Success story · Legal · AI
We’re not replacing lawyers - we’re augmenting them. AI can handle the data; humans handle the reasoning.
From art & linguistics to AI & law
We were delighted to place Catherine Kosten as Head of AI & Legal Tech Innovation at Homburger - a leader who blends linguistics, data science and applied AI, and was named among the Top 100 Women in AI & Data in Switzerland 2025.
A Rockstar journey
After studying Art & Visual Technology and Linguistics in 2012, Kate made a bold pivot into the then-emerging world of Natural Language Processing - learning to program from scratch, long before ChatGPT.
What began as a pragmatic move became a passion for data, algorithms and how machines understand language. She went on to a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Fribourg while working as an Associate Researcher in the Intelligent Information Systems Group at ZHAW (InIT), building systems that translate natural language into database and Knowledge Graph queries with generative AI.
“I had to learn programming from scratch - this was way before ChatGPT. Everything was rule-based.”
Recognized among the Top 100 Women in AI & Data
Kate was recently named one of the Top 100 Women in AI & Data in Switzerland 2025 by the ETH AI Center and Greater Zurich Area - recognition she sees as progress for the whole community.
“When you go to schools and talk about tech, you still see too few girls. Initiatives like this show there’s a place for women in AI - in research, in startups, and in law firms like Homburger.”
AI in 2025: realism over hype
After more than a decade in the field, Kate is enthusiastic but grounded. The real impact of AI, she argues, comes not from chasing general intelligence but from applying it thoughtfully to real problems in specialized fields.
Her advice to students and career changers: don’t study AI alone - combine it with another discipline. AI plus law, biology, finance, or art. That’s where innovation happens.
“We’ve hit a wall with strictly LLM architectures. They don’t truly understand the world. AGI would need physics, causality, reality - and we’re not there yet.”
Applying AI to law
At Homburger, Kate leads the firm’s work to develop and integrate AI tools that make legal work faster, safer and more efficient - solutions that directly support the firm’s 160 lawyers. Her hybrid background in arts, linguistics and computing helps her design systems that are intuitive and language-aware.
“We’re not replacing lawyers - we’re augmenting them. AI can handle the data; humans handle the reasoning.”
Empowering the next generation
Kate is passionate about inspiring young professionals - especially women - to join the field, speaking often at schools and events about her journey from art to AI. Her message: jump in, stay curious, and don’t be afraid of an unconventional background.
“AI is still new - everyone’s learning. What matters most is curiosity and the will to build something useful.”
Humans in the loop
If you’re a candidate or a company, we’d love to help you hire or find your next career step.
“AI can automate tasks - but judgment, ethics, and accountability will always need humans in the loop.”
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