Gilbert + Tobin CEO: AI frees lawyers, 87% usage on ChatGPT

Gilbert + Tobin's account describes a deliberate sequence rather than a single rollout. The firm began by letting staff experiment with ChatGPT under a clear prohibition on entering client data or confidential information, which created a constrained space to learn. It then introduced ChatGPT Enterprise with Australian data residency, contractual protections, role-based access and administrative controls—conditions the firm says gave it confidence to scale while meeting its own and its clients' requirements.

The move to ChatGPT Work and Codex marked a shift from individual assistance to defined, multistep agentic workflows, with people retaining responsibility for review and approval. Nickless frames governance as enabling responsible use: the firm's message was that AI is not cheating but another tool for applying judgement, and users still define the task, check the output and take responsibility for the final work.

On culture, Nickless points to leadership behaviour rather than mandates. He says leaders must use the technology themselves, and that seeing AI matter to leadership sets the tone. The firm demonstrated workflows tailored to different functions and surfaced ideas through videos, showcases, challenges and an early AI bounty. Nickless also describes using a custom GPT built from his own writing and feedback as a 'digital twin,' which became more valuable when shared with his direct reports, and using ChatGPT Work for a confidential annual review process involving 120 partners—work he says was completed in minutes at a cost of about $62.