In full swing now! Legalweek 2024 continues today with another full day of sessions! Here are the Wednesday Legalweek 2024 sessions and events to check out!

Legalweek 2024 will be conducted today through Thursday. As always, it will be held at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. Here’s the detailed agenda for the conference (on which I generated a word cloud of topics last week).

You can still register for Legalweek 2024 here and the pricing is here. Each day, I’ll cover what’s going on at the conference in terms of sessions related to eDiscovery, information governance, cybersecurity, data privacy and artificial intelligence – so much so, I’d have to clone myself to catch them all!

Sessions

With that in mind, here’s a list of the Wednesday Legalweek 2024 sessions of note you may want to check out, along with the location (all times ET):

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

State of the Industry Hosted by ALM (Grand Ballroom)

The Legalweek State of the Industry, presented annually by ALM Intelligence, leverages data, insight, and analysis to provide a holistic assessment of the current state of the global legal market. From examining key trends and risks to identifying where opportunity lies moving forward, the presentation brings together a diverse range of perspectives from all areas of the legal market. This includes law firms and legal departments as well as alternative legal service providers and legal tech.

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Legalweek Judges Panel: Judicial Legendary Legends and The Current MVPs (Grand Ballroom)

Legalweek welcomes the return of the judicial elite! A fan favorite is back by popular demand, this year’s Judges Keynote will bring back the Judges that were instrumental in developing the jurisprudence related to ESI, Discovery and privilege. In this exciting plenary, our judges will consider old topics that are new again including the Federal Rules, evolving legal and ethical artificial intelligence vs technology assisted review (TAR) challenges and will examine expectations for practitioners under ABA Model Rule 1.1 as new communication tools continue to emerge.

Speakers: Patrick Oot, Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon; Hon. Andrew Peck (Ret.), Senior Counsel, DLA Piper; Hon. Elizabeth D. Laporte (Ret.), Mediator, Arbitrator, and Special Master, JAMS; Paul Grimm, Director, Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School; Shira Scheindlin, United States District Judge (Ret.), Boies Schiller Flexner; Hon. Kimberly Priest Johnson, U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; Sarah Cave, United States Magistrate Judge, US District Court.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Navigating the Cyber Threat Terrain: Cybersecurity, Privacy and Legal Sector Focus (Beekman)

As cyber threats continue to evolve with increasing sophistication, it’s essential for everyone within an organization to stay informed about the cyber landscape of 2024, especially those in the legal field. In this vital session, we will explore the latest cyber attack trends and emphasize the importance of a fortified risk posture to shield your organization. Key discussion points will cover the intensification of cyber threats due to stringent regulations, and how Microsoft is positioned to assist customers in staying compliant with these regulatory demands.

Furthermore, we will delve into how companies are adjusting their strategies in response to the dynamic cyber security market. C-Suite executives will gain insights on pivotal questions to pose to their security teams and the informative responses they should anticipate. This session is crucial for legal tech professionals, C-suite members, and security practitioners aiming to bolster their defenses in the face of the ever-changing cyber threats.

New York attorneys can earn 1 credit in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection.

Speakers: Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Regulatory Risk, and Compliance, Microsoft; Daniel Ostrach, Senior Corporate Counsel, Microsoft; Sabrina Ceccarelli, Global Vice-President, Assistant General Counsel, Commercial, Lightspeed Commerce; Rachi Messing, Co-Founder, Altorney.

Don’t Throw the AI Baby Out with the GAI Bathwater (Sutton South)

Join us as we discuss the wide range of AI tools available to the eDiscovery professionals. We’ll share examples of well-established functions such as natural language processing, translation, transcripts, and image labeling, looking at the strengths of different AI and some of the latest GAI tools. As part of that assessment, we’ll address how to select the best tool for the job to enhance your practice, get better insights faster, and spend less time and money on mundane tasks so you can put more of your energies to higher value activities.

Speakers: Eric Boyd, Director of Litigation Support & Docketing, Eric Boyd; George Socha, SVP of Brand Awareness, Reveal; Alex Jacobs, Director, BRG; Aaron Bath, CEDS, RP, National Director of Litigation Management, Balfour Beatty; Florinda Baldridge, Director, Global eDiscovery Services, Norton Rose Fulbright.

