Transforming Legal Practice: Simmons & Simmons Unveils Percy AI

The legal sector is entering a new era of efficiency and innovation, and Simmons & Simmons is leading the charge with its groundbreaking AI-powered platform, Percy AI. As law firms are increasingly inundated with complex documents—from lengthy contracts and witness statements to court filings and client emails—the ability to process and extract insights swiftly is more than a luxury; it’s essential for maintaining competitiveness. With Percy AI at its core, Simmons & Simmons is not only augmenting day-to-day productivity but is also setting an industry benchmark for the integration of generative AI in legal practice.

Navigating the Document Deluge​

Legal professionals have long grappled with an overwhelming flood of paperwork that demands precision, analysis, and rapid turnaround. Imagine sifting through hundreds of pages of dense legal text to identify key themes or inconsistencies—tasks that traditionally could take hours of painstaking work. Percy AI changes this landscape dramatically. By leveraging state-of-the-art generative AI technology, Percy can analyze and summarize large volumes of information in a matter of seconds.
A particularly striking example came during a live demonstration by Catalina Perdomo, a senior legal engineer at Simmons & Simmons. In the demo, a 550-page transcript of a legal case was fed into Percy AI, which then generated an organized, tabular summary of the arguments and themes advanced by each party. For lawyers, whose practice hinges on precise fact-finding and evidence-based arguments, this ability to distill vast amounts of data rapidly means not only improved efficiency but also a significant boost in competitive advantage.

Percy AI’s Rapid Evolution​

Percy AI began its journey in 2023 as a secure experimental environment built on Microsoft Azure OpenAI. Initially, the platform was designed to serve as a testbed for generative AI applications within the firm. However, it quickly evolved from a nascent tool into a comprehensive platform that everyone at Simmons & Simmons could use—not just the legal teams.
Key milestones in Percy AI’s development include:

• Launch of Percy 1.0 (2023): A secure environment to experiment with cutting-edge generative AI capabilities.
• The Role of AI Champions: A dedicated team of 71 AI Champions and Coordinators worked closely with employees to identify over 270 potential AI use cases. This grassroots initiative ensured that the platform was responsive to real-world needs.
• Percy 2.0 (February 2025): Featuring document upload functions, an enhanced inference engine, and robust document comparison capabilities, this version dramatically expanded both the usage and sophistication of the platform. Daily engagement with the tool has become a norm as most employees now rely on Percy for essential tasks every week.

By fostering an inclusive AI culture, Simmons & Simmons has architected a solution that goes beyond automating routine tasks—it enhances the quality of work and reinvents how legal professionals handle unstructured data.

The Technology Behind Percy AI​

At the heart of Percy AI’s effectiveness lies its sophisticated Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) capability. Traditional AI systems can struggle with maintaining contextual relevance, especially when processing lengthy documents or nuanced legal texts. Percy overcomes this with an advanced inference engine that methodically applies logical rules to uploaded files, ensuring that outputs are both accurate and contextually relevant.
The system’s integration with Microsoft Azure OpenAI provides the dual benefits of high-powered processing and a secure cloud environment. This combination is particularly critical in the legal sector, where data sensitivity and factual accuracy are non-negotiable. By harnessing RAG, Percy AI not only saves time—what would normally take hours of manual review now happens in seconds—but also boosts user confidence in the reliability of the insights produced.
Some of the key technical features include:

• Enhanced Inference Engine: Applies logical rules to data, ensuring that each output is contextually anchored to the source documents.
• Document Upload and Analysis: Supports multiple file formats including PDFs, images, emails, and even handwritten notes, making it a versatile tool for comprehensive document analysis.
• Real-Time Query Capabilities: Allows users to interrogate documents in innovative ways, such as comparing witness statements to identify inconsistencies or contrasting risk reports across different industries.

Driving Operational Excellence and Competitiveness​

For legal practices, the ability to process information quickly and accurately isn’t merely a time-saving feature—it can significantly impact their market position. Drew Winlaw, Partner and Global Lead of Gen AI & LLM at Simmons & Simmons, emphasizes that while Percy AI’s primary function might be to enhance productivity, the broader benefit lies in improving the quality of work. With Percy AI, lawyers can now focus on the more complex and strategic facets of their work rather than being bogged down by routine tasks.
A few areas in which Percy AI is making a tangible difference include:

• Drafting Documents and Data Analysis: Routine tasks such as drafting and analyzing legal documents are accelerated, freeing up skilled professionals to concentrate on areas demanding intricate legal reasoning.
• Comparative Analysis: By juxtaposing different sets of data—like witness statements or industry risk reports—Percy uncovers nuances and inconsistencies that might be overlooked in a manual review.
• Enhanced Decision Making: With rapid retrieval and contextual answers, legal professionals can make faster, evidence-based decisions, strengthening their case arguments and overall strategy.

