Freshfields Names Ram Komarraju CIO as Law Firms Escalate AI Investment

Freshfields has appointed Ram Komarraju as chief information officer, placing an executive with financial-market technology experience at the center of its global legal AI strategy on Sept. 8, 2026. The move gives the law firm a dedicated technology leader as firms increasingly treat data, automation and artificial intelligence as core operating capabilities rather than support functions.

Komarraju joins from CLS, the financial-market infrastructure group that processes about $8 trillion in payment instructions each day. His appointment follows a senior technology role spanning strategy, architecture, engineering, data and analytics in a highly regulated environment. For Freshfields, the hire links its technology agenda to a broader market shift: global firms are building internal capacity to govern AI, modernize platforms and turn legal technology into a measurable part of client delivery and business operations.

At CLS, Komarraju developed an enterprise AI strategy and governance frameworks, while also working with technology companies, financial institutions and fintech businesses. His previous remit included modernization programs, data and analytics, AI adoption and digital product development. At Freshfields, he will oversee the continued development of global technology platforms and help set the firm’s long-term direction across technology, innovation and AI. The appointment does not identify a specific product launch or customer-facing rollout, but it gives the firm’s technology function a senior executive responsible for connecting infrastructure decisions with client service, employee tools and growth priorities.