Judy
Mackenzie Stuart
CONSULTANT

I am a senior knowledge, innovation and AI transformation specialist with more than 35 years’ experience in the legal sector.  A qualified solicitor, I began my career at Linklaters as an EU and competition lawyer, moving on to hold senior leadership roles in business management, risk and knowledge at leading international firms.  Over the last 15 years I have served as Global Chief Knowledge Officer at Shearman & Sterling (2011-2016) and then BCLP (2016-2025), latterly with a strong focus on AI.  I have been a member of senior leadership teams and executive committees of both firms, acting as a trusted adviser to firm leadership on AI and knowledge strategy.  As part of my C-level roles, I have led large, multidisciplinary teams across the UK, US and Europe.  I also have deep experience of post‑merger integration, global change programmes, and the development of high‑performing teams.

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My KM and AI approach uniquely integrates people, technology, process, and data to help firms translate strategic ambition into practical, people‑centred improvements with measurable outcomes.  My projects consistently blend cross-functional collaboration, innovative technology adoption, process optimisation and robust data governance to drive sustainable change.  I also ensure that legal, regulatory and reputational risk, particularly around AI, is woven into every deliverable and that governance, compliance and operational resilience form the basis of every solution.  

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My experience includes:

• Designing and delivering firmwide AI programmes covering governance, risk, use-case enablement, training, culture and ROI measurement

• Leading large KM, innovation, research and process-improvement functions, with responsibility for global teams and multimillion-dollar budgets

• Developing award-winning knowledge and search platforms and designing/embedding the business processes needed for sustained use

• Developing OKRs and metrics to help adoption of new knowledge processes and technologies, including use of Power BI dashboards

• Re-engineering knowledge roles and operating models, including repositioning knowledge lawyers to support innovation and AI strategy

• Standardising global processes for data, document and information capture to improve KM systems, content quality and AI readiness

• Developing risk and governance policies and frameworks for use of AI by law firms

• Transforming research and competitive intelligence services through use of AI.

• Contributing to firmwide data strategy, including data integration, data mining, taxonomy development, ownership models and quality standards.

• Leading cross-functional taskforces and delivering complex change programmes across practices, cultures and geographies.