PODCAST: THE DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE LEGAL FIELD

New technologies arise frequently and the legal field seems to change in a very fast-paced way. Professors Erik Vermeulen and Luis Alfonso Gómez discussed how improved systems such as blockchains, smart contracts, machine and deep learning are reshaping the lawyer´s work.

Given the fact that new technologies arise frequently, the legal field seems to change in a very fast-paced way. That is why professors Erik Vermeulen and Luis Alfonso Gómez were invited to discuse how improved systems and new tools such as blockchain, smart contracts and machine learning shape the view in which several issues that were solved by lawyers that are now performed by softwares. Thus, among the reasons in which one could consider the importance of this topic is the way in which it has been developed and discussed. In subjects like this, one can view the basis for the development of ideas that could help bringing dynamic solutions.

Furthermore, when specifically referring to artificial intelligence, it is important to state that it is a very innovative context when applied to the legal field. Eventually it may be able to replace today’s lawyers, therefore we have before us a huge  challenge which is going to make us reinvent and adapt ourselves if we want to keep up to the new reality, which constantly will redefine society behaves. That said, an alternative could be the one that is fostering our skills through a specialized knowledge in these new techniques, like coding and algorithm management. These tools will allow lawyers to reinvent our role, which also will help us to offer an aggregated value to our clients.

 

 

Erik Vermeulen

Erik P.M. Vermeulen is Professor of Business and Financial Law at Tilburg University and Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC). He also works as Senior Counsel Corporate / Vice President at the Corporate Legal Department of Philips International BV. At Philips he is involved with corporate structures, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, divestments and corporate venturing activities. He is visiting lecturer at University Externado de Colombia, where he teaches international joint ventures as part of the LLM in International Business Law.

His articles and books have been published by leading publishers such as Oxford University Press and Kluwer Law International. His current research focuses on value creation and innovation and the role of corporate governance in promoting the competitiveness and innovation capacity of both listed and unlisted companies. Professor Vermeulen often acts as an expert for national and international organizations, such as the European Commission, the OECD, the Dutch Financing Society for Developing Countries and local authorities in the Netherlands.

Luis Alfonso Gómez Domínguez

International business lawyer, bachelor degree of University Externado of Colombia Law School (JD equivalent), holds a master degree in International Business and Management  from University of Westminster in London, an executive course in Successful Negotiation Strategy, University of Cambridge, after which worked as part of Motorola´s legal team in the United Kingdom. Recently, prof. Gómez studied the Negotiation Research and Teaching certificate program offered by the Dispute Resolution Research Center, kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

Currently, prof. Gómez is an associate lawyer at Rincón-Cuellar law firm and research lecturer at the Business Law Department, University Externado of Colombia, teaching negotiation strategy, among other subjects; and member of the Committee of Commercial Practices ICC. Author of the book: International Negotiation – Strategic Approach. Mediator of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá.