What do Olympic rowing and #law have in common? A lot. Excellent #talentmanagement is to treat your team like #elite athletes. I have done work at @Aavagard and @Aavalynx to root leadership in #cognitivescience and the work of medical professionals who have guided world-class athletes to success – I’ve #TEDx talked on this. It was therefore hugely energising for me to meet Sir @Matt Pinsent, a four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist and the man with once the largest lung capacity recorded for a sportsman. His achievements obviously put my university rowing dabbles and beyond to shame. But I draw three practical take-aways in case helpful:
🥇 OLYMPIA, QUEEN OF TRUTH. These words are inscribed at the back of the Athens Olympic medal. A more practical translation: be fearlessly data-first. Every winning team needs a person who is passionate about what the numbers say about your performance; do not hide away from their raw reality. For Sir Matthew it was coach Jürgen Gröbler who obsessed about the finish times even at celebratory drinks. In my case: run a rigorous, independent audit of the savings AI can generate in dispute resolution. Don't kid yourself.
🥇 REJECTION IS BRUTAL. THAT'S OK. You train for 3.5 years knowing that you may not make the Olympic team. How to manage your mind game and give yourself the best shot without being held back by the fear of rejection? This is very familiar ground to me: disrupting means coming up against nay-sayers and being OK with rejection. You must really listen and learn from what you hear. And then one of two things happens. You either know you need to develop your offering. Or that you are having a conversation with the wrong minds and need to move on. Rejection is key because it helps you crystallise what jargon-people like to call the Go-To-Market-Strategy. Being all things to all people risks being nothing at all.
🥇 SPECIFIC ACTION CURES ABSTRACT FEAR. Amid the press frenzy, the pressure to perform can paralyse, particularly if you are defending gold rather than showing up as the underdog. Devise practical hacks that unlock your best performance on the start line. For Sir Matthew it was remembering to keep your thumbs loose so as not to lock your hands too tightly around the oars. For lawyers: advance hearing prep so that no sleep is lost the night before openings – sounds obvious but requires planning and discipline. #StayLooseStayRelaxed
Many thanks for the generous hosting to @Barclays with #JerseyBoatShow @Paul Savery Dip IoD, ACIB @Simon Phillips @Rholo Mba @Steven Ruiz @Julien Lafargue, CFA @Marcus Nobes @Nicolle Maltwood and Binney & Boarder for the delicious sea food. @Jonathan Roos
Right, off to run to try to improve my VO2max score… 😂
About:
@Aavagard is an elite, AI-first law firm that resolves rather than prolongs disputes.
@Aavalynx is an AI-first case intelligence platform for in-house counsel and law firms to resolve disputes faster and more cheaply and without losing accuracy.
Aavalynx was founded by lawyers who knew there had to be a better way. We’re developing Sisu, our proprietary AI platform, to automate the grind of dispute resolution.
Is AI reshaping the way we resolve international disputes? Join Aavagard ’s Oriane Cannac at the Baltic Arbitration Days 2025, where she’ll be discussing all things AI at the Lunch Round Table on Legaltech in arbitration.
The latest AI models are acing law school finals. As Reuters writes: "The latest generation of generative artificial intelligence can ace most law school final exams, a new study has found":
What is Aavagard?Aavagard is a disruptive international law firm that does dispute resolution differently.
What is Aavalynx?
Aavalynx is a law technology company transforming how disputes are resolved. We combine elite dispute resolution expertise with advanced AI, offering an AI-powered platform called Sisu – a Finnish word representing perseverance. Our solution makes dispute resolution faster, more cost-effective, and more human.
What is Sisu by Aavalynx?
Sisu is Aavalynx’s AI-native dispute resolution platform that supports every phase of a case – from early assessment to hearings. It assists lawyers (whether in-house teams, law firms, or arbitrators) by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing strategy, and providing tools such as chronology building, document browsing, and metadata extraction. Think of it as a tireless sidekick that never misses a detail.
What is Aavagard?