These improvements not only bolster the firm’s operational efficiency but also contribute to a more agile response to the dynamic legal landscape.

A Social Impact: Pro Bono Powered by AI​

One of the more inspiring aspects of Percy AI is its contribution to pro bono legal services. Simmons & Simmons has long supported charitable organizations, NGOs, and social enterprises by lending their expertise to those in need. With Percy AI in their arsenal, the firm has extended this mission by accelerating routine processes that are critical to translating legal documents and expediting case progression.
The efficiency brought by Percy AI means that pro bono teams can dedicate more time to strategic case work, thereby offering even better services to underrepresented communities. This dual approach—not just enhancing productivity for profit-driven tasks but also magnifying social impact—positions the firm as a forward-thinking leader in the legal domain.

Looking Forward: The Promise of Percy AI 3.0​

The journey of Percy AI is far from over. As Simmons & Simmons plans for the much-anticipated Percy 3.0, the future holds exciting prospects. The upcoming version aims to transform the platform into a fully-fledged Generative AI ecosystem where legal professionals can collaboratively tackle complex tasks. This next iteration is expected to include:

• Collaborative Workspaces: A shared digital space where legal teams can work collectively, ask agents to perform multifaceted tasks, and integrate insights seamlessly across different divisions.
• Enhanced LLM-Driven Inference Engine: Building on the foundations of the current model, this upgrade promises significantly higher output quality than standard large language models.
• New Income Streams: By developing innovative legal services powered by AI, the firm is poised not only for operational efficiencies but also for generating new revenue streams as their clients increasingly adopt these advanced technologies.

David Huston, the LLM Programme Lead at Simmons & Simmons, reinforces this optimistic future by highlighting ongoing collaborations with Microsoft. Together, they are tailoring a legal inference engine capable of tackling even more specialized, complex tasks—a testament to the transformative potential of the platform.

Implications for the Legal and Tech Communities​

Percy AI’s evolution is a microcosm of a larger trend: the integration of AI across industries traditionally resistant to rapid digital transformation. For Windows users and IT experts alike, this case study is a vivid example of how cutting-edge technologies—when tailored to specific sectors—can redefine professional practices. Here are some broader implications:

• Empowered Decision Making: In an age where data is paramount, platforms like Percy underscore the importance of actionable insights, which can be a game-changer not only for legal practices but also for sectors like finance, healthcare, and beyond.
• Operational Streamlining: Automation of routine tasks through AI allows professionals to focus on higher-order challenges. For organizations reliant on Windows-based infrastructure, this is a beacon of how AI can enhance productivity without sacrificing accuracy.
• Increased Collaboration: The anticipated collaborative features of Percy 3.0 suggest a future where cross-functional teamwork is the norm. IT professionals can draw lessons here about integrating AI-powered tools into everyday workflows, ensuring that technology serves as both an enabler and a unifier.
• Security and Compliance: Leveraging Microsoft Azure OpenAI means that Percy AI meets stringent security protocols, an important reassurance for legal firms handling sensitive data. For Windows users concerned with cybersecurity advisories and encryption standards, this is a positive signal toward the safe adoption of AI tools.

Conclusion​

Percy AI represents more than just a technological innovation—it symbolizes a transformative shift in the legal industry. By harnessing the power of generative AI and integrating it seamlessly into daily workflows, Simmons & Simmons is setting new standards for legal productivity, quality, and competitive edge. This pioneering platform, built on secure and robust Microsoft Azure OpenAI technology, ensures that even the most complex and voluminous data can be managed efficiently and accurately.
For Windows users and beyond, Percy AI serves as a reminder that the future of work lies in embracing smart automation. With the anticipated launch of Percy 3.0, the potential to not only streamline legal operations but also to foster collaboration and generate new income streams is immense. As technology continues to evolve, so too will our strategies for navigating information-heavy professions—ushering in an era where artificial intelligence empowers professionals to reach new heights in excellence.
In the broader context, Percy AI highlights the critical importance of staying ahead of the technological curve. Whether you’re a legal expert, an IT professional, or simply a Windows user fascinated by the intersection of technology and innovation, the evolution of platforms like Percy AI offers compelling insights into how generative AI can reshape industries. The message is clear: the future is now, and it is powered by innovative AI solutions that not only save time but also enhance the very quality of our work.

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Source: Microsoft Meet Percy: the legal AI platform giving Simmons & Simmons the edge