Gilbert + Tobin, one of Australia's leading corporate law firms, deployed ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex firm-wide to support operations, marketing, and legal work. CEO Sam Nickless championed adoption with the message "AI is not cheating," positioning the tools as extensions of professional judgment rather than shortcuts. Leadership shared use cases internally, while the business transformation team provided role-specific enablement through tailored workshops and videos. The firm avoided usage mandates, focusing instead on demonstrating value and maintaining accountability. By June 2026, 87% of enabled seats were active, more than double the firm's typical adoption rate for other tools.

Building trust through robust governance was central to the rollout. Gilbert + Tobin established clear guidance on approved tasks, data entry limits, and output review processes. The firm assessed contractual protections and role-based access controls. A key enabler was moving to an OpenAI environment with Australian data residency, which addressed client requirements and internal policies regarding confidential information. Mitch Owens, Chief Information Officer, noted the enterprise-grade controls provided the confidence needed to expand access.

ChatGPT now supports various business functions, improving recruitment research and data extraction processes. The firm continues to scale AI integration while preserving the professional judgment at the core of its legal services, demonstrating how governance and leadership can drive responsible technology adoption in a traditional professional services environment.