At Team '25 in Anaheim, I had the unique opportunity to sit down with Stan Shepard, General Counsel at Atlassian, for a conversation that pulled back the curtain on how legal and technology are intersecting in the age of AI.

Stan's journey from journalism to law to shaping legal operations at one of the world's most forward-thinking companies is as fascinating as it is relevant. What emerged from our discussion is a clear signal that legal teams are no longer trailing behind innovation—they're often at the front of it.

Stan shared how Atlassian's legal function achieved 85 percent daily usage of AI tools, including the company's in-house assistant, Rovo. This is remarkable when compared to the industry norm, where legal teams typically lag in AI adoption. Instead of resisting change, Stan's team leaned into it, focusing on automation for repetitive tasks while reserving high-value thinking for their legal experts.

We explore Atlassian's responsible tech framework, their principles around transparency and accountability, and how these inform product development from day one. Stan also walked me through how Atlassian is navigating the emerging global regulatory landscape, from the EU AI Act to evolving compliance in the US.

His insights on embedding legal counsel directly into product teams, rather than operating on the sidelines, reveal a model of collaboration that turns risk management into a growth enabler.

For legal professionals, compliance leaders, and tech decision-makers wrestling with how to integrate AI responsibly, this episode offers a grounded, real-world blueprint. It's not just about mitigating risk—it's about building trust, preserving human judgment, and future-proofing your operations. If you're wondering what responsible AI adoption looks like at scale, you'll want to hear this one.

So how are you preparing your legal and compliance strategy for the AI-powered workplace? Let's keep the conversation going.