KordaMentha forensics executive Roman Barbera named an 'AI Visionary'

KordaMentha’s Sydney-based forensics executive director Roman Barbera has been named to a global list of change-makers who are using AI technology to reshape the legal services industry.

Roman Barbera was one of only two Australia-based advisors among the two dozen global professionals named to the latest annual “AI Visionaries” list compiled by data discovery platform Relativity, alongside Ashurst Advance global leader Hilary Goodier in Melbourne.

At KordaMentha since 2019, Barbera noted that receiving the international recognition was particularly exciting at a time of such significant technological development and regulatory uncertainty.

“AI will completely transform legal, compliance and investigative operations,” Barbera said. “In such high stakes roles, subject matter experts and critical human thought need to remain at the centre of decision-making processes. Navigating this balance and ensuring processes remain robust, defensible, secure and responsible is challenging but rewarding.”

An arts and law graduate of ANU, Barbera spent three and a half years at Clayton Utz prior to joining KordaMentha, where among other engagements he has led the delivery of tailored legal tech and eDiscovery solutions for multiple clients and provided strategic advisory to government regulators and other departments.

“When properly implemented, the use of AI in legal and compliance roles enhances efficiency and accuracy and is essential to ensure professionals can stay ahead in these rapidly evolving sectors,” KordaMentha said. “We are excited to be at the forefront of AI deployment in the legal sector, continually pushing the boundaries of innovation.”

Others to be recognised from the advisory realm include former Brisbane Deloitte professional Sean Liddle, currently head of discovery for Ernst & Young in Switzerland; London-based FTI Consulting senior managing director Jon Chan; Klara Weiand, Deloitte’s head of analytics & forensic innovation out of Berlin; and; Teneo global forensics tech lead Armando Nardo.

Fellow Aussie Hilary Goodier
Also making an appearance on the exclusive Relativity list was Ashurst partner Hilary Goodier, NTT Data’s ex-Australia general manager and a former senior legal counsel at Infosys and Accenture who joined the law firm and budding advisory in Melbourne in 2020 and now leads its global tech-focused ‘NewLaw’ practice, Ashurst Advance.

“‘AI Visionary’ is quite the title, but it doesn't belong solely to me,” Goodier commented. “The true visionaries are the amazing Ashurst Advance team and many change-makers across our global network. I’m grateful for the genuine buy-in to our innovation and transformation agenda, which has allowed us to get where we are today and will support us to deliver what’s next.”