The Future State of The Industry (Nassau East)

This session, presented by Law.com Pro, will take the themes from our current state of the industry presentation and dive into what is to come. We will bring together experts from law firms, in-house, technology, ALSPs, legal operations, and big data to focus on how the legal profession and the delivery of legal services is likely to evolve over the next 5-10 years.

Discussion topics include:

• The impact of legal technology, including Gen AI, on the provision of legal services and other support services such as marketing and BD
• The pieces of legal most likely to change and why
• Staffing needs and strategies for recruiting and maintaining talent
• What clients want
• Innovating processes to meet current demands

Speakers: Stephanie Wilkins, Editor-in-Chief, Legaltech News, ALM; Tomek Jankowski, Director – Pacesetter Research, ALM; Marcy Sharon Cohen, Managing Director/Chief Legal Officer Legal and Regulatory Affairs, ING Americas; Liz Lugones, COO / Senior Advisor, UpLevel Ops; Catherine Krow, Managing Director, Diversity and Impact Analytics, BigHand; Rachel Zahorsky, Managing Director, Client Development, Novus Law.

Ethical and Legal Considerations for the Deployment of AI in Litigation (Regent)

The recent explosion of generative AI has brought with it a complex web of new legal and ethical considerations that lawyers must grapple with. In this session, we will delve into the unique ethical and legal considerations that arise from the use of AI in litigation. We will explore critical areas of concern such as privilege and confidentiality, privacy rights, data security, transparency, algorithmic bias, and liability issues. Our panel of renowned legal tech experts, ethicists, and practicing attorneys will guide participants through real-world scenarios to illustrate these challenges. Discussion topics include:

• Attorneys’ obligations to understand current advances in AI
• The potential pitfalls of AI with respect to client confidentiality and attorney-client privilege
• Best practices for maintaining the integrity of data used in AI systems
• Ethical obligations when relying on AI for legal work
• How to minimize risk and ensure compliance with evolving regulations on AI
• The responsibilities and liabilities when AI is used in the courtrooms

Speakers: Niloy Ray, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson, PC; Chris Chapman, Director of Litigation Support, Dickinson Wright; Michelle Six, Of Counsel, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.; Vanessa Barsanti, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Karl Harris, CEO, Lex Machina, LexisNexis.

The Evolution of the eDiscovery Ecosystem: How External Counsel, In-House counsel, and Vendors are Collaborating to Chart a New Path Forward (Petit Trianon)

No longer solely a reactive practice, eDiscovery has expanded to broader data management and litigation preparedness actions. As a result, the eDiscovery ecosystem has expanded dramatically in the last five years demanding better collaboration with extended departments and external partners to successfully manage data and risk. In this dynamic and interactive session, we will discuss the current state of the ecosystem and where we predict it is headed, followed by a workshop and interactive discussion through common eDiscovery challenges with direct insight from in-house and external counsel.

Speakers: Jake Ancona, Litigation Support Manager, V.P. eDiscovery and Legal Hold Counsel, Fidelity National Financial; Gretel Best, Manager of Litigation Support & e-Discovery eDiscovery Management Group, Gowling WLG; Sean Lynch, Director, Client Solutions – Legal Services, Ricoh USA, Inc.; Seth Magaw, CEDS, IGP, Director of eDiscovery Client Services, Ricoh USA, Inc.

The AI Evolution: Best Practices for Legal Teams and (Generative) AI (Trianon Ballroom)

Artificial intelligence – especially generative AI – is significantly impacting the practice of law, transforming how teams interact with critical data while raising new risks and uncertainties. Join leading contract AI provider Evisort, along with legal industry and legal operations experts, to learn how to stay ahead of this rapidly evolving technology. You’ll learn about:

• The different kinds of AI, including the rise of vertical-specific LLMs
• Responsible AI principles (transparency, data privacy, sustainability, and more)
• How democratized access to AI can connect teams across organizations
• How to evaluate AI to make sure it works effectively for your team on Day One

Speakers: Hal Marcus, VP Product Marketing, Evisort; Karen Gally, General Counsel, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals; Memme Onwudiwe, Executive Vice President, Evisort Inc; Navin Mahavijiyan, Sr. Director of Legal Operations, Modernizing Medicine Inc.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Strategic Investment in Cybersecurity: Essential Tools and Practices for Legal Professionals (Beekman)

