In what is said to be a first for a U.S. law firm, a Pennsylvania law firm will sell artificial intelligence software directly to its clients in the health care industry to enable them to better review, analyze and negotiate contracts.

The Pittsburgh-based law firm Horty Springer is partnering with the AI software company LegalSifter to offer the product directly to hospitals and health systems. Initially it will allow clients to review business associate agreements required by HIPAA privacy regulations.

This will be the first time that a U.S. law firm will offer AI as a product directly to its clients, LegalSifter says. I was not able to find any evidence to the contrary.

Clients who purchase the software will be able to upload a draft contract into LegalSifter. The software uses AI to read and learn from text and search for specific concepts. After analyzing the contract, LegalSifter will present in-context comments written by Horty Springer lawyers. If the client needs additional information or advice, it can contact the law firm.

“It’s the next logical step in the use of artificial intelligence in the legal profession,” said Dan Mulholland, senior partner at Horty Springer. “Clients would like a legal review of every contract they sign, but to do so the review has to be affordable and aligned with the speed of business. Artificial intelligence, with embedded guidance designed bylawyers, is the only way to make that consistently possible.”

While starting with business associate agreements, Horty Springer will eventually offer the product for a range of contract types, including practitioner employment agreements, non-disclosure agreements, software end-user license agreements, and supplier terms and conditions.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.