Articles
Shadow AI: Damned If You Do, Liable If You Don't
Your staff are already using AI you haven't approved. Banning it will not stop them. It will only make sure you are the last to know. Here is what the evidence and the law say, and three things to do this week.
A New UK Regulator - Data Protection
The UK data regulator changed shape on 30 September 2026. Across the water, Europe's regulators are being told that if a breach is not minor, a fine should be the starting point. Together, they tell you where enforcement is heading.
AI Agents and Your Vendor Contracts: Who Pays?
AI agents spent September doing things nobody asked them to. Most AI contracts still assume software that drafts and waits for a human. When an agent acts on its own, somebody will ask the contract who pays.
Nobody Asks for Judgment: Richard Susskind, AI and the Profession's Favourite Defence
Clients do not buy judgment. They buy problems solved. Richard Susskind took apart the profession's favourite defence in front of some of its most distinguished owners. Here is what he got right, and where I part company.
Deal Confirmed: When Your WhatsApp DMs Becomes a Contract
English courts have held deals done on WhatsApp and email binding. What Coupang v DAZN and two 2026 subject to contract cases mean for founders.
The Human in the Loop Is Standing Right Behind You
The ICO says rubber-stamping an AI shortlist isn't meaningful human review. If you use AI in hiring, "a human approved it" may not protect you. A 2026 guide.
The Safety Net With a Hole Cut In IT: AI Mistakes
Your insurer excludes AI errors. Your AI vendor's indemnity excludes them too. That gap is where your risk sits. The AI clauses UK contracts miss in 2026.
The AI Bubble: The Party, the Bill, and the Person Nobody Wants to Sit Next to
Bank of England says an AI bubble burst could cost UK GDP 2.2%. A solicitor's guide to the contract, board and employment risks already in your business.
Why Does AI Governance Fail Even When the AI Works Fine?
Why AI governance fails isn't usually the technology. It's the absence of oversight before deployment. Here's what good governance actually looks like.
Good News, Bad News: What the EU AI Act Delay Actually Delayed
The EU AI Act's high-risk deadline moved to December 2027, but Article 50 transparency rules land on 2 August 2026 regardless. What UK and EU SMEs need to fix before then.
The Fine Print Brief: what actually matters this week (14 July 2026)
A five-minute legal briefing for founders, CEOs and time-poor GCs. Seven developments, one verdict each, and what to do about them. No filler.
Europe's Tech Sovereignty Package: why "where is your cloud" just became a contract question
The EU's Cloud and AI Development Act turns cloud sovereignty into a four-level compliance standard. What CADA means for SaaS contracts, procurement and supplier due diligence.
The EU AI Act on 2 August 2026: what actually applies, what moved, and what I'd do this month
The Digital Omnibus delayed the EU AI Act's high-risk rules to December 2027, but 2 August 2026 is still a live compliance date. Here's what applies, what moved, and what to do now.
Ireland Built the AI Enforcement Engine for a Deadline That Just Moved
Ireland published its AI enforcement Bill the same fortnight the EU delayed the AI Act's high-risk deadline. Here's what still applies from August 2026.
Building a law firm from scratch: what five people who actually do this for a living told a packed room at LegalTechTalk 2026
Rory O'Keeffe moderated a LegalTechTalk 2026 panel on building a law firm from scratch. Here's what five legal leaders discussed and disagreed on.
The Great Digital Curfew: What Starmer's Social Media Ban Actually Means
PM Sir Keir Starmer has announced a ban on social media for under-16s. Rory O'Keeffe analyses the UK plans, compares them to Australia, and explains what digital, gaming and AI businesses need to do before 2027.
The Flight of the Autonomous Agent: What London Tech Week Tells Us About Britain's AI Moment
AI governance resources for UK businesses: Rory O'Keeffe reflects on London Tech Week 2026, agentic AI in the legal profession, and whether Britain is leading the AI revolution or catching up with it.
Behind the Curtain: What AI Actually Changes About Legal Work
AI doesn't challenge the complexity of law. It challenges the assumption that complexity requires a priest. Rory O'Keeffe unpacks the real shifts with Avatar Buddy co-founder Stephanie Sylvestre.
What Happens When You Sign Without Reading: The Commercial Consequences of Unreviewed Contracts
You signed it. You probably should not have. Here is what the law says, what your options are, and at what point it becomes too late to do anything about it.
The In-House Leverage: When Your Generalists Face an AI or Tech Goliath (and How to Drop a Specialist into the Breach)
For GCs and in-house legal teams with capacity gaps or specialist contract needs. What to send, what you get back, how fast, and what it costs compared to a City firm.

