In a big name hire for Reed Smith, David Cunningham is joining in the newly-created role of chief innovation officer. Cunningham was most recently CIO at Am Law top 50 law firm Winston & Strawn.
Previously a longtime consultant advising on some of the largest law firm integrations in history, Cunningham is CEO of Legal Metrics, a tech-driven consortium automating next-gen performance and diversity analytics between law firms and legal departments, which he will continue to lead. He played an early role in growing the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium, or CLOC.
Over the past several years, Reed Smith has pushed the envelope in client-facing knowledge and innovation, launching Gravity Stack, Reed Smith’s data-driven legal technology and solutions subsidiary, and Reed Smith Global Solutions, the firm’s shared-services provider that today comprises more than 450 lawyers, analysts and business services staff. The Financial Times recognized Reed Smith as among the top five “most digital” law firms in its North America Innovative Lawyer Awards and Report in 2020. In May, the firm announced a partnership with BRYTER, the leading no-code service automation platform, that enhances the existing capabilities of the firm’s in-house Practice Innovation team to deliver digital solutions to the firm’s clients.
Chief among Cunningham’s responsibilities will be building on these and other innovation offerings and incorporating them into an umbrella of technology solutions and shared services. In addition, Cunningham will help bring new innovation products and services to market; guide the firm’s enterprise data and analytics strategy; and identify efficiency and process improvement initiatives to enhance client service. He will also provide input on the strategic direction of Gravity Stack.
“We must continue to create new service offerings and products that deliver more agile and customized client support – all with the purpose of helping our clients drive their businesses forward,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s global managing partner. “David brings the ultimate entrepreneurial approach to the delivery of legal services. He is a champion of innovation, and we are thrilled to have him lead us into the next iteration of Reed Smith’s commitment to innovation and client value.”