Lawyer-to-be, developer, and entrepreneur, all rolled into one charming package.
As a future trainee solicitor at Milbank, I'll be joining one of the world's leading international law firms, specializing in advising financial, industrial and commercial enterprises.
The training contract will involve four six-month seats across different departments, exposing me to various practice areas while leveraging my technical background in complex transactions.
I co-founded Klank, a tech startup focused on supporting smaller bands and independent musicians by connecting them directly with local venues and event hosts. As CTO, I led the technical development of our booking platform, designed to help artists easily secure performances and turn their music into a source of income.
Klank also allows users to conveniently find live music events, from small gigs to larger shows, happening around the United Kingdom. My role involved creating straightforward user interfaces and reliable backend systems. We successfully secured early-stage funding and were recognized through the Scottish EDGE competition.
As President of the university's longest-running independent investment fund, I led a team of 27 analysts managing a five-figure portfolio funded through past donations from companies such as Goldman Sachs and State Street Corporation.
My presidency prioritized educational initiatives within the fund, aiming to provide members with structured, hands-on learning opportunities in investment management, addressing gaps I experienced personally in prior years. This focus resulted in a 30% increase in membership. Additionally, I initiated the formation of a quantitative analysis subgroup to enhance specialized financial skill development among members.
I interned within EY's tax team, focusing on R&D tax credit applications for technology clients. I analyzed client documentation to identify qualifying R&D activities and helped draft technical narratives.
Working alongside tax professionals, I gained insight into tax incentives for innovation while applying my technical background to understand and explain complex development processes to HMRC standards.
Recognition for Klank as an innovative youth-led startup, receiving funding and support through the Scottish EDGE competition.
This award provided valuable resources and networking opportunities to accelerate our business development.
Winner of the university's startup challenge, receiving mentorship and initial funding to develop our business concept.
This early recognition helped establish Klank's foundation and provided valuable guidance from experienced entrepreneurs.
Check out my latest blog posts and thoughts. Stay updated with my journey and insights.
Hi, I'm Alex—software developer turned future solicitor. Although my undergraduate studies centered around computer science, statistics, and finance, an unexpected opportunity with Milbank LLP led me to a training contract—and ultimately shifted my direction toward law. While my daily coding has largely taken a backseat, the problem-solving habits I built up in tech still define how I operate, shaping my approach as I step into this new phase.
The journey that shaped my path from early childhood to my professional career.
From Lego creations to coding adventures—my childhood in Connecticut shaped by creative exploration, entrepreneurial parents, and an early passion for technology.
University years that reshaped my identity—balancing computer science with leadership roles, discovering new passions, and forming lifelong connections.
Transitioning to law while leveraging my tech background—balancing law school studies with personal growth and rediscovering the joy of diverse interests.
Charting my future at the intersection of law and technology—preparing for while continuing to embrace creative side projects.
My academic journey from high school to graduate studies in law.
Key technologies and tools I've learned and used over the years.
Music fuels my productivity. Here's a glimpse into my workday soundtrack.
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The journey that shaped my path from early childhood to my professional career.
From Lego creations to coding adventures—my childhood in Connecticut shaped by creative exploration, entrepreneurial parents, and an early passion for technology.
University years that reshaped my identity—balancing computer science with leadership roles, discovering new passions, and forming lifelong connections.
Transitioning to law while leveraging my tech background—balancing law school studies with personal growth and rediscovering the joy of diverse interests.
Charting my future at the intersection of law and technology—preparing for training contracts while continuing to embrace creative side projects.
From childhood creativity to finding my academic direction
Growing up in Darien, Connecticut, I was surrounded by friends whose parents typically commuted to New York City for high-powered jobs in law and finance. My own parents chose a different path—my mom running her own business from home and my dad juggling several local restaurants. Their entrepreneurial independence shaped me from a young age, instilling a desire to create and innovate in my own distinct way.
I was quite the artist back in the day
Excited to get started on my next Lego build
Childhood for me was defined by countless afternoons spent absorbed in creative projects. Lego was my first real obsession, but I rarely stuck to the instructions provided. Instead, I loved designing my own creations—often unconventional, occasionally chaotic, but always uniquely mine. I proudly entered these patchwork inventions into competitions, convinced of their genius even if judges didn't always agree. For a time, I thought architecture was my calling. Then my grandma—a computer science graduate from Columbia University—changed my trajectory by gifting me my first computer and a subscription to Computer World magazine with the hope that I would follow in her footsteps.
Initially, her gift backfired, as it only acted to fuel an obsession with playing video games. But eventually, curiosity took hold. I wanted to know how games worked beneath the surface, leading me to dabble in game development through Minecraft modifications. Coding soon provided the same creative outlet I'd once found in Lego, only with further possibilities.
