Continual change

When Pessi talks about how technology has shaped his work, he doesn’t describe a sudden shift. Instead, it has been a series of evolutions, each one subtle, but significant.

“My work hasn’t changed overnight,” he reflects. “It’s been gradual. You notice that something could be done faster using a particular tool, or that a new service helps you work more intelligently. It’s really a continuation, from personal computers, to the internet, to mobile devices, and now to AI.”

“What has changed”, he notes, “is the conversation with clients. For years, technology was seen as something happening around the legal profession, not within it. Now, clients are asking very deliberate questions: What tools are you using, why, and how does this benefit us? The expectation is no longer just excellent advice; it’s excellent advice delivered efficiently, transparently, and at a justifiable price point.”

Despite the significant change AI brings, Pessi’s work remains anchored in something grounded: good judgment, focus, and trust in others. As a law-firm partner and a parent of three boys, often found spending weekends on the football field, time is his most valuable currency. He describes his approach to balancing competing priorities not as achieving perfection, but being honest about what really needs attention.

“It’s about making choices,” he says. “Being clear about what you personally need to do, and what can be done by someone else.”

A love of language

What might be surprising in this conversation, is that the part of his work he enjoys most is drafting. He describes it with quiet enthusiasm: translating business objectives into language that holds up in practice. The clarity. The precision. The intention behind every word. He acknowledges that to some, it may seem dry, but to him, it is deeply satisfying.

“The issues are complex enough,” he explains. “The language should be clear. Whether it’s a contract or a poem, it’s about conveying intention.”

This clarity of language leads naturally into how he thinks about AI in legal practice. Technology can accelerate workflows and improve consistency, but judgment, the ability to decide what matters and why, remains deeply human.

“My instruction to younger lawyers is always: don’t take anything at face value. Use the tools, but apply your own reasoning. That’s what makes a good lawyer. If you’re genuinely interested in the substance of something, you’ll have the motivation to do the work. Passion and curiosity will carry you.”

However, in order to have good reasoning and judgement, Pessi has even simpler, and perhaps more timely advice:

“Read, and read widely. Books, poetry, philosophy, history. The ability to stay focused on a text for more than thirty seconds is becoming rare. We shouldn’t lose that.”

Looking ahead, Pessi sees leadership in the AI era as something that must be lived, not just encouraged.

“If I tell my team to use AI but don’t use it myself, that’s not leadership. We learn by doing, by sharing examples of what has worked and what hasn’t. We move forward together.”

In speaking with Pessi, it becomes clear that the future of legal work isn’t about replacing tradition, it’s about refining it. Craft matters. Clarity matters. Curiosity matters. Technology simply gives those qualities more room to work.

One thoughtful decision at a time.