Let the games begin! Two great days of eDiscovery education start today! Here are the Wednesday 2025 UF Law eDiscovery conference sessions!

The 12th annual UF Law eDiscovery Conference conducted by the University of Florida Levin College of Law (UF Law) will be held today and tomorrow! This year’s conference features speakers, panels, and presentations from a broad group of global lawyers, eDiscovery and legal technology experts, and judicial officials. Once again, it’s literally a “who’s who” of eDiscovery experts once again this year!

With that said, here are the Wednesday 2025 UF Law eDiscovery conference sessions (all times ET):

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM

Conference Welcome & Opening Remarks

Kick off the 12th annual UF Law E-Discovery Conference with a warm welcome to all attendees and a brief look at what’s ahead. Our opening remarks set the tone for two days of engaging sessions, collaborative discussions, and transformative insights into e-Discovery. With a lineup that includes a focus on mental health, cutting-edge tech discussions, and practical approaches to modern challenges, we’re thrilled to embark on this journey of growth and learning together.

Master of Ceremony: William Hamilton; Speaker: George Socha.

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Innovation in E-Disco: The Mental Health Connection

This year’s theme, “E-Discovery with Heart: Connecting Law, Technology, and Innovation,” aligns with this keynote, which explores the vital intersection of mental health and e-discovery work culture. As economic pressures and high-stakes demands strain e-discovery professionals, The Mind-Budget Connection highlights the need for structural changes within client, law firm, and service provider relationships to foster a more supportive work environment. Moving beyond individual self-care solutions, this session advocates for contract reform and a shift in industry practices to build a culture prioritizing well-being.

Join us for a fireside chat to discover actionable steps for creating a sustainable, resilient e-discovery field that honors the people behind the technology and innovation driving it forward.

Approved for:

• 60 minutes Mental Awareness or Technology CLE Credit
• 60 minutes CEDS Credit

Speakers: Amy Sellars, Michelle Six

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM

Hyperlinks, Sanctions, and Mobile Devices Oh My!

The 2024 Case Law Update

Case law continues to be the #1 learning tool for legal professionals regarding what they need to pay attention to in e-discovery. Our annual case law update will discuss the latest issues, including how courts address issues in producing hyperlinked files, the rise of decisions involving multiple sections of Rule 37, and the frequent involvement of data from mobile devices.

This session seeks to provide practical insights for attendees from the case law on leveraging the latest decisions in your work with clients.

Approved for:

• 50 minutes General or Technology CLE Credit
• 50 minutes CEDS Credit

Moderator: Kelly Twigger; Panelists: Bansri Mehta McCarthy, Maria Salacuse, Betsy Chestney.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM

Beasts of Burden: Strategies to Relieve Burden

A discussion examining preservation and collection practices that could be considered ‘burdensome’ and strategies to relieve it. This panel will cover challenges with the diversity of ESI, the volume of modern ESI, reconsidering traditional custodial designations in the age of collaboration apps and more.

Approved for:

• 50 minutes General CLE Credit
• 50 minutes CEDS Credit

Moderator: Sharika de Freitas; Panelists: Kiriaki Tourikis, Zviad Guruli, Amy Sellars.

1:00 PM – 1:55 PM

Nuts & Bolts Essentials: Must-Know Insights for Your E-Discovery Career

Our Nuts & Bolts Essentials session is back, bringing you high-level, rapid-fire insights in 8 to 10-minute segments covering critical e-discovery topics you need to know for your career and projects. Designed as a quick overview rather than a deep dive, each talk is crafted to whet your appetite with valuable tips, emerging trends, and essential skills for success in e-discovery. With a fresh twist each year, this dynamic session ensures you leave with practical, must-know information to inspire your growth and support your professional journey.

Approved for:

• 50 minutes General or Technology CLE Credit
• 50 minutes CEDS Credit

So Someone Wants to Sell you Generative AI…: 1:00 PM – 1:10 PM

Law firms and law departments are bombarded with sales pitches screaming that success or doom depends on whether they buy the latest generative AI-based product. I will present a quick checklist for screening out 95% of such claims, and a sketch of how to evaluate the rest. 

Presenter: Dave Lewis

Electrify Your Personal Brand with GenAI in eDiscovery: 1:10 PM – 1:20 PM

Personal branding isn’t just a buzzword—it’s your professional superpower in the tech-driven world of eDiscovery. In this high-energy, 8-minute session, we’ll explore how Generative AI (GenAI) can amplify your expertise, establish credibility, and help you stand out in a competitive market. Whether you’re looking to land your next big role, build thought leadership, or just impress at the next conference, this session will show you how to harness AI tools to elevate your personal brand. Get ready for practical tips, quick wins, and a few laughs along the way!

Presenter: Maribel Rivera

From Input to Evidence: Why You Should Preserve Your GenAI Prompts: 1:20 PM – 1:30 PM

Most of the buzz around GenAI and eDiscovery is aimed at how the technology might revolutionize eDiscovery processes workflows. But what if I told you that how you’re using GenAI might itself be discoverable? 

