment it\u2019s just a trickle of departures, but soon it could swell. Once we get a real exodus then that\u2019s it. The firm implodes. Of course, ExComm would never let it get out of hand. We\u2019d find a rescue merger partner. But it would be on their terms. Our 100-year history, our culture, would be over.\u2019<\/p>\n

Katie tried to absorb what they were saying.<\/p>\n

\u2018Then I don\u2019t see how damaging the firm in public like that helps,\u2019 she replied curtly. \u2018Seems like you\u2019re just going to make things worse.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sara tutted and Sunil chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u2018You have no idea, do you?\u2019 Sara asked rhetorically. \u2018We have been trying to dislodge Marks for years, since soon after he started his term. He will not listen to reason. We have no choice now.\u2019<\/p>\n

Katie paused, then had to ask: \u2018Why did the partners elect him then?\u2019<\/p>\n

Sara looked to Sunil, who grimaced.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a long story. What\u2019s important right now is what we can do today.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018But, I don\u2019t understand why you want me to even know about this. I\u2019m just the head of innovation. I run software PoCs and put stuff on your computers that you never even use. What\u2019s this got to do with me?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018First, don\u2019t be so modest, the future of this firm is in your hands, even if you don\u2019t see it,\u2019 Sara replied. \u2018AI and new ways of working are going to totally change the legal market. We all know it. It\u2019s just a question of time. Maybe it takes five years, maybe more. But, it\u2019s coming. And as far as I can see, you\u2019re better-placed than anyone else in this firm to help us do something about it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Now Katie really was intrigued.<\/p>\n

\u2018And your last-minute intervention on the Rubicon thing \u2013 well played there,\u2019 added Sunil. \u2018It was a bold idea, but too much for us to swallow in one go. Marks typically fluffed the delivery before you\u2019d even got started. You saved the day.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Mercedes had done a loop of the centre of the City and Katie noticed the time. Her team would be wondering where she was.<\/p>\n

\u2018OK, look, I think it\u2019s cards on the table time \u2013 and I should warn you, Harmer and Marks told me to expect you to reach out,\u2019 she stated.<\/p>\n

\u2018And you\u2019re to report back to them, of course,\u2019 Sara added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Then you need to decide: which side are you on?\u2019<\/p>\n

Katie shook her head with disbelief. The idea of trying to build their own AI system seemed a lot simpler and saner than getting in the middle of a civil war between the partners.<\/p>\n

\u2018I still don\u2019t understand how I can be of assistance.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You understand technology. We don\u2019t. Central to our plan is to do a merger deal. And to do a merger deal on our terms \u2013 before we get so weakened that it becomes a takeover.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018But\u2026?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Our goal is to find a US law firm that can help us through this period of AI turmoil. Now, we can get any managing partner on the phone that we like, our name still carries a lot of weight. But, we have no idea if they\u2019re talking nonsense about their AI strategy or not. You will though.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You think?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018You gambled your career on stopping Rubicon at the last minute,\u2019 Sunil noted, \u2018so, yes, we do believe you know what you\u2019re doing.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018And there\u2019s something else: you stepped up to do that speech when most people would have run for the hills. That takes courage,\u2019 added Sara.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

They drove on until they returned to where she\u2019d been picked up outside Liverpool Street station.<\/p>\n

\u2018So, what happens if I tell Tim about this?\u2019 Katie asked as she went to open the door.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019d probably be forced out and the firm would continue its nosedive,\u2019 Sara told her frankly.<\/p>\n

\u2018And if I do what you want, and help you with merger talks behind the back of our own managing partner\u2026..which I guess would mean instant dismissal or worse for me if it all goes wrong?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Then we build the law firm of the future, a transatlantic giant with AI at its core, and you\u2019d become the most important head of innovation in the market,\u2019 Sara replied.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

Parts One to Three of The Innovators are below. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Part One \u2013 Introduction.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Part Two<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0of \u2018The Innovators\u2019 is here.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Part Three \u2013 \u2018Press Conference\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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[ Copyright \u00a9 2026, Richard Tromans, Published by Artificial Lawyer Limited in the U.K. All rights reserved. This work of fiction may not be republished or reproduced without permission. The moral right of the author has been asserted. All characters are fictitious and any resemblance to any persons living, dead, or virtual, is purely coincidental. ]<\/em><\/p>\n

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