Husch Blackwell Expands Transformation Office with Three Key Leadership Appointments

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National law firm Husch Blackwell today announced three leadership appointments within its newly established Transformation Office. This marks the next step in building out the office’s leadership structure as the firm continues its commitment to enhancing client service through technology, process innovation, and the strategic evolution of legal service delivery. The new appointments are: Sverre Roang, Head of Practice Innovation; Thom Hutchison, Director of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence; and Jani Smith, Director of Transformation.

Launched in March, the Transformation Office brings innovation, data science, artificial intelligence, and transformation functions under unified leadership to accelerate technology adoption and drive process change at scale. The office is organized around three core verticals: practice innovation, strategic delivery, and data science and AI. Chief Transformation Officer Joanna Penn leads the office and oversees its overall direction.

“We are excited to announce these key appointments as we accelerate our transformation efforts,” Penn said. “Sverre, Thom, and Jani bring the ideal mix of strategic thinking, operational depth, and hands-on expertise this office needs to deliver on its mandate. Together, they will help us move faster, work smarter, and create real and lasting value for our clients and our people.”

Roang serves as the Head of Practice Innovation, driving initiatives that enhance and evolve the quality, delivery, and impact of the firm’s legal services. He oversees teams focused on driving client success through knowledge management, operational efficiency, legal product development, and AI-enabled workflows. Roang brings a practice leader's perspective to the role, most recently leading the firm’s Financial Services & Capital Markets business unit through a period of sustained revenue growth and deepening client partnerships.

“The Transformation Office reinforces the firm’s commitment to redesigning how legal services are scoped, built, and delivered,” Roang said. “We are focused on building the tools, workflows, and client experiences that compound in value over time and ensure that innovation is embedded in the day-to-day work we do for our clients. This allows our professionals to do their most meaningful work and gives our clients better outcomes and deeper, more valuable partnerships with the firm.”

Hutchison leads the Transformation Office’s Data Science and AI vertical. He joined Husch Blackwell in 2020 at the outset of the firm’s efforts to become truly data-driven and has since grown the firm’s capabilities to deliver solutions to complex data and AI challenges for staff, attorneys, and clients. Drawing on his two decades of experience in data and AI, he has led the creation of industry-leading tools for the firm and Husch Blackwell’s comprehensive AI governance program.

“Husch Blackwell’s success with generative AI was not an accident,” Hutchison said. “Rather, the cornerstone of that success is data, and from the beginning, my team has focused on creating a data and AI architecture to support the challenges our attorneys and clients face daily. A well-thought-out data strategy creates the foundation needed for success with generative AI.”

In addition to data science, information engineering, and AI governance, Hutchison’s team includes data scientists solely focused on law firm economics who work closely with the Transformation Office and firm leadership to develop data-driven strategies that allow the firm to adapt to the rapidly changing business of law.

As Director of Transformation, Smith oversees the strategic delivery vertical and is responsible for building the Transformation Office from the ground up. Serving as the bridge between strategy and execution, she focuses on translating the firm’s priorities into clear, well-governed initiatives. Smith is leading the development of the firm’s enterprise practice management approach, establishing project governance, and supporting the successful execution of the firm’s strategic plan. Prior to joining Husch Blackwell last month, Smith spent more than eight years in consulting, including senior leadership roles at leading global management firms, where she advised organizations on strategy, transformation, and operational execution.

About Husch Blackwell

Husch Blackwell is a different kind of law firm—structured around our clients’ industries and built on a culture of selfless service. Our 1,000+ lawyers collaborate across the U.S. from more than 20 offices and our virtual office, The Link, to provide uncommon solutions to our clients’ most complex challenges. Learn more at huschblackwell.com.