Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty in litigation. In 2026, AI tools are reshaping how law firms prepare for trial, analyze discovery, and develop case strategy. For businesses involved in commercial disputes in New York, understanding how AI is being used — by your attorneys and by opposing counsel — is increasingly important to the outcome of your case.
At Travis & DeBlase PLLC, we integrate AI into our litigation practice not as a gimmick but as a force multiplier. Here is how AI is changing commercial litigation in practical, measurable ways.
Document Review and Discovery
Commercial litigation often involves thousands or tens of thousands of documents. In a partnership dispute, a construction defect case, or a breach of fiduciary duty action, the volume of relevant emails, contracts, financial records, and communications can be overwhelming. Traditionally, reviewing these documents required hundreds of attorney hours at significant cost to the client.
AI-powered document review tools can now identify relevant documents, flag privileged material, and categorize communications by topic, date, and participant in a fraction of the time. More importantly, AI review is consistent — unlike human reviewers, AI does not get tired, miss patterns in the third hour of review, or apply inconsistent relevance standards across a large document set.
For our clients, this means lower discovery costs, faster case timelines, and more thorough identification of the documents that matter most to the outcome.
Case Strategy and Legal Research
AI is particularly effective at identifying patterns across large volumes of case law. When preparing a motion for summary judgment or drafting a memorandum of law, AI research tools can surface relevant precedent, identify how specific judges have ruled on similar issues, and flag potential weaknesses in an argument before opposing counsel does.
This does not replace the judgment of an experienced litigator — but it gives the litigator better information, faster. A case strategy built on comprehensive AI-assisted research is simply more thorough than one built on traditional methods alone.
Deposition and Trial Preparation
AI tools can analyze deposition transcripts to identify inconsistencies in testimony, track key admissions across multiple witnesses, and generate cross-examination outlines based on the documentary record. In a complex commercial case with multiple depositions, this capability can reveal connections and contradictions that manual review might miss.
For trial preparation, AI can help organize exhibits, generate witness examination outlines, and model different trial strategies based on the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence. The result is a trial team that walks into the courtroom better prepared and more responsive to developments during trial.
Financial Analysis in Damages Cases
Many commercial disputes turn on financial evidence — lost profits calculations, forensic accounting, and damages modeling. AI tools can process financial data sets, identify anomalies in accounting records, and generate damages analyses that would take a human expert significantly longer to produce. When combined with expert testimony, AI-assisted financial analysis provides a more robust foundation for damages claims.
The Ethical Framework
New York courts are paying close attention to how attorneys use AI. The New York State Bar Association and individual judges have issued guidance requiring lawyers to disclose AI use in certain circumstances and to verify the accuracy of AI-generated work product. Responsible AI use in litigation means treating AI as a tool that enhances attorney work — never as a substitute for professional judgment, independent verification, and ethical obligations to the court.
At Travis & DeBlase PLLC, every AI-assisted work product is reviewed and verified by the attorney responsible for the matter. Our clients benefit from the efficiency and thoroughness of AI without the risks of unchecked automation.
What This Means for Your Business
If your business is involved in or anticipating commercial litigation in New York, the law firm you choose matters more than ever. Firms that have integrated AI into their practice can deliver better results at lower cost. Firms that have not are working at a disadvantage.
To learn more about how our AI Enhanced General Counsel approach benefits litigation clients, schedule a consultation.