Shoosmiths is rolling out its own proprietary generative AI contract review tool, Project Apollo, developed with Microsoft over the past year. The tool is designed to mirror how a senior associate would justify decision-making to a partner, providing “auditable reasoning” grounded in the firm’s internal knowledge. Shoosmiths chief executive David Jackson said the tool allows lawyers “to not only see what amendments have been made, but most significantly, why,” adding that “developing lawyers can learn more, faster.” Each markup reflects the preferred language, risk profile and commercial position of each client, and a senior lawyer will review and sign off all output. Microsoft UK & Ireland CEO Darren Hardman called Project Apollo “a strong example of AI doing what it does best: taking the knowledge of Shoosmiths' most experienced lawyers and making it available to everyone in the firm.” Shoosmiths has demonstrated a pro-adoption outlook on AI; in April last year, it put aside £1 million to be unlocked among staff if a target of one million Microsoft Copilot prompts was collectively hit, a goal confirmed reached in December. The firm has spurned outsourcing legal AI platforms in favour of developing its own proprietary tools, a decision taken over a year ago.