Mallesons is the most innovative law firm headquartered in Asia-Pacific. That’s the verdict from the 2026 FT Innovative Lawyers index.

Mallesons led the field with a total score of 95.3 out of 100, taking the FT award for most innovative firm headquartered in the region.

Gilbert + Tobin came in second at 94.6. MinterEllison third at 93.6.

Freshfields was the only non-Australian firm to break the top five, at 89.7 — it took out the FT award for most innovative firm headquartered outside APAC.

Corrs rounded out the top five at 88.7.

The firms scoring highest aren’t just using AI. They’re using it to rethink how they bill and price, and who they hire.

MinterEllison has built its own in-house platform, Cortex, which connects directly to Swedish legal AI company Legora. Document work that once took associates weeks now takes days. That time saving has prompted a broader rethink of how the firm charges.

Minters CEO Virginia Briggs says, “Pricing has to be anchored in the value we deliver to clients, not the hours we record. We’re building a firm that wins on the quality of our thinking and the results we deliver for clients. That’s where the real margin is.”

For Mallesons, that transformation raises another question: how does AI change hiring? CEP Renae Lattey maintains the firm won’t hire fewer grads, but is now rethinking the skills they need: “We will look at people who can adapt and be curious about learning.”

The billable hour gets the same treatment.

For top-tier Australian firms, the FT result is validation. The region isn’t just adopting AI, it’s leading the conversation on what comes next.

Source: Financial Times