Cooley links client-facing AI to outcome pricing and relationship strategy

On October 19, 2026, Business Insider reported that Cooley is using a wholly owned subsidiary, Cooley AI, to develop client-facing and internal tools while chief executive Rachel Proffitt expects firms to offer a mix of hourly, flat-fee and outcome-based pricing. The report said Cooley has built a self-service contract tool with Legora, worked with OpenAI on IPO documentation and is developing a Google-powered redaction agent; these initiatives were described by the firm and have not been independently benchmarked in the article. The strategic issue is client acquisition as much as productivity: when software absorbs entry-level matters, firms need deliberate pathways that convert tool users into trusted-adviser relationships. Firms should measure referral, retention, escalation and margin outcomes together, because faster work can still weaken the relationship if the client’s first interaction happens entirely outside the firm.