We survived the first day!  🙂  The International Legal Technology Association’s (ILTA) annual conference ILTACON 2024 is being conducted this week. And we’ve already had several interesting sessions on Monday, including those profiled here!  Here are the ILTACON 2024 Tuesday sessions and happenings.

Each day at ILTACON 2024, eDiscovery Today will highlight notable sessions for the day – in most cases, those sessions will relate to eDiscovery, Information Governance, cybersecurity, data privacy, or artificial intelligence (as well as a few other happenings during the week). All times ET.

ILTACON 2024 Tuesday Sessions and Happenings:

9:00am-10:00am:

Operation Safe Spaces Town Hall (Presidential Ballroom North)

Our task force is dedicated to fostering safe environments and promoting a culture of mutual respect within legal. Through our working groups, we will guide education, training, infrastructure reporting, and resource allocation. This session will introduce our Executive Committee and working groups, offering insights into our mission and impactful initiatives. Engage with our leadership and learn how we drive change to ensure safety and respect across the industry.

Speakers: Esther Birnbaum, Associate General Counsel, Interactive Brokers; Blair Cohen, Director of Client Solutions, Legalpeople LLC.

Tackling Complex Data Challenges: Case Studies on the Legal Data Intelligence Model (Presidential Ballroom South)

Co-created by leaders working at some of the world’s largest companies and top law firms, the Legal Data Intelligence (LDI) model is the industry’s first holistic framework to tackle underlying data challenges getting in the way of legal professionals. As a singular model designed to navigate legal tasks across a dozen – and growing – use cases, the Legal Data Intelligence model can help legal professionals strategically communicate the value and full range of capabilities they can unlock through the power of data analysis.

Launched only a few months ago, the Legal Data Intelligence model has attracted great interest from the legal industry, sparking lively conversations and detailed commentary. 

To further these discussions, several founding members of the Legal Data Intelligence project will use this session to walk through detailed case studies of the model in practice. Attendees can expect to learn how legal leaders used the LDI model to overcome intractable data problems, take on unfamiliar data challenges, and get executive and cross-functional buy-in. Panelists will provide detailed accounts of how the model can be used to address a broad range of legal tasks and create unique career pathways and opportunities for expanded roles.

Speakers: Scott Milner, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, L.L.P.; Laura Kibbe, VP, Deputy GC, Global Head of Litigation and Legal Operations and Chief of Staff to the GC, Unisys; Adam Rouse, Walgreens Company; Omar Haroun, Cicero.

11:00am-Noon:

Data to Decision: Bridging eDiscovery and Case Management (Delta Ballroom B)

Discover how to move beyond traditional tools to fully utilize the rich data obtained from your eDiscovery efforts. This session will explore effective methods to harness eDiscovery data for case management. Learn to integrate diverse data types into case management systems for a comprehensive analysis including use cases that involve AI. We’ll discuss strategies for extracting critical information from documents, creating detailed case chronologies, and linking attorney work with essential documents. The session will also cover handling deposition transcripts, from preparation to summary. Seasoned experts will share insights on developing a robust project plan for case management success. Join us to refine your case strategy and fact management skills, transforming raw data into decisive legal action.

Speakers: Kim Bookout, Solution Consultant, Opus 2 International; Jeffrey Chivers, Chief Executive Officer, TLATech Inc.; Ari Kaplan, Principal, Ari Kaplan Advisors; Rachelle Rennagel, Special Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Designed for Success: Mastering the Art of Artificial Intelligence (Presidential Ballroom North)

Imagine an architect sketching a breathtaking masterpiece, only to see it crumble before construction begins. Without proper planning and design, AI projects are destined to collapse. This session will dissect the complexities of the AI landscape by navigating the treacherous terrain between vision and reality. We’ll shed light on building trust with stakeholders, conquering delivery challenges, and fostering smooth collaboration. Leave with actionable blueprints to elevate your AI project, transform possibilities into masterpieces, and help ensure successful implementation.

Speakers: Vishal Agnihotri, Senior Director, Knowledge & Innovation, Alston & Bird; Katherine Lowry, Chief Information Officer, Baker & Hostetler LLP; Alma Asay, Chief Innovation and Value Officer, Crowell & Moring LLP.

Setting the Stage – Navigating the Complexities of MS Teams (Governor’s Ballroom South)

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital collaboration, Microsoft Teams emerges as a dynamic hub that brings people, conversations, and content together. This multifaceted platform is designed to revolutionize the way teams communicate and work, facilitating a seamless flow of information across organizations. However, amidst the convenience, you can’t just rollout MS Teams without thinking about the details. It’s essential to understand the intricacies of data storage, retention, and governance within Microsoft Teams to ensure a secure and organized collaboration environment. Our goal in this session is to highlight the questions that need to be answered to address the challenges and opportunities you will face when implementing MS Teams.

Speakers: Andrew Keller, Director IG, eSentio Technologies; Joe Davis, Manager of Knowledge Management Solutions, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; Katrina Jasaitis, Practice Group Leader, Intapp; Mike McBride, M365 Modern Workplace Engineer, Bricker Graydon.

2:00pm-3:00pm:

AI Powered Workflows: A New Era in eDiscovery (Presidential Ballroom North)

This session will explore integrating advanced AI techniques into your eDiscovery strategy. Discover how prompts and searches can be crafted and tested to yield precise AI-generated results, enhancing the accuracy and relevance of document identification. Learn to harness these innovative AI methods for faster and more efficient discovery, transforming your approach to litigation technology. This session is pivotal for legal professionals eager to adopt AI-driven workflows, ensuring a significant leap in both efficiency and effectiveness in legal proceedings.

