About Steve

25 years in the executive suite. Now helping law firms lead AI.

Steve Smith helps law firm leaders turn AI from scattered experiments into governed workflows, practical training, and measurable adoption.

Steve Smith
Steve Smith, founder of Intelligence by Intent.

How Steve got here

Steve Smith brings 25+ years of executive leadership to legal AI consulting. As CEO, CFO, and SVP at technology companies, he managed P&Ls, built global operations teams, and drove growth through complex transformations. He holds an MBA from Wharton.

After seeing how AI was reshaping business operations, Steve recognized that law firms faced a unique challenge: mountains of hype, but almost no practical guidance tailored to how lawyers actually work. He founded Intelligence by Intent to bridge that gap. Translating AI capabilities into workflows that pass ethics review and deliver measurable results.

Every recommendation Steve makes is informed by his experience sitting in the same seat his clients sit in. He's made the hard calls about ROI, managed skeptical teams through change, and answered to boards. That's why he doesn't lead with technology. He leads with the business problem.

Credentials

Credentials only matter if they help your firm make better decisions

Five reasons firm leaders work with Steve. Each one tied to the kind of decision a managing partner, COO, or practice head actually has to make.

MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

So when you present AI adoption to your partnership, we speak ROI and margin impact. Not just prompts.

25+ years as CEO, CFO, and SVP at technology companies

So we understand the budget conversations and partner dynamics you're managing.

Trained 3,000+ attorneys across 50+ law firms and bar associations

So we've seen what actually works across different firm sizes and practice areas.

Developed 100+ legal-specific AI use cases

So we demonstrate solutions using your documents, your workflows, and your specific practice area challenges.

Positioning

Not another AI demo.

Steve isn't a software reseller and doesn't ask lawyers to replace judgment with automation. His work helps firms decide where AI belongs, where it doesn't, how attorneys should review outputs, and how leadership can measure adoption responsibly.

A personal note

I founded Intelligence by Intent after watching too many firms get sold technology when what they needed was judgment. Most mornings start with Magnus, our St. Bernard, pulling me out the door for a walk. After that, you'll find me writing before sunrise. Three posts a week on what AI actually means for legal work. No hype, no doom. It keeps me honest. If I can't explain a concept clearly to a managing partner over coffee, I haven't earned the right to advise on it.

Who Steve works with

Best fit

Steve works best with law firm leaders who know AI matters but need a clear roadmap from pilot to firm-wide adoption.

  • Managing partners at 15-50 attorney firms who need partner buy-in before investing in AI adoption
  • COOs drowning in "what should we do about AI?" questions from associates and partners
  • Practice leaders who see competitors advertising AI-powered services and wonder if they're falling behind
  • Bar associations planning CLE programs that go beyond vendor pitches

Next step

Ready to move from AI experiments to adoption?

20-minute call. We'll identify where your firm is today, which workflows are worth prioritizing, and whether a workshop, sprint, or case-support engagement is the right next step.

20-minute call. We'll show you where firms like yours typically start.