Burke Warren Adopts Comprehensive AI Governance Policy to Enhance Client Service While Safeguarding Confidential Information
At Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., we believe innovation should deliver meaningful benefits to our clients while never compromising the professional standards they expect from their legal counsel. To support that commitment, the Firm has implemented a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Policy that establishes clear guidelines for the responsible, secure, and ethical use of AI technologies across the Firm.
AI tools are creating new opportunities to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance the delivery of legal services. At Burke Warren, we are thoughtfully integrating approved technologies that help our attorneys and professional staff work more effectively, allowing them to focus more time on strategic thinking, legal analysis, and client service. At the same time, our policy emphasizes that technology is a tool to support our professionals, not replace them. All AI-generated work product must be reviewed, validated, and approved by attorneys who remain fully responsible for every legal conclusion, filing, recommendation, and client communication.
The policy reflects a client-first approach to innovation. Burke Warren requires that any AI application used by Firm personnel be reviewed and approved in advance and meet rigorous confidentiality and security standards. Approved systems must protect client information and cannot use Firm-provided data to train public AI models accessible to other users. The Firm's governance framework also requires compliance with professional responsibility rules, court requirements, client-specific restrictions, and evolving legal standards governing AI use.
Importantly, the policy reinforces a principle our clients value: efficiencies created through technology should benefit clients. For matters billed on an hourly basis, the Firm will continue to bill only for the time actually spent, even when AI-assisted tools help attorneys complete work more efficiently. This ensures that technological advancements translate into greater value while maintaining the quality and diligence clients expect from Burke Warren.
"Our approach to AI is guided by a simple principle: innovation must enhance client service while protecting client interests," said Adam Rick, Chair of the Firm’s Technology Committee. "By establishing clear governance, training, security controls, and attorney oversight, we can responsibly leverage emerging technologies to improve efficiency and deliver even greater value to our clients."
As AI continues to evolve, Burke Warren will continue evaluating emerging technologies through the lens of client service, confidentiality, security, and professional responsibility. The Firm's policy includes ongoing training, governance oversight, and regular review procedures to ensure that innovation remains aligned with the highest standards of legal practice.
