Legal Leaders | Nadim Baklouti + Rupali Patel Shah – DiliTrust

In this episode of ADB Insights – The Legal Innovation Forum Podcast, Andrew Bowyer, Founder & CEO of the Legal Innovation Forum, sits down with Rupali Patel Shah, Head of Legal Solutions & Alliances for North America at DiliTrust, and Nadim Baklouti, Co-CEO of DiliTrust, to explore how corporate legal departments can build thoughtful AI strategies, strengthen governance, and position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly complex business environment. Drawing from their combined backgrounds in legal operations, in-house counsel, technology, and enterprise software, Rupali and Nadim discuss the growing expectation for legal departments to act as strategic business partners—not just risk mitigators. They examine how legal teams can move beyond reactive workflows and become the “institutional brain” of the organization by leveraging data, processes, and technology to support faster, more informed decision-making. The conversation dives into one of the most pressing topics facing legal leaders today: artificial intelligence. While AI and large language models continue to dominate headlines, Rupali and Nadim emphasize that successful AI adoption starts with strong foundations. They explain why data governance, information management, and connected legal ecosystems are critical prerequisites for unlocking the true value of AI. Andrew, Rupali, and Nadim also explore the concept of an “ERP for Legal”—a fully integrated platform that connects contracts, entities, governance records, matters, and decision-making into a single source of truth. Together, they discuss how this level of connectivity can help legal departments respond more effectively to crises, support enterprise risk management, and create measurable business value. The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on the future of legal work, the evolving role of in-house counsel, and why AI should be viewed as a force multiplier rather than a replacement for human judgment. For legal leaders preparing for the next decade of transformation, this conversation offers practical insights into building resilient, data-driven, and innovation-focused legal functions.