Al Hounsell

Al Hounsell is Gowling WLG’s National Director of AI, Innovation & Knowledge.

With over a decade of experience at the forefront of legal service design and innovation, Al is known for shaping transformative client solutions that reimagine the way legal services are structured and delivered. In leading Gowling WLG’s exploration into new avenues of client service, he applies his unique background in law, entrepreneurship and full-stack software and web development.

Al’s approach centres on leveraging advanced technologies to optimize internal processes and elevate client outcomes and experiences. His work to date has spanned a broad range of areas, including AI-driven legal processes, design thinking implementation, legal operations and automation across workflows and documents. No matter the task or challenge, Al consistently pushes the boundaries of what’s possible today while anticipating opportunities for the future.

Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Al served as Director of Strategic Innovation & Legal Design at another major international law firm. There, he led a team of lawyers, developers, legal engineers, and operations experts to streamline legal operations for both the firm and its clients, harnessing a variety of technology-enabled solutions over the course of his tenure.

A respected thought leader and educator in his field, Al currently serves as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he teaches courses on Legal Innovation, AI, and Technology. He is also an active member of the Ontario Bar Association’s AI Task Force and writes and speaks frequently on the future of innovation and legal service design, inspiring others to explore how emerging technologies can enhance the practice of law.

Al’s contributions to legal technology have earned him several notable industry accolades, including Innovative Leader of the Year (2024) from the International Legal Technology Association and two “Best Use of Technology in a Law Firm” awards (2022 and 2023) from the Canadian Law Awards.