By high school, my interests began to crystallize around computer science, physics, statistics, and finance. The shift was subtle but significant—from creating purely for enjoyment to solving real-world problems with practical implications. My early dreams of becoming an architect gradually transformed into a passion for coding and problem-solving, guiding me down a new and exciting path.
As university approached, I sought programs that would blend my interests and technical strengths, ultimately choosing a joint honours degree in computer science and statistics. Little did I know, those choices were setting the stage for the transformative years ahead.
I changed more throughout university than I had in any other period of my life, discovering new passions and stepping into entrepreneurship.
When the pandemic hit during my final high school years, it initially felt like someone had pressed pause on my life. Sitting alone with an unexpectedly empty schedule, I found myself at a crossroads. Back then, I defaulted to filling spare hours with video games or idle activities, but for the first time, I saw this unprecedented global event as an opportunity—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reshape my priorities.
With newfound clarity, I swapped screen time for long, daily walks. At first, it was simply about shedding some weight, but soon these walks became much more. I started multitasking, listening to audiobooks I'd long put off, diving into finance podcasts, and eventually testing the waters of the stock market—admittedly a forgiving environment at the time. Each step literally moved me forward: physically healthier, mentally sharper, and gradually more confident.
By the time I signed off my final high school Zoom call—sporting a questionable COVID beard and little sense of direction—I knew I wasn't the same person I had been just a few months prior. University was no longer going to be just about academics; it would be about exploring everything else I had missed out on for so long.
Arriving at St Andrews felt like stepping into a fresh chapter—excited, nervous, and more confident than I had ever felt before. Sure, my transformation was still ongoing, but for the first time, I genuinely looked forward to meeting new people and pushing myself outside the bubble of my academic comfort zone. The first clear sign of this change was realizing how eager I was to meet new people—even simple conversations felt energizing rather than draining. Suddenly, I had things I was proud and passionate about.
One of my first moves was joining the Global Investment Group (GIG). Sure, finance intrigued me after my lockdown experiments with investing, but I specifically chose GIG because it promised genuine challenge and genuine growth. At first, public speaking and pitching terrified me. Years of being introverted had made presenting to a crowd feel like an uphill battle. But pushing myself into these uncomfortable scenarios turned out to be transformative. It wasn't long before I not only got comfortable but actually looked forward to speaking publicly. It gave me an exciting community—people who genuinely loved what they did and encouraged me to grow right alongside them.
Alongside GIG, I experimented with polo. Admittedly, it was a niche choice—and ultimately I couldn't stick with it long-term—but for nearly two years, it served its purpose of further broadening my horizons. I didn't want to play it safe or stick to familiar territory. Polo was the first example of this new mindset: choosing activities simply because they sparked my curiosity and challenged me to become more multidimensional.
Then came Klank. Jake, a close friend and long-time flatmate, approached me with an idea that ticked every box I'd subconsciously been looking for. Suddenly, entrepreneurship wasn't just an abstract idea—it was a practical, exciting reality that combined my skills in programming, my love for music, and the thrill of real-world decision-making. The biggest hurdle wasn't building the startup itself; it was overcoming the nagging guilt that I wasn't following the traditional path of internships and stable "real" jobs. Despite this pressure, I embraced the unconventional choice, recognizing that this was genuinely what excited me most.
Winning Scottish EDGE's Young EDGE Award with Jake Bill for our work on Klank
Showcasing Klank for the St Andrews Investment Group, seeking funding and tech talent
Through all this, people like Jake became the voice of spontaneity and perspective I needed—a balance against my more structured mindset. Throughout the rest of my time at St Andrews, I was particularly drawn to those who embody different mindsets and embrace uncertainty and spontaneity. Their varied perspectives regularly remind me that growth often comes from stepping beyond stability, even if I'm not always ready to fully embrace that myself.
Looking back, these years weren't just about ticking off achievements or padding a CV—they fundamentally reshaped how I see myself and my potential. University didn't just prepare me academically; it equipped me with varied perspectives and taught me the power of pursuing genuine interests, no matter how unconventional. If I could speak with my pre-university self, I truly cannot imagine trying to change even one thing, because every step, every risk, and every flubbed public pitch contributed to shaping who I am today.
Balancing law school with tech while rediscovering diverse interests
As university wrapped up, I found myself stepping into yet another transitional phase, but this time with a clearer sense of direction. Less than a year beforehand, pursuing law wasn't exactly top-of-mind, but a chance meeting with Milbank LLP changed everything. Their genuine enthusiasm for my unconventional background was compelling. They communicated a vision of how my diverse experiences in tech, entrepreneurship, and finance weren't merely acceptable but genuinely valuable. Finance law wasn't a natural leap given my tech roots, yet my pandemic-driven passion for investing and finance—paired with hands-on experience leading GIG—made the transition feel right.
