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"From Search to Research": How Vincent AI is Transforming Legal Practice

"It hasn't done what I thought it would do. It's actually been better," explains Julian Cohen, a barrister at Resolution Chambers in Hong Kong. "What I found is that if I give it a research problem, it comes back with a product which is probably at the level of a good one-year PQE solicitor or barrister."

Speaking from Dubai while preparing for an upcoming trial, Julian describes how Vincent AI has become an indispensable part of his practice since he began using it. "It's moved from search to research," he emphasizes, highlighting a fundamental shift in how legal professionals can approach their work.

For Julian, the transformation has been profound. "It hasn't saved me time overall. What it has done is allow me to use my time more effectively," he explains. "It effectively does a lot of the back-office basics of research and document analysis. Then I can use the time that I've saved for higher-value analysis, strategy, and thinking about the case."

What surprised Julian most about his AI adoption journey was how quickly the technology became integrated into his daily workflow—and how human his interactions with it felt. "I realized that my mother has so effectively drilled into me the word 'please' that I can't put any question into technology without prefacing it with 'please,' despite the fact that Vincent couldn't care less whether you say please or not," he admits with a smile. This small human touch in his interactions with AI reflects the natural way legal professionals are incorporating these tools into their practice.

This more strategic and surprisingly personal use of AI is precisely what makes Vincent AI's expansion into Hong Kong so significant. Now, Hong Kong's legal professionals have access to the same AI-powered advantages that Julian describes as "almost like having a junior who is available 24 hours a day, wherever I am."

Watch the full interview with Julian Cohen

First AI Platform for Domestic Legal Research in Hong Kong

vLex is proud to announce the integration of comprehensive Hong Kong legal content into Vincent AI, making it the first AI platform specifically engineered for domestic legal research in Hong Kong.

The platform now provides complete coverage of Hong Kong case law and consolidated legislation, enabling AI-powered research across Hong Kong's entire legal framework. Beyond research, Vincent AI automates more than 200 legal tasks, from creating chronologies to reviewing contracts, all with the precision required for Hong Kong's unique legal environment.

"This launch makes vLex a key domestic provider of legal AI services to Hong Kong, which is seeing unprecedented adoption and engagement from practitioners across both the Bar and private practice," says Daniel Hobson, Head of APAC at vLex.

"By combining comprehensive local content with advanced AI capabilities, we're enabling practitioners to work more efficiently while ensuring accuracy and compliance," Dan emphasizes. "The engagement and contribution of time from the market has been fantastic, working together to shape technology advancement for the legal sector of Hong Kong."

Conscious Use of AI Technology

Julian offers valuable insight for legal professionals considering AI adoption. Having witnessed the evolution of legal technology throughout his 30-year career, he believes there's no avoiding the AI revolution in law.

"There was going to be no choice. We were going to have to embrace AI," Julian explains. "And really, there would be three sorts of lawyers. There'd be lawyers who embraced AI, worked out how to use it well, and would continue doing well in the marketplace. There'd be those who didn't use it at all, and wouldn't be quite like going back to using carrier pigeons to deliver pleadings, but probably not far short, or people who used it and didn't know how to use it terribly well."

For those choosing to embrace AI, Julian emphasizes the importance of thoughtful implementation. "My two biggest concerns are blind use of it, or AI dictating what we do rather than us consciously using AI to help what we do," he notes. "It should be human-led."

His perspective highlights the importance of maintaining professional judgment while leveraging AI capabilities. "With more than 30 years of experience, I can look at the product from AI and have a pretty good sense of whether it looks right, which bits are helpful, and which bits aren't," Julian explains.

This approach aligns perfectly with Vincent AI's design philosophy. The platform is engineered to enhance human expertise, not replace it, making it an ideal solution for Hong Kong's discerning legal professionals.

A Single Access Point to Global Legal Content

This integration provides Hong Kong practitioners with unprecedented access to legal content across multiple jurisdictions through a single platform. Beyond comprehensive Hong Kong case law and legislation, Vincent AI enables seamless research across the UK, Singapore, and key offshore jurisdictions including BVI, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands.

For Hong Kong's internationally-focused legal community, this connectivity delivers powerful advantages. Barristers handling cross-border cases can instantly compare legal approaches across jurisdictions, identify precedents from multiple territories, and build stronger international arguments. Corporate counsel managing compliance across regions can quickly assess regulatory differences, while litigators can develop strategic approaches informed by global case law.

This capability transforms cross-border research from a time-consuming challenge into a strategic advantage—particularly valuable for Hong Kong practitioners navigating the complex interplay between local law and international jurisdictions. The platform's ability to process and analyze multi-jurisdictional legal materials helps lawyers develop more comprehensive strategies regardless of the legal systems involved.

"When the free trial ended, I was up in arms because I realized how dependent I'd become on it," Cohen admits. "But the dependency must be coupled with conscious use."

Experience the Transformation

The launch of Vincent AI in Hong Kong represents a significant milestone in legal technology for the region. As Julian Cohen's experience demonstrates, the right AI tools don't simply automate tasks—they fundamentally transform how legal professionals work, enabling deeper analysis and more strategic thinking.

Transform your legal workflows with the first AI platform engineered for Hong Kong law.

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