Three Crowns CEO Hugh Carlson and Dr. Megan Ma, Executive Director of the Stanford Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), are featured in The Lawyer’s legal tech newsletter, Curve, regarding the development of “Atelier,” the new AI-powered cross-examination simulator.
The article explores how the platform utilizes generative AI to create realistic “witness agents” that respond to questioning in real-time, operating strictly within the limits of a witness’s knowledge. Designed to address the decline in traditional “osmotic learning” for junior lawyers, the tool offers a technical solution for associates to refine their skills in a simulated environment.
The piece highlights the technical challenges and opportunities inherent in applying generative AI to legal training, noting the shift from passive review tools to active simulation.
Discussing the integration of these tools into practice, Carlson states: “As generative AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, law firm leaders will begin to ask whether junior lawyers have the same opportunities to train and develop.” He adds: “Simulated trainings will begin to go from a nice to have to a more critical part of legal education.”
Atelier is the product of Three Crowns’ collaboration with Dr Megan Ma and Stanford Law’s liftlab. In December, Three Crowns and Atelier were also named winners of the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers North America Awards in the category “Innovation in training and development.”
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ABOUT HUGH CARLSON
Hugh Carlson is the Chief Executive Officer of Three Crowns, in which capacity he is responsible for the firm’s global operations and helps shape its strategy. He also serves as General Counsel to the firm.
A litigator by background, Hugh has represented large multinationals and sovereigns in their complex, high stakes disputes. He has been described by clients and peers in Lexology Index as “absolutely phenomenal,” “a great strategist,” and “integral to the success of Three Crowns,” and has repeatedly been recognized in Lawdragon’s “Global Litigation 500” and Super Lawyers as a leading litigator. He has taught at Harvard Law School since 2019 and co-founded its international arbitration workshop.
Innovation is a founding principle of Three Crowns, with Hugh driving its strategy and leading its execution. The firm’s efforts in AI have attracted industry recognition, including from the Financial Times, Global Arbitration Review, and Microsoft, which has identified the firm as one of several leading “AI-powered companies” that are “bending the curve on innovation.”
Hugh regularly lectures and writes on the intersection between AI and law, benefiting from his earlier experience as a software engineer. His technology experience now extends to hands-on leadership in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure. He holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).