Protecting sensitive data is paramount in this digital age, particularly within the legal sector. This session will discuss the challenges of integrating cybersecurity measures in a legal setting, practical ways to manage and reduce risks, and how to cultivate a cybersecurity-conscious culture within their organizations. Discussion topics include:

• What technologies, processes, and practices organizations are acquiring and implementing, and how to select and implement the right solutions for your specific organizational needs
• How to develop and maintain a robust cybersecurity strategy encompassing risk assessment, management, and mitigation
• How to cultivate a cybersecurity-conscious culture within your organization, enhance the training and awareness of your team, and prepare for effective incident response

New York attorneys can earn 1 credit in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection.

Speakers: John Meyer, General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer, Zeem Solutions, Inc.; Seth Litwack, Senior Counsel, Global Privacy, Interpublic Group (IPG); Monique Ferraro, Cyber Counsel, HSB; Gail Gottehrer, Vice President, Global Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Government Relations, Fresh Del Monte; Peter Karalis, Assistant Team Lead—Privacy, Tech & ESG, Bloomberg Law.

Unraveling Your Investment in a New Technology Paradigm (Sutton North)

A technology tool is only as good as its results. But, with the modern demands on legal teams, it can be challenging to assess whether investments in technology are meeting your organization’s unique needs and proving their value. Whether it’s cloud-based collaboration platforms or AI solutions for eDiscovery—there are practical approaches to ensure you get the most out of your investment. This dynamic session brings together experienced technology adopters to discuss frameworks for assessing today’s critical technology and what’s on the horizon. Discussion topics include:

• The critical technology tools and platforms that have captured investment dollars of legal professionals and how they are optimized for maximum value
• The current technology investment landscape and what is driving investments
• Technologies on the cusp of broader adoption

Speakers: Ed Estrada, Founder and Adjunct Professor of Law, Estrada Legal Services and Cornell Tech; Reem Saffouri, Vice President, Client Solutions, Lighthouse; Ricardo Brums, Forensic Technology Lead, Meta; Michelle Lange, eDiscovery Manager, Volkswagen Group of America.

Bridging the Justice Gap: The Democratization of eDiscovery through AI (Sutton South)

Explore how the fusion of self-serve and cloud-based eDiscovery solutions, powered by AI, is playing a pivotal role in democratizing access to justice. Dive deep into the transformative impact of AI-enhanced eDiscovery platforms and their potential to level the legal playing field for all. We’ll dissect how features like efficient data upload, enhanced search, and smart document categorization are redefining self-serve and cloud-based solutions. The session will delve into the broader movement to bridge the justice gap through innovation and application of advanced AI.

Speakers: Amy Pahlka-Sellars, VP Legal Operations, CBRE; Jay Leib, Chief Strategy Officer, Reveal; Ilan Sherr, Legal Director, DLA Piper UK; Elizabeth R Koenig, Vice President of Consulting Services, International Litigation Services.

Navigating the Opportunities and Challenges of AI Embedded in Existing Tech Tools (Regent)

The advancement and proliferation of AI being embedded to power legal solutions present multiple opportunities and challenges for lawyers and clients alike. This session will focus on the impact of AI-powered legal technology, how it’s tipping the balance of AI resistance, and its impact on litigation. Discussion topics include:

• The impact of AI-powered tools on discovery and retention policies
• How AI is changing the legal research landscape
• Regulatory and compliance impact of AI-powered tools
• Privilege log analysis concerns and solutions
• AI’s impact on future technology deployments

Speakers: Claire Frazer, Managing Director – Review Solutions Product Management, Integreon; Todd Itami, Partner / Director, Gilbert LLP; Richard Finkelman, Managing Director, BRG; Caitlin Bottomley, Director, Pfizer, Inc.; Emily Dimond, Attorney, PNC.

