Zeynep Ersin Honored as an Innovative Leader of the Year by Am Law WIPL Awards

Zeynep Ersin, Seyfarth's Chief Innovation and Strategic Design Officer, has won the 2026 American Lawyer (Law.com) Women, Influence & Power in Law Award for Innovative Leadership - Internal Innovation. This award recognizes women leaders who demonstrate a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law.

Ersin's recognition reflects her role in shaping Seyfarth's culture of innovation and driving meaningful change across the firm by leveraging design thinking and developing innovative solutions that enhance client service delivery and value. Her ability to rethink legal service and integrate automation, artificial intelligence, and process optimization ensures that the firm remains at the forefront of legal innovation.

In a Q&A with The American Lawyer, Ersin discussed how she encourages innovation across the firm:

"Don't just think "what if" — say it out loud and test it. Ideas stall when people fear being wrong or wasting time. I build "safe to try" guardrails, invite imperfect first drafts, and run small, time boxed experiments with clear success criteria. The habit isn't brainstorming; it's building with curiosity, grit, and the courage to see ideas through."

She also offered guidance on how firms can remain competitive and responsive amid constant change in the legal industry:

"Above all, cultivate learning agility, be flexible, curious, and solution focused. Tools will keep evolving. Your edge will be translating client needs into scalable solutions and improving how your team learns, shares, and executes."

Read more about the award here.