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Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1544922
36 www.canadianlawyermag.com INHOUSE INTERVIEWS FEATURE Artificial intelligence in Canada is being driven by business ambition, regulatory uncertainty, and a demand for technological sovereignty. Inside Cohere, the country's leading foundational model developer, legal and business stakes are climbing as quickly as the technology itself. Canadian companies, governments, and international partners want alternatives to US-based AI providers, and Cohere is the only Canadian player at this scale. "There's really been an impetus for Canadian companies, governments, as well as companies internationally, like in the UK and Europe, to look outside the US for partners in this space," says Kosta Starostin, general counsel at Cohere. While many now build with AI, few foundational LLM companies exist – Cohere stands alone in Canada. For enterprise customers, legal risk comes first. "The biggest issue for many executives who want to adopt this technology inside their organizations is figuring out how to future- proof it for the business, because it is a very intricate and novel technology in a rapidly evolving landscape," Starostin says. Business leaders face a steep learning curve; education starts with what a foundational model does, what it can and cannot do, and what it takes to move from proof of concept to ROI. Technical hurdles are steep. For business owners, implementing this technology means committing serious time, resources, and skilled engineering. Integrating large language models into existing systems and ensuring performance takes expertise. Early adopters must justify major investments to their boards without any guarantee of success. Cohere targets enterprise, not consumer chatbots, developing AI to automate business workflows and embed advanced models into client products. That focus doesn't shield the company from legal and regulatory scrutiny. "Those decision-making points are also underpinned by legal and regulatory concerns because … the compliance teams, the security teams are going to ask a lot of questions," he says. Data security, privacy, and training data provenance are all under the microscope. KOSTA STAROSTIN Company: Cohere Title: Vice president, legal Steering legal at Canada's sole foundational LLM artificial intelligence firm never defined myself by my positions and titles – rather, it's what I can create, provide, and deliver that matters the most to me. Still the same person just under a new title," he wrote in his announcement on LinkedIn. He credits a long list of mentors and colleagues for his growth and signals that the work ahead is what matters most. Chan's leadership is rooted in collaboration and a willingness to take calculated risks. He's quick to point out that in-house law isn't for everyone. The job demands a shift in mindset from private practice – lawyers must accept that business involves risk and uncertainty, and not every problem can be solved by playing it completely safe and searching for absolute certainty. Regulation, particularly in the areas of privacy and technology, remains a persistent challenge. Chan says the law rarely keeps pace with business innovation, especially with the rise of AI and new technologies. His multicultural background shapes his approach to both law and business. Chan blends Eastern and Western business styles, seeing value in both relationship-driven and contract-driven models. He draws on generational, long-term thinking from his Chinese heritage and pairs it with the fast- paced, innovative mindset of Western business. SAMSON CHAN Company: London Drugs Title: General counsel A career spanning science, privacy law, and becoming a business partner at a retail leader Excellence isn't optional in law – it's the baseline, says Samson Chan, newly named general counsel at London Drugs. He pushes junior lawyers to be intentional about their choices, urging them to chart their paths with purpose and avoid drifting through their early years. "Excellence matters, no matter where you go and what path you choose. And have some urgency. It's good to know what you want earlier and not waste time," he says. Now at the helm of the day-to-day legal at the company, reporting directly to the executives, including the chief legal officer, Chan calls this year transformational but insists that job titles don't define him. "I've