September 15, 2026, (Inside AI) — Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has hired two senior executives to lead its technology and finance operations, a move that underscores how artificial intelligence is reshaping hiring priorities across the legal industry. The San Francisco-founded law firm said on Tuesday that Padma Elmgart will become chief technology officer and Chris Davis will serve as chief financial officer. Both are based in New York. Elmgart starts on September 21, while Davis began his role on September 14.
Elmgart joins Orrick from Global Atlantic Financial Group, a subsidiary of investment firm KKR, where she served as chief technology officer since 2019. Before that, she held technology roles at Deutsche Bank and Barclays. She also sits on the board of HSBC North America and is vice chair of the nonprofit Streetwise Partners. Davis arrives from rival law firm Paul Hastings, where he was chief operating officer. He previously worked at Goodwin Procter.
The appointments come as law firms face growing pressure to integrate AI into their operations, from document review to client billing. Competition for executives who can lead that charge has intensified over the past year, with major firms hiring a wave of technical specialists and C-suite leaders. According to data from the Thomson Reuters Institute, law firm expenses have risen this year, driven by investments in technology, including AI. The Thomson Reuters Institute and Reuters share the same parent company.
Elmgart said the timing of her move reflects a broader shift in legal services. "Legal services is at a particularly interesting moment because the capabilities of technology are changing so rapidly," she told Reuters, pointing specifically to generative AI and large language models. She added that her experience in financial services during a period of technological transformation will help guide her work at Orrick.
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At Orrick, Elmgart will lead the firm's global technology organization and strategy. She will work with colleagues to use technology, data, and AI to "create differentiated value for clients and transform how the firm operates," the firm said. Davis, in his new role, said he plans to focus on innovation. "I plan to focus on innovation," he told Reuters. Global Atlantic and Paul Hastings did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The hires highlight a broader trend: law firms are increasingly treating AI expertise as a core executive competency, not just a back-office tool. Orrick's move to bring in a CTO with deep financial services experience suggests the firm sees AI as central to both client service and internal efficiency. As legal work becomes more data-driven, the ability to deploy AI effectively could become a key differentiator in winning business.
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For now, Orrick's new leadership team will be tasked with turning that potential into practice. The firm has not disclosed specific AI initiatives, but Elmgart's background in banking technology and Davis's operational experience at a rival firm position them to drive change. Their appointments signal that the legal industry's AI race is no longer just about tools. It is about the people who know how to use them.