Aavagard is Aavalynx’s sister law firm. Its elite lawyers leverage Sisu, the AI-powered platform by Aavalynx, to resolve disputes faster, smarter, and at lower cost. You can use Sisu without engaging Aavagard, though many clients ask Aavagard’s lawyers for support with Sisu-related tasks, benefiting from their deep dispute resolution insight and AI expertise.
How is Aavalynx different from other legal tech solutions?
Aavalynx stands apart by combining cutting-edge AI with deep legal expertise, exclusively geared towards dispute resolution. Unlike generic legal tech tools, Sisu supports every stage of the workflow – from pre-action assessments to hearings – saving lawyers time and facilitating faster, smarter strategies.
We are also unique because we offer elite dispute resolution advice through our sister law firm, Aavagard, for those who prefer comprehensive support with Sisu, the AI-powered legal platform by Aavalynx.
How does Aavalynx ensure data security?
Confidentiality and cyber security are our top priorities. We integrate with trusted platforms like SharePoint to ensure data is stored securely, maintaining strict compliance with all relevant regulations.
Aavalynx ensures data security with enterprise-grade protection at every level. Built on Microsoft’s ecosystem, our platform integrates seamlessly with trusted business tools while maintaining strict security controls. Data is encrypted at rest and in transit, with access restricted through two-factor authentication.
What is the best AI platform for lawyers?
Generic AI solutions may work for many areas of law, but for dispute resolution, a specially tailored platform is essential. Sisu by Aavalynx is designed specifically for disputes, integrating seamlessly with your workflow, automating menial tasks, and ensuring no detail is overlooked – all while cutting costs and saving time. Our goal is to become the most useful AI for in-house teams, law firms, and arbitrators.
How does AI improve dispute resolution?
AI optimises workflows by automating repetitive tasks, conducting legal research, extracting key case details, and building strategies more swiftly. It also improves accuracy, allowing lawyers to concentrate on winning cases and advocating for clients.
Is AI reliable in the legal industry?
With proper human oversight, AI can significantly boost accuracy and efficiency. Sisu, the AI-powered platform by Aavalynx, undergoes rigorous testing to ensure dependable results while safeguarding sensitive data. One of our key principles is that human lawyers remain integral to the process: we make it fast and straightforward for them to check Sisu’s work.
Is Sisu only for big law firms?
Not at all. Sisu is built for any lawyer dealing with disputes – whether you’re working in-house, at a law firm of any size, or serving as an arbitrator. Its flexibility suits diverse needs, helping you deliver stronger results.
Can I use Sisu without hiring Aavagard’s legal services?
Absolutely. Sisu by Aavalynx is available as a standalone AI-powered platform for lawyers and in-house legal teams who prefer to manage disputes independently. It integrates seamlessly into your existing workflow, enhancing both efficiency and strategic output.
That said, Aavagard – Aavalynx’s sister law firm – uses Sisu to provide top-tier, cost-effective legal services. Aavagard’s lawyers are frequently asked to assist with Sisu-related tasks because of their strategic dispute resolution prowess and AI know-how. If you’d prefer a more hands-off approach or need extra legal support, Aavagard is here to help.
How can I start using Sisu by Aavalynx?
We’re currently working with select clients. If you’re keen to transform your dispute resolution process, reach out for a demo or to join our pilot programme.
What do we mean by giving power back to clients, and joy back to lawyers?
The legal sector is stuck in the Jurassic era. Companies, individuals, and governments collectively spend vast sums on legal fees each year to fight disputes. Many law firms bill by the hour, which incentivises them to produce a high volume of work over a long timeline, leading to disputes that can drag on for years.
Large case files make manual analysis, research, and drafting inefficient, so clients often feel overcharged and under-heard, while lawyers burn out. Law firm profit margins can be as high as 80%, signalling a sector ripe for disruption.
Thanks to AI, clients can regain control over a case’s speed, cost, and outcome, while lawyers – freed from the heavy lifting – can focus on strategy and rediscover the joy in their work.
Ready to transform the way you handle disputes? Aavalynx is here to help you save time, cut costs, and win cases with confidence. Let us show you how our AI-powered platform can make complex disputes simpler, faster, and more human.
Start today, because the future of law won’t wait.
