Build-vs-Buy

From chat windows to enterprise platforms — a framework for understanding where your firm sits on the AI adoption curve

Cleary Gottlieb acquired an AI company. A&O Shearman co-develops with Harvey and shares the revenue. Sullivan & Cromwell invested in a startup and lost it to an acquirer. Freshfields partnered with both Google and Anthropic while building its own tools. Four elite firms, four AI strategies, four very different results.