Rick van Esch, CEO of Emma Legal, outlines how legal due diligence is entering a new era thanks to powerful, accessible AI. He describes this as the “iPhone moment” for LDD—where automation finally delivers instant results without complex setup, opening the door for firms of any size. Still, Rick stresses that human legal expertise remains essential for interpretation and client advice.
In the ninth edition of the LegalTechTalk Diaries, Rick van Esch, Co-Founder & CEO of Emma Legal, breaks down the evolution of Legal Due Diligence (LDD) into three distinct waves:
- The move from physical to virtual data rooms,
- The rise and limitations of early machine learning
- The recent shift to agentic AI powered by foundation models.
Rick describes this latest phase as the “iPhone moment” for legal due diligence, where automation has finally become both viable and transformative. He explains that today’s AI requires far less training, delivers results instantly, and removes the barriers of cost and complexity, making advanced LDD accessible even to smaller firms. Rick also highlights the new market drivers, like the maturing of W&I insurance, and points out that while AI can structure and interpret data, the real value, and the need for human expertise, remains in bespoke legal judgment and client advice
The LegalTechTalk Diaries is a curated series spotlighting the legal tech leaders shaping the future of the industry's founders, CEOs, and innovators addressing the real pain points in legal practice. The Diaries aim to provide strategic insights, not just product pitches, and Rick’s perspective offers a blueprint for how advanced AI is redefining legal work, accessibility, and value creation for law firms of all sizes. Visit the LegalTech Diaries page for more related insights.