Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres Names David Lopez-Kurtz as the Firm’s First Chief AI & Technology Innovation Officer

August 27, 2026

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is pleased to announce that David Lopez-Kurtz, a Partner at the Firm, has been named its first Chief AI & Technology Innovation Officer (“CAITIO”), a newly created leadership role dedicated to advancing the Firm’s technology strategy and artificial intelligence capabilities. Lopez-Kurtz will continue to serve as a Partner of the Firm while leading its AI and technology innovation initiatives.

David and the AI Committee have been a driving force in pushing CFDB to the forefront of strategic use of AI for both internal functionality and client work. CFDB continues to utilize this technology in an exceptionally deep and robust way and looks forward to further expanding in this area.

As CAITIO, Lopez-Kurtz will be responsible for a broad portfolio of strategic and operational functions designed to advance the Firm’s legal practice and enhance its service delivery across all practice groups. Lopez-Kurtz will continue to evaluate and deploy AI tools across the Firm, including legal research, document drafting, contract analysis, and matter management tools. He will also oversee related security, data governance, and vendor compliance.

He will lead the continued development of the Firm’s AI-enabled workflows, including enhancements to the onboarding system, practice-group-specific document automation, and client-facing deliverables where appropriate.

In addition, Lopez-Kurtz will advise Firm leadership on technology strategy, competitive intelligence, and investment in technology infrastructure. He will also support client matters involving AI governance, technology transactions, and emerging regulatory issues, and represent the Firm in publications, conferences, academic engagements, and client communications.

“David’s appointment as our first Chief AI & Technology Innovation Officer reflects CFDB’s belief that the best legal counsel will increasingly combine strong legal judgment with the smart use of technology,” said Patrick Croke, Co-Founder and CEO of Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. “This is not a short-term initiative, but a long-term commitment to giving our clients the benefit of better tools and stronger service.”

“What sets David apart is his ability to handle sophisticated legal work while understanding how new technology can support it,” said Lisa Duarte, Partner and Co-Chair of the Management Committee at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. “He brings both practical experience and a thoughtful approach, and he knows how to apply AI in ways that improve the quality and efficiency of our client service.”

David advises clients navigating emerging technologies, guiding companies from formation and structuring through financing, product development and launch and exit. “At CFDB, we aren’t just buying products and calling it strategy,” said Lopez-Kurtz. “Working in the technology directly and daily is the only way to ensure human judgment is amplified by it rather than hidden behind it. I am glad to be leading that work, both in what we build ourselves and in what we do alongside our technology partners.”