Speakers: Lauren Fishman, Vice President, Lawyer, MT>3, a division of McCarthy Tetrault LLP; Edward Kim, AI Evangelist & Strategic Advisor, Everlaw; Ben Sexton, Vice President, JND Legal Administration; George Socha, Senior Vice President of Brand Awareness, Reveal.

Understanding the Impact of AI on Information Governance (Governor’s Ballroom South)

The session will cover general definitions of what AI is (and is not), focusing on private cloud implementation. The panel will discuss questions to ask when applying IG principles to the use of AI along the various facets of the IG wagon wheel, including retention, matter mobility, lifecycle management, compliance guidelines (both legislative and client-driven) and more. The session will also examine the various teams that may ‘own’ AI, and the potential impacts of AI technology on data usage and organizational policy concerns.

Speakers: Bryn Bowen, Practice Group Leader – Legal Risk, Intapp; Michele Gossmeyer, Director of Information Governance, Holland & Knight LLP; Colin Cahill, InOutsource; Karen Allen, Information Governance Manager, Wiley Rein LLP.

What Does a Data Scientist Do in Legal? (Delta Ballroom D)

The session examines legal organizations’ choices when considering whether to add a data scientist to their team, challenging the belief that their duties are confined to generating visual reports. We’ll discuss what data scientists do within an organization, their contribution to legal analytics, strategic planning, and the evaluation and integration of AI tools. This includes the practice of law, such as predicting case outcomes, optimizing legal strategies based on historical data, automating routine legal tasks, and managing the firm’s daily operations through business strategy, hiring, and more. The session offers a detailed view of whether to employ in-house data scientists, outsource, or use a hybrid approach to fulfill the organization’s technology and analytics requirements.

Speakers: Iman Badri, Data Scientist, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP; Lenora Gray, Data Scientist, Redgrave Data; Zach Warren, Technology and Innovation Insights, Thomson Reuters Institute, Thomson Reuters; Adam Ryan, Head of Product, Litera.

3:30pm-4:30pm:

Future of eDiscovery: M365, Microsoft Copilot & Purview (Presidential Ballroom North)

Discover the future of eDiscovery in this session, which will focus on the anticipated synergy between M365, Microsoft Copilot, and Purview. The expected volume of AI-generated content in M365 will explode. Microsoft has invested significant effort in integrating and improving Purview in order to provide a credible eDiscovery and information governance tool for this ubiquitous platform. How will Purview work with AI-generated content, and what are the possibilities afforded by including a powerful AI tool? This practical session features case studies, expert insights from Microsoft, and advanced analytics capabilities of Purview for actionable data insights. Join us for an engaging, transformative look at eDiscovery’s future with AI at the helm.

Speakers: JR Flores, Senior Director, Protiviti; Rachel O’Shea, Prin Technical Specialist – Compliance, Microsoft Corporation; Brett Burney, Vice President eDiscovery, NextPoint Law Group.

Generative AI’s Impact on e-Discovery: What Every Practitioner Needs to Know (Tennessee Ballroom CDE)

Generative AI is revolutionizing the field of e-Discovery, offering unprecedented tools for legal practitioners. This technology is transforming how legal professionals approach document review and case preparation. By leveraging Generative AI, teams can efficiently process vast amounts of data, uncovering critical insights that might otherwise remain hidden.  

This class aims to equip legal practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of the implications of generative AI in e-discovery. Join members of Relativity, Microsoft, and Sidley Austin to explore the development of generative AI, real use cases in e-discovery, and best practices to ensure transparency, compliance, and ethical use in document review. Walk away with a comprehensive understanding of how Generative AI can be a powerful ally in the e-discovery process, ensuring more informed decisions and streamlined workflows.

Takeaways:

• Understand the Evolution of Generative AI: Gain insights into the development and testing protocols of generative AI technologies. 
• Real-World Applications in e-Discovery: Explore practical use cases where AI has been successfully integrated into e-discovery processes. 
• Best Practices in Document Review: Learn about the importance of transparency and validation in AI-driven document review. 
• Professional Responsibility and Compliance: Understand the ethical considerations, disclosure requirements, and practical steps for responsibly using generative AI in legal practice.

Speakers: Jaime Basilico, Principal Data & AI Technology Specialist, Microsoft Corporation; Aron Ahmadia, Relativity ODA LLC; Ray Mangum, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP.

Women Who Lead: Advocating for Your Career at Any Stage (Magnolia Ballroom)

Self-advocacy is a critical skill for advancing your career and unlocking new opportunities. Research indicates several factors can create barriers for women when they advocate for themselves. Join our panel to explore the unique challenges faced by women in the professional world as they advocate for their growth and success. Whether you’re advocating for opportunities and visibility, or for advancement and compensation, our panelists will share their personal experiences, lessons learned, and practical strategies to help you find your voice — and ensure it is heard. This session is open to all ILTAns.

Speakers: Julia Montgomery, Associate Member, Julia Montgomery; Monique Mavour, IT Business Analyst, Holland & Knight LLP; Heather Morrow, Director, Project Management and Training, Loeb & Loeb LLP; Ashley Byrne Smith, Senior Innovation Solutions Analyst, Troutman Pepper.

Here’s a link to the detailed agenda for the week. There’s also a few happy hours, receptions and other gatherings as this is probably the biggest day for those.

So, what do you think?  Are you attending any of the ILTACON 2024 Tuesday sessions?  If you’re here in person, look me up!  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 author, 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.