Mark Whitford, managing director of Barclay Damon’s Rochester office, was featured in “Western New York Firms Grapple With AI’s Impact on Billing, Training, and Talent,” an article in Rochester Business Journal’s Western NY’s Largest Law Firms 2026 special section. The article explores how artificial intelligence continues to reshape the legal industry, prompting firms to reevaluate everything from attorney training and client service to billing models.
Mark noted that AI has become the dominant topic in firm leadership and practice group strategy discussions, reflecting a growing recognition that the technology is here to stay and will have a lasting impact on how legal services are delivered.
While AI is improving efficiency, clients remain focused on value and responsiveness rather than dramatic changes to traditional billing structures. Mark said, “I think clients are expecting attorneys, just as with any new technology, to hope that we’re embracing [AI], finding ways to make our work more efficient, and doing it as quickly and as appropriately as possible to get the job done.”
The article highlights that AI is changing the nature of work traditionally performed by junior attorneys, particularly document review and related tasks that have long served as foundational training opportunities. As firms adopt AI-powered tools to handle more routine work, they are thinking proactively about how to develop young lawyers’ skills and ensure they gain the experience necessary to become trusted advisors. Creating new pathways for attorney development as the profession adapts to these changes is imperative.
Click here to read the full special section.