Interview with: Carlo Gagliardi, Managing Partner

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Deloitte Legal from your competitors?

Deloitte Legal is uniquely positioned in the legal market thanks to a combination of distinctive assets and a deeply integrated approach.

We draw on insight-driven intelligence from across the Deloitte network, enabling us to offer legal advice that is both industry-informed and forward-looking. Our professionals combine legal expertise with deep sector knowledge, allowing us to align solutions with clients’ strategic objectives.

Our global coverage ensures consistent, high-quality service delivery regardless of jurisdiction, while our strong connections across the C-suite enable us to translate legal needs into actionable business outcomes.

Crucially, our approach is not simply about offering legal advice – it’s about delivering business solutions. We have specialists dedicated to managing change and transformation, helping clients implement complex regulatory and organizational shifts efficiently.

Being part of Deloitte gives us a unique edge: our legal services are inherently cross-functional, technology-enabled, and built around real-world business needs. These differentiators allow us to consistently exceed expectations by delivering enduring value.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Several practices are set for significant growth in the coming year:

• Public and Administrative Law: The rollout of Next Gen EU funds is generating sustained demand for legal guidance in infrastructure, procurement, and regulatory matters. The new public procurement code and updated environmental rules are accelerating this trend, making legal expertise essential for both public entities and private players.
• IP, Tech, and Data Protection: As clients pursue large-scale digitalisation, we see increasing demand in these areas – particularly related to AI implementation, data governance, and compliance. The growing regulatory complexity around data protection also reinforces the need for trusted legal advisors.
• Capital Markets: We are expanding our capital markets capability to support clients through the evolving regulatory landscape, including the introduction of the new Listing Act and upcoming reforms. This reflects a broader ambition to provide full-spectrum transactional support.
• Legal Managed Services & Legal Management Consulting: These innovative offerings are gaining traction in Italy, following established trends in the UK and other mature markets. Clients increasingly value flexible, tech-enabled legal solutions and strategic consulting to elevate their in-house legal functions.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

The most transformative shift we’ve made is adopting a solution-centered model that places clients’ business needs at the core of everything we do. Rather than focusing solely on legal risks or constraints, we begin by unpacking the underlying drivers of the issue and designing sustainable responses that align with broader business objectives.

This is enabled by Deloitte’s multidisciplinary platform: we integrate legal services with technology, tax, financial advisory, and risk management to deliver comprehensive, actionable outcomes. We also deploy proven methodologies, tools, and frameworks that accelerate delivery and increase efficiency.

The result is a legal service that goes beyond compliance – it becomes a key enabler of our clients’ strategy and performance.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Absolutely. Technology – and GenAI in particular – is reshaping how we serve clients. By unlocking unstructured legal data, we help organisations anticipate risks, streamline decision-making, and increase productivity. This allows our teams to focus on strategic, value-adding work while delivering faster, more cost-effective service.

But with new capabilities come new responsibilities. We apply Deloitte’s Trustworthy AI Framework to ensure responsible AI deployment – balancing innovation with ethical, legal, and regulatory safeguards. We address data integrity, supply chain risk, and governance at every step.

Clients are seeking more for less – greater efficiency, faster results, lower risk. GenAI helps us deliver on all three fronts, enabling smarter collaboration and deeper insights at scale.

 

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

We supported a major consumer client during a transformative restructuring of its legal function.

Our Legal Management Consulting team worked closely with the newly appointed General Counsel to redesign the legal operating model and align it with business priorities. To support immediate needs, we deployed a senior Legal Managed Services professional to act as an embedded advisor, handling operational matters while co-developing a new legal services strategy.

This dual-track model enabled the GC to reposition legal as a proactive, strategic partner to the business – resulting in stronger internal alignment, increased service efficiency, and measurable cost reduction.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Yes – clients increasingly expect their legal advisors to provide not only technical guidance but also long-term stability and strategic foresight.

In three years, I see Deloitte Legal continuing to lead the market transformation by:

• Deepening our use of emerging technologies such as AI, automation, and data analytics;
• Investing in talent and professional development to stay ahead of legal and industry shifts;
• Expanding our global reach to support multinational clients with integrated solutions;
• Fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and cross-functional agility.

Our goal is clear: to shape the future of legal services – not just adapt to it. We want to be the partner clients turn to for clarity, consistency, and business-oriented legal advice in a rapidly evolving world.