Legal Innovation Spotlight From Legal Tech Curiosity to Strategic Advantage
Jan 28, 2026
Shruti Ajitsaria, Partner and Head of Fuse at A&O Shearman, leads legal innovation and incubates legal tech startups. She discusses building a global incubator model and selecting tools that solve real client problems. Topics include startup selection and support, partner-led pilots, measuring strategic value, and how collaboration with clients accelerates adoption.
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How Fuse Began And Its Early Purpose
- Shruti started Fuse in 2017 after a maternity-leave idea and built it when legal tech was nascent.
- Early founders were ex-associates with ideas but no route to market, and Fuse gave them a home to learn and pilot.
Use Multi-Voice Selection Days
- Run a yearly open application and a multi-stakeholder selection day to vet startups.
- Include partners, clients, venture experts and CTOs to assess product-market fit and pilot potential.
Early-stage Partners Can Shape Products
- Fuse accepts a wide range of startup stages, from pre-product wireframes to mature pilots.
- Early-stage engagement can shape product roadmaps and yield firm-wide licensing when successful.