How A&O Shearman’s legal tech incubator helps keep it ahead in the innovation game - with Shruti Ajitsaria, head of Fuse

Shruti Ajitsaria is a partner at A&O Shearman and the head of Fuse, the firm’s legal tech incubator. Since launching Fuse in 2017, Shruti has helped A&O engage with over 60 startups, run dozens of pilots, and turn legal tech from a buzzword into a real driver of value for both lawyers and clients.

In this conversation, Shruti shares how she went from credit derivatives lawyer to leading one of the legal industry's most ambitious innovation programmes. She explains how Fuse works behind the scenes, why A&O Shearman was willing to take a risk on her idea, and what separates the legal tech startups that scale from those that stall.

We also get into how the merger with Shearman & Sterling is expanding Fuse’s reach, what clients really expect from law firms when it comes to tech, and why true innovation in legal isn’t just about adopting tools, but creating a culture that’s open to change.

Whether you’re a founder looking to partner with firms, a lawyer curious about the future of your role, or just someone interested in how a 100-year-old organisation builds like a startup - this conversation is well worth a listen.

Chapters

00:40 From Credit Derivatives to Legal Tech
03:20 How Fuse Was Born
06:17 Launching Fuse and Becoming Partner
08:15 What Makes a Startup Right for Fuse
09:40 Inside the Incubator: How Startups Work with A&O
12:00 Definely, StructureFlow & Building Success Stories
14:23 The Anatomy of a Great Legal Tech Founder
17:50 Fuse’s Impact Inside the Firm
20:41 Legal Tech as Strategy
22:25 Innovation Starts at the Top
26:26 The A&O Shearman Merger and US Expansion
28:23 What Clients Expect in 2025
20:05 Where Legal Tech Disruption Hits First
32:18 Bonus Round: Trends, Hype, and Career Advice