Dan Szabo

In this episode, Ted sits down with Dan Szabo, Senior Director of Innovation at Davis Wright Tremaine, to discuss the evolving role of AI and technology in the legal industry. From his journey from the Army to software development and ultimately legal innovation, Dan shares his expertise in proactive AI, user experience, and the cultural shifts required to drive meaningful change. Highlighting the importance of R&D and leadership support in law firms, this conversation offers a compelling look at how firms can embrace digital transformation to stay competitive and client-focused.

In this episode, Dan Szabo shares insights on how to:

• Use proactive AI to enhance user experience and client service
• Streamline legal processes to reduce costs and increase efficiency
• Embrace R&D as a cornerstone of innovation in law firms
• Foster a culture that supports experimentation and technological adoption
• Equip the next generation of legal professionals for a collaborative, tech-driven future

Key takeaways:

• Proactive AI can significantly improve how legal services are delivered
• Law firms must invest in R&D to keep pace with rapid technological change
• Cultural transformation is essential for tech adoption in the legal sector
• Leadership commitment drives innovation and long-term success
• Younger legal professionals are naturally aligned with collaborative innovation

About the guest, Dan Szabo

Dan Szabo is a rising leader in legal technology innovation whose journey began in the U.S. Army, where he taught himself to code while on guard duty in Baghdad. Now the Senior Director of Innovation at Davis Wright Tremaine, Dan leads De Novo, the firm’s award-winning tech innovation center behind tools like dwt.ai and the groundbreaking Project Crescendo. His work focuses on bringing AI deeper into legal workflows, transforming how law firms deliver value.

What if we create a proactive AI? What if the AI prompts you and gets the good information from you and then does something useful with that instead?

Connect with Dan

• Company Website: https://www.dwt.com/ 
• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-szabo/