It’s back and better than ever! Or at least in person! As I mentioned last week here and here, Legalweek 2022 is back this week and it’s our first large scale in-person legal technology event without a surging COVID-19 strain in over two years! We’ll take it!

You can still register for Legalweek 2022 here and the pricing is here. Each day, I’ll cover what’s going on at the conference in terms of sessions and selected other events (the agenda is here). Today is sort of a “soft opening” to Legalweek 2022, but there are still a handful of sessions worth checking out.

Sessions

Here’s a list of sessions of note you may want to check out (all times ET):

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM:

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat: Information Governance in the Legal Field

Are you adrift in a sea of legal information? Strap on your flippers and don’t fear the shark.  We’ll tell a salty tale or two and explore these issues together on a deep dive.

Speakers: Tyrene Bada, MLS, CRM, Records Management Specialist, City of Beaverton; Matthew Rice, Attorney, Veritas Business Law.

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

7 “Reasonable Steps” to Avoid Preservation Sanctions

The authors of one of the most popular books published by ARMA International are releasing a much-anticipated update.  Preservation risks and the specter of spoliation sanctions still keep many organizations up at night in the US.  During this session you’ll learn about trigger events, the duty to preserve evidence, sanctions for failing to preserve evidence, and the 7 “reasonable steps” required to avoid them. The authors will provide an update on US sanctions laws as well as practical tips for avoiding sanctions.

Speakers: John Isaza, Head of Information Governance & Records Management, Rimon, P.C; John Jablonski, Managing Partner, Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP.

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

The Rise of Document Automation and Digital Contracts

Perhaps the hottest trend in legal tech at the moment involves contract automation and digital contracts. The partnership between legal expertise and artificial intelligence creates new opportunities for efficiency, accuracy, data analytics, and management of complex agreements. With this blending of technology and legal services, there will be ample opportunities for success for attorneys and knowledge professionals who understand how to adapt and specialize in these new professionals roles.

In this session, knowledge professionals review the pros and cons on the human side of the advancement in document automation and smart/digital contracting.

Speaker: Greg Lambert, Chief Knowledge Services Officer, Jackson Walker LLP

Bright Lights of the Metaverse and Managing the Show

As a leading information management professional, knowing today’s work environment isn’t enough – you need to know what’s coming or you risk being left behind. We’ll take you on an exhilarating sneak peek into the virtual reality workplace of tomorrow and how collaboration, communications, and business evidence (information) will evolve. You will be treated to a glimpse of the future and the need to distinguish between information that matters and information that clutters.

• The Roaring 20s are coming back through technology advancement – the curtain is going up on your greatest opportunity for professional development
• Have a front-row seat in an immersive experience in virtual workrooms and collaboration tools utilizing virtual reality – technology that’s available today!
• Keep pace with accelerating technology that’s transforming collaboration, communications, and the evidence of business activities
• Take a bow knowing you are ahead of the curve in embracing the opportunities presented by the physical and virtual information ecosystem

Speakers: Michael Haley, Principal Consultant, Cohasset Associates; Carol Stainbrook, Executive Director, Cohasset Associates.

30 Tech Tools in 60 Minutes

Looking for a fast-paced session that feeds your inner geek – or simply helps you quickly  identify a tool to address an ongoing need? Then join our panel as we share our favorite legal tech tools  – just two minutes for each!

Speakers: David Cohen, Partner, Reed Smith LLP; Scott Kelly, Product Manager, Engineering, NetDocuments; Cindy MacBean, Litigation Support Manager, Honigman.

There are also a few happy hours and events to get people primed for the rest of the conference!

So, what do you think?  Are you attending Legalweek 2022 this week? If so and if you see me, say hi!  And please share any comments you might have or if you’d like to know more about a particular topic.

Disclaimer: The views represented herein are exclusively the views of the authors and speakers themselves, and do not necessarily represent the views held by my employer, my partners or my clients. eDiscovery Today is made available solely for educational purposes to provide general information about general eDiscovery principles and not to provide specific legal advice applicable to any particular circumstance. eDiscovery Today should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a lawyer you have retained and who has agreed to represent you.