Two former lawyers from prominent international law firms have launched a new venture aimed at integrating artificial intelligence into legal services. Wim Dejonghe, previously a senior partner at Allen & Overy who left following the firm’s merger with Shearman & Sterling in New York, and Rémy Bonnaffé, formerly with Freshfields, have partnered with the Belgian technology company Mbrella to establish Falcon, which they describe as an "AI-native neo law firm."
Falcon intends to offer flat-fee pricing rather than traditional hourly billing for a range of commercial contract services. These include high-volume agreements related to data processing, master service agreements, as well as customer and supplier contracts. The firm plans to streamline the contract review process by allowing clients to submit documents via chat applications. Each contract will be reviewed and approved by a qualified lawyer before being returned within the same day.
The founders emphasize that while AI can automate many factual and repetitive legal tasks, it does not replace the need for experienced legal judgment. Bonnaffé noted that artificial intelligence facilitates efficiency, but legal advice and decision-making remain central to the firm's service model. By combining AI technology with professional legal oversight, Falcon aims to deliver faster, more cost-effective legal services while maintaining the necessary human element in legal decision-making.