AMY Shepherd, Strategic Partner

Amy Shepherd brings the "in the seat" perspective that law firm CMOs need when navigating AI transformation. 

Her expertise spans AI strategy development, change management, and training programs that stick. She specializes in translating AI possibilities into practical solutions that work within the real constraints of law firm operations.

I've spent 24 years in the legal industry, including almost a decade as Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at an AmLaw 100 firm, successfully navigating every challenge that keeps CMOs up at night. Budget pressures, partner skepticism, competing priorities, resource constraints, technology adoption hurdles. I've been there.

When I first encountered AI tools that could genuinely solve problems I'd been wrestling with for years, I knew this time was different. But I also knew that having great technology and successfully implementing it are two completely different challenges.

I've watched too many firms chase AI solutions that looked impressive in demos but fell apart in daily practice. The difference between success and failure usually comes down to execution strategy and genuine buy-in from the people doing the work.

What I bring to InnovAItion Partners is something you can't get from consultants who've never managed a marketing budget or convinced skeptical partners to try something new: real-world experience making change happen in law firms.

I focus on the gap between "this could be amazing" and "this is actually working." When I help firms craft AI strategies, I'm drawing on years of successfully navigating the same political dynamics, resource constraints, and operational realities they're facing. When I lead execution efforts, I know which friction points will derail adoption before they happen.

Through the Gladstone AI Advisory, I extend this work to help law firms and professional services organizations build smart, sustainable approaches to AI-powered marketing and business development. Because the goal isn't to be cutting-edge—it's to be effective.

I believe the best AI implementations are the ones you barely notice. They remove friction, amplify expertise, and create space for the distinctly human work that truly drives client relationships and business development.

My approach is grounded in a simple truth: firms don't need to be AI pioneers. They need to be AI practitioners who use these tools to do their best work more effectively.