Bird & Bird hires leading legal transformation expert
International law firm Bird & Bird has strengthened its client offering with the arrival of new partner Shahin Baghaei, a leading adviser on legal transformation, AI and legal managed services. He is joined by a team of experts comprising Head of Legal Solutions Dale Carden, Senior Manager Carl Newman and Manager Carolyn Guha. They join together on 10 August from a big four firm where Shahin led a global team of legal consultants focused on solving enterprise contract management challenges.
Shahin and his team will specialise in the delivery of innovative, technology enabled solutions that help manage clients’ legal work more effectively and at scale. This will include both enhancing how existing mandates are delivered and developing new AI legal solutions, underpinned by the assurance and expertise of Bird & Bird. The team will complement Bird & Bird’s existing LegalTech & AI capabilities, strengthening the firm’s international offering to meet growing demand for smarter, more efficient and scalable legal solutions.
Shahin brings a strong track record in legal innovation, with over 15 years’ experience advising clients on complex commercial matters while helping them transform their legal functions through technology, process improvement and enterprise legal managed services.
He has particular expertise in improving contracting processes and helping clients prepare for regulatory change, with deep experience across heavily regulated sectors including Life Sciences & Healthcare, Tech & Comms, and Financial Services.
Having started his career at an international law firm, Shahin later founded a privately owned alternative legal service provider focused on the financial services sector, helping drive an early wave of legal service innovation across the industry, with a sharp focus on operational excellence and technology-enabled delivery.
Christian Bartsch, Bird & Bird’s CEO, commented: “This exciting appointment reinforces Bird & Bird's position at the forefront of advising clients on the opportunities and challenges of a technology-driven world. Shahin’s experience advising organisations on AI, innovation and the future of legal service delivery further strengthens our LegalTech & AI capabilities, supporting our clients through smart, efficient and scalable solutions.”
Shahin added: "Bird & Bird's leadership, lawyers and business services teams are united by a shared commitment to innovation and helping clients navigate change. The firm's willingness to embrace new ideas and continually evolve how legal services are delivered was a major attraction for me and my team. The opportunity to join a firm with such a strong brand, culture and heritage at a time of unprecedented opportunity and change is incredibly exciting. We are excited to contribute to the firm’s continued growth.”
