CMS today announced the enterprise-wide rollout of Harvey, marking the culmination of a trial that began in March 2024. This new phase will see Harvey deployed to 7,000 CMS lawyers and staff across all 21 CMS member firms in over 50 countries.
John Craske, Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at CMS UK, shared insights on the journey with Harvey, stating that CMS began utilizing Harvey a year and a half ago when the market was less mature. Initially, there was a small trial with licenses for around 300 users, which expanded to 3,000 lawyers about a year ago. Craske noted that the growth in licenses was driven by both strategy and demand, emphasizing CMS’s commitment to technology for client and firm benefits.
Craske remarked, “We see ourselves as a future-facing firm and use technology for the benefits of our clients and the firm. Harvey is a valuable addition to our portfolio, and it made sense to go enterprise-wide.”
Significant Productivity Gains
CMS’s initial analysis reveals that 93% of users have reported productivity gains, equating to up to 117.9 hours saved per lawyer per year. These efficiency gains allow CMS to reduce write-offs, alleviate the workload on lawyers, offer competitive prices to clients, and maintain profitability.
Stephen Millar, Managing Partner at CMS UK, commented: “Expanding Harvey across our global organization is about scaling the best of CMS—our judgment, sector insight, and cross-border capability—with the power of AI. Our lawyers are already seeing meaningful time savings, which we’re reinvesting into higher-value work and sharper outcomes for clients. This is a practical, client-led step that strengthens quality, consistency, and value across every matter we handle.”
Broader Legal Tech Landscape
This rollout signifies a pivotal moment for the legal tech sector, characterized by strategic transformation and AI acceleration. Notably, Linklaters’ launch of a 20-strong AI lawyer team shows a shift from innovation silos to embedded, practice-driven change. Similarly, White & Case’s proprietary AI assistant, Atlas, highlights the growing debate between building bespoke platforms versus buying off-the-shelf solutions—a trend towards building is evident.
Operational restructuring is another dominant theme, as seen with Clifford Chance cutting business services roles and the rise of offshoring. The legal tech landscape is marked by scale, strategy, and structural change, with AI now integral to competitive advantage.
The UK Top 200’s new GenAI column, set to release in November, underscores that AI technology has evolved from a curiosity to a competitive battleground. The extent of adoption remains a question, but its presence is undeniable.
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Note: This article is inspired by content from https://legaltechnology.com/2025/12/10/cms-announces-enterprise-roll-out-of-harvey-across-50-countries/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.