AI Academy Honored With Vanguard Award for Technology Leadership
Latham & Watkins won the Vanguard Award at the 2025 California Legal Awards for the firm’s AI Academy, a skills-based training program offering expert-led modules and practical workshops. The award presented by American Lawyer Media recognizes a firm that has “revolutionized their business to stay one step ahead of the current and future forces shaping the legal industry.”
The AI Academy was developed though collaboration among the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice and its Technology Department, and the award was presented to Michael Rubin, Global Co-Chair of the AI Practice, and Rene Mendoza, the firm’s Chief Information Officer, who were featured in a published article. Their goal was to deliver meaningful hands-on trainings for specific lawyer populations within the firm, bolstered by ongoing virtual programming focused on AI and the law — programming across a range of key topics that Latham lawyers in any practice area can access. The efforts led to Latham hosting a first of its kind in-person AI Academy event in October 2024, which brought together more than 100 first- through fourth-year associates from Latham’s global offices, with subsequent in-person academies to follow. On demand trainings are also available within the firm, as an outgrowth of the AI Academy.
In addition to substantive legal training on the AI regulatory landscape and the impacts of AI on client service, the AI Academy also featured an immersive AI Expo, bringing together representatives from companies creating disruptive and innovative tools transforming the practice of law.
“The multifaceted AI Academy provides a unique opportunity for Latham’s lawyers to leverage the firm’s expertise and resources in this rapidly evolving area, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in an increasingly technology-driven world, one that is progressively integrated with AI,” said Rubin.
Mendoza added, “The AI Academy has served as a fantastic opportunity for Latham lawyers not only to stay abreast of the legal advances in AI, but to actually acquire experiential skills that they will be able to leverage in practice. These curated AI content resources allow Latham lawyers to tailor presentations and trainings to additional audiences, including clients, educators, and other members of the legal community.”