The 2020 US Emerging Legal Technology Forum Accelerating Innovation Across the Profession

Much has been said about the practical and ethical motivations behind the duty of technology competence for lawyers. Now, more than ever, clients expect legal counsel to demonstrate proficiency across a wide swath of technologies capable of transforming legal practice and offering greater overall value to a matter. Yet, for all the talk of duty and expectations, less attention is paid to how law firms and corporates actually train their legal talent, whether at the associate or partner level. This opening session examines some of the most successful tech-focused professional development initiatives in law firms and corporate legal departments today. Our panel will explore what strategies have—or have not—proven successful while operating in a highly competitive market.

Moderator:
Christina Ayiotis, Cybersecurity and Information Governance Attorney

Panelists:
Nadia V. Gil, Global Solutions Advisor, Operations and Strategy, Google
Danielle J. Nicholson, Head of Legal, Silicon Harlem
Ravi Ravichandran, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, BAE Systems Intelligence & Security
Aileen Schultz, Senior Manager, Labs Programs – Global, Thomson Reuters Labs

Once the decision has been made to invest in a given technology, understanding both the short- and long-term ramifications of product implementation can be daunting. Leveraging the insights of our veteran panel, this tactical conversation offers robust insight into integrating disparate systems, establishing end-user expectations, and managing enterprise risk across one’s organization.

Moderator:
Stas Gayshan, Managing Director, Cambridge Innovation Center

Panelists:
Meg Evans, Director of Knowledge Management and Research Services, Goulston & Storrs
Kelley Kage, Senior Director, Legal Technology, Liberty Mutual
Peter McLaughlin, Partner, Culhane Meadows PLLC
Linh Nguyen, Program Management Director, Fidelity Investments

The ability of “smart” technology to connect devices holds fantastic connotations for legal services. Consider how, in the current market, many law firms and corporates leverage disparate technologies for routine matters in the business of law. In theory, such thinking is healthy and reflective of legal technology’s diverse, crescendoing wave. But in a climate where cost pressures continue to mount, could a more streamlined approach be in order? This discussion examines the growing imperative for centralizing enterprise technology within a single interoperable platform. What considerations should business executives prioritize when designing a formal strategy? How are concerns surrounding privacy, security or data governance being addressed throughout the transformation process?

Moderator:
Colin Levy, Corporate Counsel, Salary.com

Panelists:
Wendy Butler Curtis, Chief Innovation Officer, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Bim Dave, Executive Vice President, Helm360
Doug McCalmont, Founder, BlocAlt Consulting LLC
Brian Zubert, Director, Ecosystem Development, Thomson Reuters