Charles Russell Speechlys recognised as a 'Tactician' in The Lawyer's 2026 Innovation Map

When The Lawyer published its first ever Innovation Map in April 2025, many firms were still exploring the potential of AI, with most focused on early adoption and capability building. In that report, Charles Russell Speechlys was recognised in the 'Accelerator' category, amongst firms pushing rapid adoption.
 
Now, in the new 2026 edition of the Innovation Map, our Firm has moved into the 'Tactician' category, which reflects our focus on integrating multiple technologies into end-to-end coordinated workflows. The Lawyer also suggests that our approach to innovation has 'strong Architectural tendencies'. Architects are those who invest gradually in the infrastructure necessary to bring about sustained innovation in the long term.

As part of the report, Simon Ridpath, Managing Partner, spoke with The Lawyer about our focus on configuring and deploying technology tools for the most effective implementation. 
  
The Lawyer’s Innovation Map 2026 says:

CRS has shown a consistent willingness to engage with innovation, often moving earlier than its peers. Adoption rates of Harvey and Copilot have exceeded 80 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively, and super-users are materialising.

"The firm has been tightening its grip on legal project management, pulling workflow design and cost predictability directly into the mechanics of delivery.

Read the full report from The Lawyer here.