Legal technology seems to be riding the AI wave with exhibitors old and new investing in booths. My annual sponsor/exhibitor charts and the published Legal Week metrics reflect this uplift in technology and service providers eager to show off their AI-enhanced offerings. Not too long ago I was predicting a slow decline in conference attendance and exhibitors based on the steady consolidation and acquisition of smaller traditional providers. The post-pandemic resurgence of smaller, boutique firms like Level Legal and a host of new AI-driven platforms has demonstrated that bigger is not always better.
LegalWeek 2024 still felt like more of a business development gathering, though I was happy to see more relaxed, diverse practitioners wandering between sessions. I am excited to use the few hours I have reserved for perambulating the exhibit hall to get my annual fast take on our evolving industry. Below are a few sessions that I found interesting, even if I am too booked up to attend more than my own time as a talking head. As always I love to hear your impressions and meet new peers on the fly, so flag me down and introduce yourself or just send me a note. My briefing slots are all booked up, but I will be anchoring a table at McGee’s Pub Sunday 5-7pm for other early arrivals who want to talk shop.
Sessions of Note:
Evolving Jurisprudence: Key Court Rulings Shaping the Use of E-Discovery Technology
Supported by: Thomson Reuters
Speakers:
Ruth Hauswirth, Special Counsel, Head of Litigation & eDiscovery and Information Retention Counseling, Cooley LLP
Dawson Horn, President, BUiLT
Jeremiah Wikler, Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
Phil Favro, Special Master, Mediator, Expert Witness, Innovative Driven
Hon. Andrew Peck (Ret.), Senior Counsel, DLA Piper
Sherry Levin Wallach, Deputy Executive Director, The Legal Aid Society of Westchester County
Microsoft Teams Chat and Channel Evolution: What’s Coming and Why It Matters for Your Organization
Speakers:
Dan Paquette, Practice Group Leader – Modern Work, Kraft Kennedy
Carolyn Humpherys, Learning and Change Management Consultant, Traveling Coaches, Inc.
Nick Francis, Senior Technical Specialist – Copilot, Microsoft
Disappearing Guidance: Locating Previously Available Government Agency Information
Speakers:
Andrea Guldalian, Director of Library & Research Services, Duane Morris LLP
Christine George, Associate Director for Research & Scholarship, NYU School of Law
Jack Cushman, Director, Library Innovation Lab, Harvard Library Innovation Lab
Phil J. Rosenthal, Chief Growth Officer, vLex
Simplify, Automate, Innovate: SharePoint Agents in Action
Speakers:
Nick Francis, Senior Technical Specialist – Copilot, Microsoft
Julie Strachan Haiber, Senior Vice President, Client Engagement, Harbor
Negotiating ESI Protocols for the Use of Generative AI in eDiscovery
Speakers:
Aurora Bryant, Senior Counsel for eLitigation, Office of the Assistant Attorney, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Joseph P. Guglielmo, Partner, Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP
Jason Lichter, Principal, Troutman Pepper Locke eMerge
Cristin Traylor, Senior Director, AI Transformation and Law Firm Strategy, Relativity
Generative AI: Judges, Lawyers, and Technologists on Legal Ethics and Practical Guidance
Speakers:
Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, New York State Supreme Court
Hon. Xavier Rodriguez, U.S. District Judge, US District Court – Texas Western District
David Cohen, Partner and Records and eDiscovery Practice Leader, Reed Smith LLP
David Horrigan, Discovery Counsel & Legal Education Director, Relativity
Linda Sheehan, Head of intelligENS, ENS
AI Tetris Masterclass: Layering AI for Maximum Litigation Efficiency
Speakers:
Martha Louks, Director of Technology Services, McDermott Will & Emery
Aaron Crews, Non Equity Partner, Holland & Knight
Ilan Sherr, Executive Director, Aiscension, Aiscension / DLA Piper
Sam Sessler, Assistant Director, Global eDiscovery Services, Norton Rose Fulbright
Cat Casey, Chief Growth Officer, Reveal
Knowing When, How, and Where to Leverage AI
Speakers:
E.J. Bastien, Sr. Director, Discovery Programs, Microsoft Corporation
Todd Itami, Of Counsel, Covington
Fernando Delgado, Senior Director, AI & Analytics, Lighthouse
Amy Sellars, Attorney, Gunster
Mythbusting Collaboration in Complex Litigation: Streamlining Team Comms and Doc Sharing
Speakers:
Lindsey Lanier, Director, Product Management, Relativity
Candi Smith, eDiscovery Analyst, The Walt Disney Company
Scott Milner, Global Leader eData Practice, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Greg Buckles, Market Analyst – Press, eDiscovery Journal
E.J. Bastien, Sr. Director, Discovery Programs, Microsoft Corporation
Greg Buckles wants your feedback, questions or project inquiries at Greg@eDJGroupInc.com. Book a free 15 minute ‘Good Karma’ call if he has availability. He solves problems and creates eDiscovery solutions for enterprise and law firm clients.
Greg’s blog perspectives are personal opinions and should not be interpreted as a professional judgment or advice. Greg is no longer an investigative journalist and all perspectives are based on best public information. Blog content is neither approved nor reviewed by any providers prior to being published. Do you want to share your own perspective? Greg is looking for practical, professional informative perspectives free of marketing fluff, hidden agendas or personal/product bias. Outside blogs will clearly indicate the author, company and any relevant affiliations.
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