Law Firm Creates Internal ‘Skunkworks’ to Develop Tech

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has long represented technology startups and companies, and now its leadership is hoping it can convince clients that some of that innovative spirit has rubbed off on its own lawyers.

The San Francisco-headquartered firm recently hired three developers to staff an internal technology ‘incubator,’ called Orrick Labs, that aims to turn lawyers’ ideas about how to achieve greater efficiency into reality.

By making a concerted, publicized effort to invest in technology, Orrick joins a growing number of law firms seeking to shake off the boilerplate reputation of law firms as stale organizations that cling to ...