Al Aquila is a partner at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo, one of New York’s leading personal injury and medical malpractice law firms. With over 30 years of experience representing victims of medical negligence, Aquila has built a reputation for tenacious advocacy and compassionate client service. As a seasoned attorney working on contingency, Aquila understands the critical role technology plays in maximizing efficiency and outcomes.
Today, he’s using the power of Thomson Reuters CoCounsel to transform his practice, saving countless hours and delivering better results.
Discovering the power of AI
Aquila started using generative AI (GenAI) in his practice about a year ago when the firm's managing attorney showed it to him. As part of the initial tester group, Aquila volunteered to explore what CoCounsel could do for their practice.
“This is the first time I have ever used generative AI,” says Aquila, who had never experimented with consumer AI tools like ChatGPT. Initially skeptical about how useful it'd be, he quickly discovered its potential. “I really didn’t think it could do everything it does so well.”
Aquila was most surprised by the intuitive nature of the tool. As he explored CoCounsel’s skills such as reviewing, creating timelines, and summarizing, he realized its potential. His biggest advice is, “You don’t truly know what it can do until you try using it,” encouraging everyone to experience its capabilities firsthand.
Finding the needle in the haystack
For medical malpractice cases involving thousands of pages of records, CoCounsel has been transformative. In one particularly impactful case, Aquila used CoCounsel to help a colleague search through a 6,000-page document for critical evidence. “There was an issue of fact as to what kind of history the patient gave the doctor, who denied that she ever told him something,” Aquila explains. CoCounsel found the history that supported the client’s version of the facts — a discovery that helped settle the case by bolstering the plaintiff’s story.
While a colleague had spent two hours searching without success, CoCounsel found the evidence in approximately seven minutes. “I wasn’t watching CoCounsel doing it. I was typing something else and the result popped up,” notes Aquila, highlighting how CoCounsel allows him to multitask effectively.
In another case involving nursing home records, Aquila used CoCounsel to search through 16,000 pages to determine if bed rails were ever used — a critical fact in the case. The tool’s thoroughness gives him confidence in the results. “If there’s something there, it’s going to find it.”
Transforming workflow efficiency
CoCounsel has become an essential part of Aquila’s daily workflow. Having CoCounsel always open on his desktop allows him to immediately investigate questions that arise while working on cases. “I’ll think of a question while I’m doing something else on a case, I’m like, ‘Oh, you know what, let me check this out to see if this is in there.’”
The time savings are substantial. While CoCounsel can process documents in minutes, Aquila emphasizes that the real benefit is in multitasking. “It’s like having a person sitting next to you who reads really, really fast and accurately.”
This efficiency extends to various aspects of his practice. When reviewing incoming motions, Aquila has CoCounsel “summarize the arguments and what the experts are saying so I can start thinking about it while I’m going through everything.” This allows him to begin strategizing immediately, even “on the train ride home.”
Delivering better client outcomes
Beyond efficiency, CoCounsel helps Aquila deliver better outcomes for his clients. In one case involving Medicare liens, Aquila used CoCounsel to review hundreds of pages of treatment codes. After uploading the documents, he explains, “It broke down the Medicare lien into what was relevant and what wasn’t, and even did the math for me,” says Aquila. CoCounsel’s ability to streamline complex processes not only saves his clients money but fosters stronger client relationships.
Expanding capabilities with trusted integration
As part of the Thomson Reuters ecosystem, CoCounsel integrates seamlessly with Westlaw, significantly enhancing Aquila’s research capabilities while reinforcing trust and security. This integration was a key factor in choosing Thomson Reuters solutions. “You don’t have to jump around,” he explains, emphasizing the value of having reliable legal research and AI tools in one secure environment.
A transformative legal technology
Reflecting on the impact of CoCounsel, Aquila concludes, “It’s like adding somebody to your practice that reads really fast and doesn’t ever sleep. It’s like an invisible assistant right next to you.” For attorneys hesitant about adopting GenAI, Aquila’s advice is clear. “Definitely use it. It’s going to be a huge time saver.” He encourages colleagues, particularly younger attorneys, to embrace the technology. “I encourage everybody to use CoCounsel because it’ll save you a bunch of time. If you’re not using it, you could be more efficient. And in our practice, efficiency is everything.”