I'm currently halfway through my year at the University of Law, tackling courses like contract, tort, criminal, and more. Despite the notoriously demanding nature of law school, I now enjoy significantly more flexibility compared to my previous whirlwind of studying computer science, statistics, running an investment group, and working on a startup simultaneously. I've embraced this breathing room, diving into new hobbies and interests, mirroring that early pandemic self-discovery phase—thankfully without the global pandemic this time.
These days, I'm exploring a variety of personal interests: dance classes, healthier cooking experiments, and building stronger networking habits—even though I still sometimes feel like I'm trapped in a LinkedIn echo chamber where every post kicks off with "I'm thrilled to announce." I've returned to multitasking daily walks, often studying or reviewing flashcards around London (with extra vigilance, given a recent phone-snatching incident). I'm also intentionally prioritizing preventative self-care, consistently investing in both my physical and mental health.
With my training contract fast-approaching, I'm intrigued to see how my tech and entrepreneurial background will integrate into finance law. While I'm genuinely looking forward to engaging deeply in stimulating work at Milbank, I'm also mindful of the upcoming intensity. There's an internal balance between anticipating the challenge of a demanding legal career and appreciating the space I currently have to cultivate diverse interests.
Ultimately, what excites me most now is seeing how my unique blend of tech, finance, and entrepreneurship will practically come to life in my legal career. The journey ahead feels both challenging and rewarding, and I'm eager to discover how these experiences will shape my contributions.
Charting my future at the intersection of law and technology
Looking ahead, I'm genuinely excited about the opportunities awaiting me at Milbank. My precise area of specialization—whether within projects finance, alternative investments, or financial restructuring—will take shape through experience, but I'm particularly drawn to law because it's always evolving, consistently challenging, and keeps me actively engaged with new and diverse topics.
Alongside law, I expect myself to continue to explore entrepreneurial interests. While future startup ventures might not necessarily intersect directly with my legal career, I do see myself exploring passion-driven projects that reflect personal interests. Thanks to advancements in AI, these side ventures wouldn't detract significantly from my career in law but would instead allow me to stay creatively engaged, driven more by curiosity than obligation.
Balance remains essential to my long-term vision. Having spent the last five years of my life learning the importance of prioritizing health, friendships, and personal growth, I'm committed to maintaining these areas despite the demanding nature of big law. Whether it's sustaining my daily multitasking walks, revisiting creative passions like music or art, or integrating meaningful connections into everyday life, protecting these habits is crucial.
My future definition of success encompasses more than professional achievements. It includes sustained personal growth, meaningful relationships, and continuous exploration. I envision myself staying intellectually curious, travelling, mentoring others, and potentially pursuing passion projects—perhaps even something as tangible as a food truck in retirement, serving good food at low prices simply for the joy of making others happy.
Ultimately, I hope to build a future that balances professional growth with personal fulfilment, staying curious, creative, and connected to the people who matter most—because I know that's what will keep me genuinely satisfied, no matter how demanding life becomes.
Thoughts, insights, and reflections on law, technology, and personal growth.
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How AI-assisted coding is transforming development timelines and challenging traditional SaaS business models
Having previously built a startup and worked as a project manager at another company, I have seen firsthand how software development cycles can extend over months or even longer. Recently, however, advancements in AI-assisted coding—ranging from AI-integrated IDEs to large language model (LLM) development tools—have significantly changed the landscape. Tasks that once required extensive time and effort can now be completed within days, reshaping the traditional Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) approach.
To appreciate the scale of this transformation, consider the traditional development timelines: industry research shows that (as of 2023) 61.6% of software development companies typically deliver custom software in 4-6 months, with the average delivery time being 4.5 months.1 Only 7.7% of developers can deliver basic software in less than 2 months. These extended timelines translate directly to costs, with the average custom software project priced around $36,000, and 61.6% of companies charging between $20,000-$40,000 for general utility software.
Drawing from my personal experiences as well as recent industry insights, this article explores how AI-driven coding automation impacts SaaS adoption in both the short and long term, discusses differing viewpoints on this shift, identifies industries that may face disruption or remain resilient, and offers practical strategies for SaaS providers adapting to these changes.