Harnessing the Power of Legal Knowledge Management: Strategies for Future-Proof Efficiency and Cost-Reduction (Rendezvous Trianon)

As the legal landscape shifts and evolves, knowledge management has become an increasingly essential function for corporations and law firms. This session explores the future of knowledge management in the legal field, emphasizing innovative strategies and technological advancements designed to pool knowledge and reduce inefficiencies effectively. Discussion topics include:

• Techniques for querying law firm data lakes, enabling corporations to leverage years of accrued, paid-for knowledge fully
• How advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain can revolutionize the retrieval and utilization of legal knowledge
• The future role of AI, blockchain, and other technologies in streamlining data retrieval and ensuring information accuracy

Speakers: Jardanian Josephs, Global Director of Legal Operations, Reed Smith; Jamal Brown, Head of Legal Operations and Knowledge Management, JPMorgan Chase; Evan Shenkman, Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer, Fisher Phillips; Stephanie Wilkins, Editor-in-Chief, Legaltech News, ALM.

One Year Later – What We’ve Learned, What’s Changed, and What Lies Ahead for Generative AI in the Legal Sector (Petit Trianon)

This session will focus on the flurry of activity since the launch of ChatGPT at the end of 2022 and how the industry’s collective attention turned to Generative AI at Legalweek 2023. Experts will examine the latest updates, new milestones in LLM technology, adoption trends, the regulatory landscape and court policies. Some have predicted the GenAI impact in these next couple years will be slower and more incremental in Legal… but is that the case? Join this discussion for a closer look at the impact thus far and where we’re headed in 2024.

Speakers: Simon Weierman, Sr Director, Segment Management, LexisNexis; Serena Wellen, Sr Director, Product Management, LexisNexis; Cassandre Coyer, Legal/Technology Reporter, ALM; Mike Swift, Chief Global DP&S Correspondent, LexisNexis.

AI-Powered Legal Practice: Leveraging Technology in Fact Finding and Discovery (Trianon Ballroom)

Join us for a panel discussion for a deep dive into how to mobilize new and existing technologies to build your AI toolbelt. Explore how these distinct technologies are shaping various aspects of legal practice and gain insights into their unique capabilities and applications.

Speakers: James Park, Director of AI Consulting, CS DISCO; Oral Pottinger, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP; Sharon Desh, Partner, Winston & Strawn; Bruce Hedin, President and Consultant, Hedin B Consulting.

Championing External Counsel Panels: Managing Cyber Risks & Leveraging AI (Mercury Ballroom)

This session addresses the challenges and strategies related to building and managing legal panels, with a focus on addressing pain points, ensuring diversity and competence, managing cybersecurity risks, and promoting continuous panel management. The discussion will also cover important topics like cultural alignment, performance incentives, and ongoing monitoring of cybersecurity relationships.

Speakers: Bindu Cudjoe, EVP Chief Legal Officer, Chief Inclusion & Equity Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Laurentian Bank; Jolie Lin, Innovative Legal Leader | Founder of Linnovation Works | Co-Founder & Chief Client Officer at Secure Engage | Former CLO at BMO, Secure Engage; Raj Chhabra, CEO/Founder, SecureEngage Inc.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Navigating Data Security, Data Privacy, and Cybersecurity Litigation Trends and Regulatory Compliance (Beekman)

This session will provide an overview of the prevailing litigation trends in data security, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Our legal experts will analyze recent cases, precedents, and rulings, offering insights into emerging liability risks and strategies to mitigate potential legal challenges. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge to bolster their organization’s data protection framework and minimize exposure to legal disputes. Discussions will be focused on:

• The impact of Colorado’s recent law that significantly impacts insurers’ ability to leverage AI technologies – exploring how the law reshapes the insurance landscape, what it means for the AI implementation strategies within the sector, and what implications the law might have beyond the insurance sphere
• Upcoming changes to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 1784 – analyzing how these revisions will impact businesses and their obligations regarding safeguarding data and preventing cybersecurity breaches
• Key strategies that organizations must adopt to ensure compliance and safeguard customer data under the SEC’s recently updated safeguard rules, particularly for those regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

New York attorneys can earn 1 credit in Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection.

