The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers awards highlight practitioners making a mark in pioneering efforts across sectors. The 2026 winner, Oliver Howley, Proskauer partner and co-head of its technology strategy committee, stood out for handling complex deals while putting AI innovations into practice and devising new approaches for clients. Howley advises AI ventures and designs legal frameworks for clients embracing technology, including AI search engine company Perplexity and investors Hg and Atomico. He has assumed the role of Hg's "AI legal partner," devising a governance platform for the private equity group covering its $100bn investment portfolio, designing protocols, procurement models, deployment standards, and replicable legal models. He has advised on more than a dozen AI products launched over the past year, including eight for Perplexity, many with no clear legal precedent. Other shortlisted lawyers include Louise Dalton, Partner at CMS, a leading partner in the firm's energy and climate change team employing around 450 lawyers, who has developed particular expertise in clean energy advising developers and investors.

Profiles were compiled by RSGI and FT editors. The judging panel included experts evaluating what defines a great legal practitioner in 2026, with one judge noting that "a career in the law nowadays means being more strategic," presenting "a great story" of how lawyers at the peak can best advise clients.