Organizations are currently reassessing IT spending, shifting budgets previously dedicated to packaged SaaS subscriptions toward AI-powered internal projects. CIOs increasingly believe custom-built AI solutions offer greater flexibility and value compared to single-purpose SaaS applications. For example, enterprise leaders are beginning to divert investments from traditional SaaS to generative AI initiatives.2
Companies are already developing internal tools—such as customized CRM systems—using generative AI, thereby reducing their dependence on external SaaS providers.3 Even Salesforce has acknowledged potential shifts in client investment toward generative AI projects, a trend that has impacted its market perception and stock value.2
Certain industries—including finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing—are already experiencing noticeable disruption from AI-powered software development. Companies like Klarna and IBM exemplify this trend by replacing various SaaS tools with AI-based solutions, reducing roles previously filled by human employees.3
CRM solutions, traditionally reliant on subscription models, are particularly vulnerable as AI enables businesses to rapidly develop tailored CRM functionalities. Additionally, common workflows, such as employee onboarding, are increasingly managed through custom-built, AI-assisted apps—further diminishing traditional SaaS market share.4
The rise of AI-assisted development is prompting SaaS companies to revisit their pricing strategies. High operational costs for generative AI services have driven the adoption of innovative models, including usage-based or "success-based" pricing. For example, Intercom's AI chatbot "Fin" now charges clients only when a query is successfully resolved, marking a notable shift from conventional per-seat pricing structures.7
Meanwhile, traditional SaaS providers experimenting with premium AI add-ons risk pushing customers toward developing their own in-house solutions.2
Opinions differ regarding the long-term impact of AI on SaaS. Some predict a shift toward a more "do-it-yourself" environment, where businesses opt to build custom software in-house thanks to the accessibility and affordability of AI tools.3 Others envision an evolved SaaS model—"SaaS 3.0"—in which providers deeply integrate AI to offer both the stability of managed services and extensive customization.7
The rapid evolution of AI coding capabilities as measured by the HumanEval benchmark.8
The graph above shows how Pass@1 scores (percentage of coding problems solved correctly on first attempt) have improved dramatically from early models like Codex (32%) to Claude 3.5 Sonnet (92%). This exponential improvement in AI coding performance over just three years directly correlates with the shortened development cycles discussed in this article. Note how the releases of AI-powered tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor IDE have coincided with significant leaps in code generation capabilities.
Reflecting on my experiences, I recall the extensive prototyping and iterative development that went into launching my startup, Klank. What once took many months of work can now be accomplished in a fraction of the time with AI tools. Similarly, while I could always build a website from scratch, doing so without a previous template used to require a significant time investment—something I had little free of at the time. The only alternative was to use a SaaS website builder like Squarespace or Wix. But now, even amidst my law studies and other commitments, I can now create a fully customized website—such as the one you're reading this on—in just a day or two. These personal milestones highlight how AI has not only accelerated software development but also reshaped the value proposition of SaaS.
As AI reshapes software development, SaaS providers must evolve their strategies to remain competitive. The following adaptations represent key opportunities for SaaS businesses to thrive in this changing landscape:
Integrating AI capabilities into existing SaaS products can significantly enhance their value. For example, Microsoft's Copilot in Office 365 and Adobe's AI tools in Creative Cloud have transformed their platforms, streamlining workflows and automating routine tasks.
Offering more APIs, plugins, and low-code tools enables SaaS companies to provide flexible, customizable solutions that cater to specific customer needs. This transforms SaaS from a fixed product into a dynamic service that can evolve with the user.
Flexible, outcome-based pricing models that align costs with actual user value are emerging. Intercom's AI chatbot "Fin"—which charges only when a query is successfully resolved—is a prime example of this approach.7
Highlighting robust security measures, compliance standards, and dedicated customer support helps maintain user trust in SaaS solutions, even as DIY alternatives become more attractive.
Collaborating with leading AI technology providers allows SaaS companies to rapidly integrate advanced AI features into their products, ensuring they stay competitive without the need for extensive in-house development.
Developing hybrid solutions that combine customizable AI capabilities with reliable SaaS infrastructure and support can enhance customer satisfaction, blending the best of both worlds.
"...Agents will come together to change every SaaS application category, and building custom applications will be driven by software (i.e. 'service as software')." — Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO6
AI-driven coding automation is reshaping the software development landscape. In the short term, businesses are rethinking their SaaS adoption strategies by shifting budgets toward in-house, AI-powered projects. In the long term, while some predict a "do-it-yourself" future that could bypass traditional SaaS, the prevailing view is that SaaS will evolve—integrating AI to become more adaptive, intelligent, and customizable (often referred to as "SaaS 3.0").
"SaaS isn't dying—it's evolving. The most successful SaaS companies will position their core products as platforms that AI agents seamlessly integrate with and enhance, not replace." — Ahrvo Labs9
My personal experience reflects this evolution: what once required extensive effort and long development cycles can now be accomplished in days with AI assistance. This rapid transformation underscores that while complex enterprise applications may still rely on traditional SaaS, AI is democratizing high-quality software creation for a broader range of projects.
For SaaS providers, the message is clear: adapt or risk irrelevance. By integrating AI thoughtfully, embracing customization, rethinking pricing models, and enhancing security and support, traditional SaaS can evolve into a more integrated, AI-enhanced model that meets the diverse needs of modern software development.
