Brett Pavony is a seasoned Sales Leader and Go-To-Market Executive with extensive experience in the technology sector. Before transitioning to his current career in Austin, Texas, Brett built a strong foundation in legal services, starting as a litigation paralegal at Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C. He earned his law degree, passed the New York State Bar in 2014, and subsequently practiced as an Intellectual Property attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP in New York City. Notably, he served as lead counsel in a high-profile trademark dispute, securing a significant settlement for his client in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, under the moderation of Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom. Since moving to Austin in 2015, Brett has held key leadership roles, contributing to the success of organizations such as WP Engine and Time Magazine. Currently, he is a senior executive at Rev, leveraging his legal acumen and business expertise to drive growth and innovation. Here’s conversation between Anuj Kumar, Founder at Legal Desire and Brett about his professional journey, legal tech, AI and more
Can you share your journey from practicing law to leading in the tech industry, and how your legal background influences your approach to business?
After graduating from The George Washington University in 2007, I began my career at Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C., supporting the firm’s M&A and Corporate practices. Driven by a passion for legal strategy and the intersection of business and law, I returned to New York to attend Pace Law School, specializing in Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law. Following my admission to the New York State Bar in 2014, I gained invaluable experience at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, sharpening my ability to navigate complex legal and commercial landscapes.
Even early in my legal career, I was constantly thinking beyond billable hours—focusing instead on how to create meaningful impact. I found that building relationships, developing business, and understanding the nuances of client needs came naturally to me.
The rigor of law school, the discipline of bar exam preparation, and the intensity of legal practice instilled in me a relentless work ethic—one that has seamlessly translated into sales and business leadership. I thrive on the details that often go overlooked in high-stakes enterprise deals, from crafting the perfect email to structuring complex negotiations. The ability to process and synthesize information rapidly, coupled with a strong commitment to execution, has enabled me to drive revenue, close deals, and build high-performing teams in every stage of my career.
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What AI-driven tools do you believe are making the biggest impact in addressing lawyer burnout and improving efficiency?
Burnout remains a significant concern in the legal profession, with administrative tasks being a major contributor. In fact, 45% of lawyers report experiencing burnout due to non-billable work, much of which involves capturing, summarizing, and analyzing information. As workloads continue to rise, many law firms are turning to AI tools for relief, with 35% of general counsels already planning to invest in virtual legal assistants to handle tasks like transcribing and summarizing meetings. Legal-specific AI solutions like VoiceHub not only save time but also reduce cognitive overload, allowing legal professionals to concentrate on the strategic, high-value aspects of their jobs. Most importantly, they create opportunities to recharge and avoid burnout.
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How can AI help lawyers extract key insights from vast amounts of case law, contracts, and regulatory filings?
Legal work involves vast amounts of data—from case law and contracts to regulatory filings and trial transcripts—all requiring significant time and effort to process. AI is transforming the legal field by automating the tedious task of extracting key insights, allowing legal professionals to focus on strategy rather than sifting through details.
For example, AI-powered predictive analytics can analyze large datasets, detect patterns, and provide insights that help attorneys make more informed strategic decisions. When it comes to contract review, AI can quickly identify conflicting terms, missing clauses, and compliance issues, ensuring documents are accurate. Additionally, AI-powered transcription tools like VoiceHub streamline legal workflows by accurately transcribing client meetings, trial proceedings, and depositions. These transcripts are not only scannable and searchable but also provide automated summaries that enhance document review and trial preparation.
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What are the biggest security and privacy concerns law firms face when implementing AI-driven solutions, and how can they address them?
If done improperly, law firms can face significant security and privacy risks when implementing new solutions. 27% of law firms experience security breaches, which can compromise confidential information and expose firms to legal penalties, client dissatisfaction, and reputational damage. The financial fallout from a breach can be staggering, especially for smaller firms that lack the resources to recover quickly.
To mitigate these risks, firms must invest in tools that meet the strictest security and compliance standards like SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and HIPAA. Strong encryption, access controls, and transparent compliance practices are also crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining client trust.
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What advice would you give to law firms and legal professionals who are hesitant to integrate AI into their workflows?
AI adoption in the legal industry has surged from 19% to 79% in just one year, with firms leveraging the technology to streamline workflows and reduce workloads. Firms that purposefully ignore the changing legal workplace risk falling behind—especially in attracting and retaining young talent, who value efficiency and work-life balance.
Selecting the right AI tools will position firms for long-term success in a rapidly evolving industry. However, to successfully integrate AI, firms should carefully choose tools that prioritize accuracy, ease of implementation, data security, transparency, and compliance.
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If you had to predict one major breakthrough in legal tech over the next five years, what would it be?
The most profound transformation in Legal Tech won’t begin at the top—it will start at the foundation. The mass adoption of AI in law will not be led by senior partners or corporate counsel, but by those who power the engine of the legal profession: paralegals, legal assistants, e-discovery specialists, and intake consultants. These professionals are the quiet architects of efficiency, and they will be the first to harness AI’s true potential.
As AI reshapes workflows and slashes hours of manual labor into minutes of intelligent automation, the impact will be undeniable. The ripple effect will reach the highest levels of law firms and corporate legal departments. Senior counsel and partners—those who have long been tethered to legacy processes—will witness a seismic shift in output, speed, and profitability. And when efficiency translates into revenue, AI will no longer be a curiosity—it will become an imperative.
This is where the breakthrough happens. The firms that recognize this early will move from experimentation to full-scale AI investment, embedding intelligence into every facet of their practice. The firms that resist? They will be left behind in a world where legal work is no longer bound by the constraints of human bandwidth.
The future of law is being rewritten, and the firms that embrace AI at the support level will set the pace. The question is no longer if AI will transform legal practice. The question is: who will lead, and who will follow?
