Washington, D.C/Nashville, Tenn., (August 4, 2026) – Bass, Berry & Sims has added Rachel Shields Williams to serve in the newly created role of Director of AI & Knowledge Management. Her addition marks the latest executive role to be filled amidst the firm's strategic reorganization to align firmwide administrative functions with client value.
"Rachel is a nationally recognized leader in our field, and we are thrilled to have her direction and vision to put our firm on the forefront of AI innovation both internally and for our clients," said Craig E. Bingham, Chief Administrative & Operations Officer of Bass, Berry & Sims. "Rachel is an accomplished and pioneering leader in the industry with over 20 years of experience who will be essential to achieving our strategic goals through her work aligning our data strategy, knowledge management, and artificial intelligence initiatives."
Firm Adds Latest Key Position in Response to Strategic Assessment
In her capacity as Director of AI &
Knowledge Management, Williams leads the firm's efforts to
enhance client service and operational performance through
innovation and strategic use of technology. Working across practice
groups and business functions, she aligns data strategy, knowledge
management, and artificial intelligence initiatives to ensure the
firm's information assets and AI-enabled tools are effectively
governed, scalable, and integrated into day-to-day practice. By
driving firmwide adoption of advanced technologies and best
practices, Williams supports more efficient service delivery and
advances the firm's long-term strategic growth objectives.
Williams' addition follows the March 2026 expansion and reorganization of the firm's leadership structure to add key leadership roles to integrate growth and operational functions in line with a firmwide strategic assessment.
As one of her first initiatives with the firm, Williams helped lead the firm's Summer AI Lab, a nine-week program where teams of summer associates worked through defined challenges in legal practice and built AI-enabled prototype solutions. Developed alongside Chief Attorney Talent Officer Devin Lintzenich, the program enlisted associates, members and professionals to serve as AI Lab Leaders and provide guidance along the way. As an extension of the firm's broader AI strategy, the Summer AI Lab underscored its continued focus on innovation, client service, professional development, and responsible AI use. The program concluded on July 21 with a Shark Tank-style pitch event showcasing the AI-enabled prototype solutions the teams developed.
Rachel Shields Williams' Prior Experience
For more than 20 years, Williams has helped global law firms use data, technology, and insight to drive growth and efficiency. She has managed knowledge management and marketing technology, market intelligence, and data strategy programs to advance a firm's data-first culture to deliver scalable, insight-driven solutions that enhance client engagement and operational excellence. Williams is a national leader and frequent speaker on data strategy and digital transformation.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Williams was the Product Management Director, Client Intelligence at Sidley Austin LLP. Throughout her nearly 20 years at the firm, she worked in marketing, business development, and knowledge management roles to align data, technology, and analytics investments with firmwide growth and strategy objectives. She holds certifications from numerous educational institutions, including: Berkeley Haas Executive Education, Data Strategy: Leveraging Data as a Competitive Advantage (2025); The Johns Hopkins University – Carey Business School, Data Visualization: Storytelling and Sensemaking (2024); and Northwestern Kellogg Executive Education, Generative AI: Executive Strategies Certificate (2023), among others. Williams is the current president of the International Board of Directors for the Legal Marketing Association and a fellow in the College of Law Practice Management.