Leading US employment and labour law firm Littler has appointed Stephanie Goutos as its first chief artificial intelligence officer, as firms continue to fill this new role. Littler says that the appointment reflects its conviction that AI is a defining force reshaping how employers operate, how legal services are delivered, and how workplace law itself is evolving.
Goutos will partner with the firm’s leadership to continue to advance Littler’s AI strategy, oversee governance and responsible adoption across all practice areas, and help to develop AI-enabled capabilities. She will be working closely with Carlos Gonzalez, Littler’s chief digital innovation officer.
Goutos joins Littler from the international law firm Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, where she served as head of employment law practice innovation. Selected from a global applicant pool for the inaugural Perplexity AI Business Fellowship, an executive program featuring prominent AI leaders, Goutos subsequently led the adoption of Perplexity Enterprise at her former firm.
“Littler‘s unmatched depth in employment law, its global platform and client base actively confronting AI-driven workplace change create an extraordinary foundation,” said Goutos. “My focus will be on advancing the systems, governance frameworks and AI-enabled tools that empower our attorneys to deliver faster, sharper counsel while helping clients navigate the legal complexities of workforce transformation.”
Goutos co-authored “Why Lawyers Must Responsibly Embrace Generative AI,” published in the Berkeley Business Law Journal – a widely cited article referenced by federal judges, the New York State Bar Association AI Task Force, the Washington State Bar Board of Governors, the Sedona Conference, Bloomberg Law, and Fortune 500 companies; the article has since been incorporated into law school curricula and professional guidance nationwide.
Other law firms to have appointed a chief AI officer (or equivalent) include Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Latham & Watkins, and Reed Smith. The Department of Justice in 2024 appointed it first-ever chief artificial intelligence officer, Princeton University professor Jonathan Mayer, leading to law firms to follow suit.
DOJ appoints first-ever chief AI officer – Will law firms follow?
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