EuroWire, LONDON: Baker McKenzie said it is proposing changes to how it delivers business services after a global review of its business professional functions that included examining the firm’s use of artificial intelligence. The law firm said the proposals, which are subject to consultation processes in applicable jurisdictions, could result in some roles being phased out while other positions evolve. Baker McKenzie did not provide a figure for how many roles may be affected.
The firm said the review was carried out to position Baker McKenzie for continued growth and to remain agile in what it called a fast evolving business context. It said the work focused on rethinking how it operates, including through the use of AI, introducing efficiencies, and investing in roles that best serve client needs. Baker McKenzie said it has not taken the proposed changes lightly.
Baker McKenzie described the process as a review of business professional functions, a broad category that covers non lawyer roles supporting the delivery of legal services. The firm said it is proposing changes to how it operates and delivers important business services, and that consultation requirements will vary by jurisdiction. Baker McKenzie said the proposals reflect how work is changing across professional services, including through the increased use of digital tools.
In its statement, Baker McKenzie said the review led it to propose operational changes, with some roles likely to be phased out and other roles expected to evolve. The firm said decisions have not been finalized while consultations are under way. Baker McKenzie also said it is investing in roles aligned with client service needs, and framed the changes as part of maintaining efficient support for its global legal practice.
Business services review
Baker McKenzie is one of the world’s largest law firms by geographic footprint, operating in more than 70 offices across over 40 countries, according to information published on its website. The firm markets its work as cross border and multi jurisdictional, and has highlighted innovation initiatives under a program it calls Reinvent. Baker McKenzie’s online materials also describe a wide range of internal functions that support lawyers and client teams across regions.
The firm’s Belfast Center, a significant business services hub, has grown to around 500 people since it was established in 2014, Baker McKenzie said in a separate newsroom update published in December 2025. Baker McKenzie’s Belfast location profile says the center handles high volume, large scale projects including e discovery, document review, M&A due diligence, and legal research. The firm has described those services as enabling routine legal work to be delivered quickly and cost effectively.
Artificial intelligence and delivery
Baker McKenzie said AI was among the factors considered in its review of business professional functions. In its statement, the firm said it was rethinking the ways in which it works, including through the use of AI, and that it was seeking efficiencies while investing in roles tied to client needs. Baker McKenzie did not detail the specific AI tools involved, and it did not provide a timetable for completing consultations across jurisdictions.
The firm said the proposals are subject to consultation processes and that some roles may be phased out while others change in scope. Baker McKenzie said it is proceeding through applicable local processes before final decisions are taken. The firm did not announce changes to its legal practice groups, and it did not indicate that client services would be reduced, describing the review as focused on business services and professional support functions across its global network.