Addleshaws boosts innovation bench with Macfarlanes' legal tech head

Addleshaw Goddard has hired former Macfarlanes innovation head Chris Tart-Roberts to lead a new push on tech-enabled services for financial services clients.

Tart-Roberts, who is joining as a partner in the finance and projects group, is one of the UK’s best-known legal tech figures. A former banking lawyer, he built Macfarlanes’ lawtech team from scratch and became chief knowledge and innovation officer.

Under his leadership, the firm was one of the first to adopt legal AI platform Harvey in 2023, making an early move in the AI arms race.

Innovation frontrunner

At AG, he will work alongside Kerry Westland, who heads the firm’s 80-strong innovation group and has been central to its rise as one of the industry's legal tech leaders.

Speaking on The Non-Billable Podcast earlier this year, Westland said AG’s in-house developed AI assistant - AGPT - was used by 85% of the firm, and handles more than 2,000 prompts a day. The firm also rolled out legal AI platform Legora earlier this year.

AG said Tart-Roberts will help integrate AI, automation and expert systems into service delivery for financial institutions and private capital clients.

What they said

Tart-Roberts said he was looking forward to combining "top-tier legal expertise with transformative technology", adding that the firm’s platform and track record gave it "all the ingredients to build something truly game-changing for clients."

Steve Mackie, group head of finance and projects, said: "We are combining our advanced legal technology capabilities, deep Financial Services sector understanding and Chris’s tech expertise, to help clients solve their most pressing challenges."