Hogan Lovells Hires Ex-DLA Piper CIO

Global law firm Hogan Lovells, which is merging with US peer firm Cadwalader, has hired Paul Gilford as its new global Chief Information Officer (CIO) – he was previously in the same role at DLA Piper until September 2024. The move comes as the giant firm will face major tech and data integration needs with the merger, as well as handling a growing demand for rolling out genAI tools.

Gilford succeeds Gareth Ash, who will retire in February after almost nine years with the firm, and will be based in the firm’s London office. Since working at DLA he’s had a short-term role at Azets, an accountancy consolidator group.

The firm said that he has ‘played a key role in strengthening technological infrastructure, advancing cloud-first strategies, enhancing security frameworks, and guiding organizations through periods of significant technological change’ in his previous jobs.

As CIO, Gilford will work closely with Mark Brennan, the firm’s Global Managing Partner for Digitalization, and Sebastian Lach, Co-CEO of ELTEMATE, the firm’s joint legal tech venture, on ‘advancing the firm’s AI strategy and to lead the execution of our Technology Roadmap, including the firm’s transition to a fully cloud-based environment’, they added.

Hogan Lovells CEO, Miguel Zaldivar, commented: ‘Paul brings a tremendous depth of experience from leading technology transformations across major global organisations, and I am delighted that he will be joining us. Paul will be joining us at an important moment for the firm as we move forward with our intended combination with Cadwalader.

‘His leadership will be instrumental to further modernizing our global technology platform, advancing our AI strategy, and delivering innovative technology solutions to our clients. 

‘Gareth has made an outstanding contribution to Hogan Lovells over the last nine years, playing a pivotal leadership role throughout a period of significant technological change, and we are deeply grateful for his leadership.’

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