Leaders from major law firms describe AI as a double-edged technology that can limit losses when a partner leaves but could also help firms reduce their reliance on parts of Big Law's infrastructure, with the announced dissolution of Weil Gotshal bringing these questions to the forefront without AI being held responsible. Cleary Gottlieb senior partner Michael Gerstenzang believes AI could make firms less dependent on their lawyers and allow lawyers to more easily break away, envisioning an M&A partner using AI to perform specialized tasks previously assigned to colleagues, making large-firm infrastructure less essential. Debevoise & Plimpton partner Avi Gesser, head of the AI practice, believes technology can act as a tourniquet that limits resources lost when a departure occurs, and Debevoise is developing tools to capture litigators' expertise, though he notes partners are not always rewarded for time spent feeding these systems and compensation policies will need to evolve. Pillsbury AI director Oz Benamram believes partner agreements may need renegotiation, with departing partners possibly wanting to take manuals derived from their knowledge and clients possibly claiming ownership. Eric Greenberg questions the impact on client loyalty, while Sharon Crane of the Practising Law Institute doubts a lawyer would willingly give up what makes them valuable. Large firms are described as extremely profitable and battle-hardened but vulnerable, as a few departures can trigger a chain reaction within weeks or months threatening the entire firm; Eric Greenberg, general counsel of Cox Media Group,