Tara Waters recently stepped down from her role as Chief Digital Officer at Ashurst, where she oversaw various projects that culminated in the successful implementation of Harvey across the entire firm. Now, she is considering her next steps. In an interview with Artificial Lawyer, Waters discussed her decision to leave and what she may do next. When asked about her departure, Waters acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to leave a role where she held both a top legal tech position and a partnership. However, she emphasized that her experience at Ashurst was positive and that she had nothing but love for the firm.

Waters also highlighted the challenges of driving change and innovation in a large law firm, where innovation teams are often small in comparison to the size of the business. As the Chief Digital Officer, she was one of the few people in the firm who was specifically tasked with thinking about new ways of doing business. This often meant facing limitations in resources and having to fight for support and resources to implement new initiatives.

Despite these challenges, Waters noted that Ashurst was making progress in terms of embracing new technology, particularly with the enthusiastic adoption of genAI tools by partners. However, she also acknowledged the ebbs and flows of support for new tech initiatives and the need for a more whole-firm approach to drive real and lasting change.

Ultimately, Waters’ decision to leave was driven by a desire to explore new opportunities and challenges. She believes that her experience at Ashurst has prepared her for whatever comes next and is excited to see where her career takes her.