Gadens Implemented AI Governance Framework

The Australian law firm has formalised its artificial intelligence strategy using international standards.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a solitary stone pillar in a sunlit hall, symbolizing formal AI governance and legal structure. — Australian law firm Gadens has implemented a new AI governance framework, aligning its automation strategy with ISO/IEC 42001 international management standards. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Gadens has adopted an AI governance framework aligned with the ISO/IEC 42001 international standard for artificial intelligence management systems. This move aims to balance rapid technological innovation with the firm's existing professional accountability requirements.

Why it matters

The implementation ensures that legal services remain secure and reliable as the firm integrates advanced automation into its daily practice. It establishes a rigorous process where every AI system must pass a formal risk assessment before being approved for use by staff.

The firm now operates under the ISO/IEC 42001 international standard for AI management systems alongside its existing ISO 27001 certification for information security. Every individual AI platform used by the firm is subject to a mandatory risk assessment prior to approval.

The players

Gadens

Gadens is an Australian law firm that provides a wide range of legal services to domestic and international clients.

Lext

Lext is a technology company that specialises in building software solutions for the legal industry.

The details

Gadens integrates tools including Microsoft 365 Copilot and Harvey AI, alongside a customized Playbooks platform for contract review developed with Lext. Despite these technological adoptions, the firm maintains a strict mandate requiring lawyers to remain fully accountable for all advice delivered to clients.

In 2023, the firm entered a partnership with Lext to customise contract review tools.
In 2026, Gadens achieved recognition as a finalist in the Australian AI Awards.

The Tech Race

The firm adopts the ISO/IEC 42001 framework to standardise its approach to emerging artificial intelligence, marking a departure from ad-hoc adoption. This move positions the firm to compete in a legal market where tech-integrated service delivery is becoming the new baseline.

Clients can expect greater consistency and oversight in how their legal work is processed by digital tools. While AI handles routine contract reviews, the requirement for lawyer accountability ensures that human judgement remains at the centre of all legal advice.

The takeaway

Legal firms are increasingly formalising their use of automation to maintain high security and ethical standards. Lawyers are encouraged to prioritise the development of traditional legal judgement as integrated technology tools become more common in the workplace.