Noted as “pioneering the intersection of artificial intelligence and legal analytics”
vLex has recognized Mike DeCesaris, vice president and director of the firm’s Data Science Center, as a Fastcase 50 honoree. This award “honors the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, lawyers, and leaders” in 2025.
“Mike’s work exemplifies the deliberate and disciplined approach to innovation that we cultivate at Cornerstone Research.”
The award notes that Mr. DeCesaris’s “strategic investments in on-premises GPU infrastructure and self-hosted LLM capabilities have positioned Cornerstone Research at the forefront of secure, scalable AI implementation that meets the demanding confidentiality and precision requirements of high-stakes litigation.” He joins an esteemed group of professionals in the legal field including top attorneys, business leaders, and scholars.
“The 2025 class stands apart as the most technologically sophisticated in the award’s history.”
“Mike’s work exemplifies the deliberate and disciplined approach to innovation that we cultivate at Cornerstone Research,” said Phil Leslie, the firm’s Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. “Through a systematic process of experimentation, testing, and refinement, Mike has consistently demonstrated a commitment to leveraging technology to drive meaningful improvements in outcomes, responsiveness at scale, and client service.”
“Mike DeCesaris is pioneering the intersection of artificial intelligence and legal analytics.”
The vLex Fastcase 50 award shines a spotlight on those who have made a significant impact within the legal community. “The 2025 class stands apart as the most technologically sophisticated in the award’s history,” noted vLex. “This year’s honorees represent the engineering minds, visionary leaders, and fearless implementers who are not just witnessing a revolution in law – they’re creating it.”
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