Orrick aligns new finance and technology leadership around AI investment

On September 15, Reuters reported that Orrick hired Padma Elmgart as chief technology officer and Chris Davis as chief financial officer, with Davis already in post and Elmgart due to start September 21. Orrick said the technology mandate includes using AI and data to change client value and firm operations, while Reuters noted that law-firm expenses have risen with technology investment. Putting the two functions under new leadership at the same time creates an opportunity to connect adoption decisions to pricing, delivery cost and realized margin. The operating test will be whether finance and technology use shared matter-level metrics rather than separate budgets and deployment counts.