Speakers: David Stromberg, Head of Product, Legal Solutions, Nuix; Patrick Zeller, Global Chief Privacy Officer and Senior Cybersecurity Counsel, Horizon Therapeutics; Kenya Parrish-Dixon, General Counsel and Director, Information Governance, TechCentrics, Inc.; Melissa Ventrone, Partner, Clark Hill; Caroline Sweeney, Director of Knowledge Management & Innovation/LegalMine, Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

eDiscover Your Inner MacGyver: Building An Adaptable Modern eDiscovery Toolbox (Sutton South)

Ever felt like eDiscovery was a labyrinth filled with unexpected twists? In this thrilling session, we’ll explore the vast terrain of modern eDiscovery challenges, showcasing how a variety of tools can transform your path from a prickly maze to a tailored ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ experience. Whether you’re juggling a few documents or swimming in millions, learn to adapt and scale with solutions from self-serve to full-serve. With the right tools in hand, you won’t just navigate the challenges – you’ll design your own epic journey.

Speakers: Danielle Davidson, Head Strategic Advisor, Advanced E-Discovery and A.I. Strategy Group, Ropes & Gray LLP; Susan Wortzman, Partner, MT>3, a division of McCarthy Tetrault; Dave Rogers, Managing Director, Kroll.

Decoding the Role of AI in Litigation (Regent)

This session will provide a clear understanding of various kinds of AI, demystify common misconceptions, and empower you to leverage AI technologies to their full potential in legal proceedings. We will take an in-depth look at AI’s current and potential uses in litigation, from predictive analytics to automated document review, drafting, and due diligence, and offer insights into how AI may be successfully integrated into litigation processes in the future. Discussion topics include:

• The principles, functionality, and potential challenges of using AI in litigation
• AI’s role in drafting legal documents, automating due diligence, legal research, and predictive analysis of court decisions
• How different law firms and legal departments have adopted this technology and its impact on their practices
• How to prepare for AI use and adapt to changes in a rapidly evolving tech landscape

Speakers: Drew Berweger, Counsel, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC; Shannon Capone Kirk, Managing Principal and Global Head, Advanced E-Discovery and A.I. Strategy Group, Ropes & Gray; Lance Koonce, Partner, Klaris Law; Bansri M. McCarthy, Associate, Morgan Lewis; Jennifer Cody, ATS, Microsoft Corporation; Bhavanesh Rengarajan, Principal Product Manager / Engineer, Microsoft.

Transforming the Present – How AI and ML are Changing Legal Knowledge Management (Rendezvous Trianon)

Join this session to gain insights into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies are changing the practice of Legal Knowledge Management. We will discuss the practical implications, opportunities, and challenges AI and ML present and how law firms, legal tech companies, and corporate legal departments can effectively leverage these tools for improved efficiency and competitive advantage. The discussion will focus on how AI and ML are currently deployed to streamline operations, optimize resources, improve productivity, and provide predictive insights for decision-making.

Speakers: Joseph Mazzarella, President & General Counsel, Mutualink, Inc.; Melissa Morrison, Director, Segment Management, LexisNexis; Todd Friedlich, Director of Knowledge Management & Innovation, Willkie Farr & Gallagher; Carol Lee, Practice Resource Attorney, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Andrew Brinkman, Global Director Knowledge Management, Fried Frank; Sachin Gupta, KM Attorney, Data & Technology Transactions, Latham & Watkins.

Over the Horizon: A Path to Genuine Return on Tech Investment (Mercury Ballroom)

With panelists from within and beyond legal, this future-scanning panel will decode emerging tech and trends that promise to transform legal practice and workflows in the years ahead.

• Examining market signals that point to which solutions and applications are gaining real traction
• Unpacking the innovations poised to drive the greatest gains in efficiency and insight
• Understanding the latest research on tools with the most potential to displace incumbent systems
• Distilling critical success factors for legal departments and firms seeking early adopter advantage

Speakers: Alex Morrall, Chief Product Officer, Lexology; Nikki Shaver, CEO, LegalTech Hub; Melissa Garré, Privacy & Compliance, Elastic.

In addition to these Wednesday Legalweek 2024 sessions, there’s still more networking events today. It’s a Legalweek tradition!

So, what do you think of the Wednesday Legalweek 2024 sessions?  Are you attending Legalweek 2024 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.

Image created using GPT-4’s Image Creator Powered by DALL-E, using the term “robots sitting in a classroom with a robot speaker”. See what all this talk of AI is doing to us! 😀

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.