Tackling bias in an AI-enabled future

Manchester Law & Technology Initiative Workshop Series 2025-26 Delivered in partnership with Visioning Lab Sessions led by Dr Jessica Symons

Arrival from 1645 for 1700 start, session will end with a drinks and canapes reception.

This session is the culmination of the Lawtech and AI: University of Manchester Seminar series with Visioning Lab led by Dr Jessica Symons.

This session will be a Fireside Chat with Raj Mahapatra, Senior Counsel in the London office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he advises founders, boards and leadership teams at the intersection of technology, governance and human judgement. Drawing on an international career that spans law, operations and executive advisory roles, Raj works with organisations navigating AI and other emerging technologies, focusing not just on legal compliance but on decision-making, accountability and ethical design.

His current work explores how organisations supervise and take responsibility for systems that do not think or fail like humans, and what that means for trust, leadership and oversight.

During the 45 minute discussion, we will explore the following questions:

– What are theleading tech firmsdoing about AI and law?

– How is bias creeping into the design and use of AI-enabled legal systems?

– What is the potential for UK law plc to lead on a new world order?

There will be 20 minutes of questions and then drinks and more discussion.

Lawtech and AI: University of Manchester Seminar series

University of Manchester Law Tech Initiative and Visioning Lab, an R&D SME, have teamed up to offer three seminars focused on how AI is changing law and the legal sector in the UK.

The seminars will be led by Dr Jessica Symons, an anthropologist and founder of Visioning Lab, a Manchester-based R&D practice specialising in AI-enabled knowledge systems, standards and public engagement. Her work combines ethnographic insight with systems thinking to help organisations understand how emerging technologies reshape professional practice, regulation and society. Jessica holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Manchester and has over twenty years’ experience helping people make sense of complex technological and social change.

Hosted by the Manchester Law & Technology Initiative but open to non-members.