With AI use at an all-time high, even the less-tech-savvy who historically avoided getting their hands dirty with eDiscovery tools are now jumping in and playing around. “Playing” means prompting, however, and prompts created as part of legal work could soon be…? That’s right — discoverable. But depending on who’s doing the prompting, there might also be a strong argument for work product protection.

This talk will look at how interactions with GenA tools are creating entirely new datasets, whether and how that data might come into play in eDiscovery, and what you can do now to start preparing for these new realities.

Presenter: Stephanie Wilkins

Beyond Search-Terms: Exploring Alternative Approaches to eDiscovery Strategies: 1:30 PM – 1:40 PM

Are search terms the best strategy for every type of eDiscovery case? We will explore the pros and cons of relying solely on a search-term based approach. We will explore how incorporating alternative approaches alongside search-term strategies can improve the effectiveness of document review, enhancing both speed and precision in an ever-evolving data landscape. Real-world use cases will be shared to illustrate these concepts in action.

Presenter: Flavia Lopes

Power Up Your Career with Legal Data Intelligence: 1:40 PM – 1:50 PM

In today’s fast-paced legal industry, leveraging Legal Data Intelligence is an essential tool for career advancement. This talk explores how professionals can use data-driven insights to enhance decision-making, improve efficiency, and gain a competitive edge.

By adopting a data-driven approach, legal professionals can make informed decisions, deliver better results, and position themselves for long-term career success in an increasingly digital legal landscape.

Presenter: Adam Rouse

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM

Negotiation is an Art: Leveraging Cooperative Strategies for Successful Advocacy

Cooperation has become an essential strategy in complex litigation. Join an esteemed panel of experienced judges and lawyers as they explore how cooperative negotiation can transform the discovery process. This dynamic session will move beyond theory, offering practical insights into building effective relationships with opposing counsel that lead to efficient, cost-effective, and successful outcomes in e-discovery.

Participants will gain valuable tools for managing negotiations, from the first phone call through meet-and-confer conferences, motions, and trials, focusing on avoiding the pitfalls of adversarial posturing. Learn how to engage in transparent, good-faith discussions while maintaining the integrity of advocacy and discover how cooperation can prevent unnecessary disputes, streamline fact-finding, and ultimately benefit clients.

This session will show that cooperation is not a weakness—it’s a powerful tool for successful advocacy that aligns with state and federal discovery rules, ethical obligations, and the pursuit of justice. Whether in litigation, arbitration, or mediation, fostering a cooperative approach can lead to better outcomes at every stage.

Key takeaways:

• Establishing and maintaining productive relationships with opposing counsel to avoid gridlock.
• Navigating asymmetrical litigation with a strategic, transparent approach.
• Techniques for rebuilding trust and cooperation when relationships have deteriorated.
• Managing aggressive or uncooperative behavior without escalating conflict.
• Recognizing how adversarial tactics can backfire, undermining credibility with judges, arbitrators, and juries.
• Establishing trust and maintaining credibility with government entities during investigations.

Approved for:

• 50 minutes Ethics CLE Credit
• 50 minutes CEDS Credit

Moderators: Ralph Artigliere, Rose Jones; Panelists: Suzanne Clark, Daniel Lim, Hon. Amanda Sansone.

3:00 PM – 3:50 PM

Balancing Tech and Lawyering: Do Not Forget the Impact of Effective Advocacy

As technology advances in e-discovery, it’s easy to rely on tech-enabled solutions to streamline the process. However, the true value lies in understanding the intricacies and nuances of each case, allowing lawyers and other e-discovery professionals to advocate for their clients effectively. This panel will explore practical strategies for balancing technological solutions with strong lawyering to build defensible, case-appropriate discovery plans. By focusing on client needs and outcomes, we’ll demonstrate how smart advocacy, not just tech, can significantly affect discovery costs and case strategy.

Approved for:

• 50 minutes General or Technology CLE Credit
• 50 minutes CEDS Credit

Moderator: Scott Milner; Panelists: Nima Adabi, Sandra Metallo-Barragan, Paul McVoy, Adam Rouse.

4:00 PM – 5:25 PM

The Annual Judicial Panel

The Annual Judicial Panel returns with perspectives from the bench on some issues facing practitioners during discovery. In the past, the panel has examined how active judges should be in the technology-assisted review process, and now they are presented with additional issues. How active should judges be as gatekeepers of artificial intelligence in court? What are the legal ethics issues? How active should judges be in the development of ESI protocols? Join us for your opportunity to hear from prominent judges on these and other important issues affecting legal teams and litigants.

Approved for:

• 85 minutes Ethics CLE Credit
• 85 minutes CEDS Credit

Moderator: David Horrigan; Panelists: Hon. Gary Jones, Hon. William Matthewman, Hon. Julie Sneed, Hon. Scott Schlegel, Hon. Patricia Barksdale.

5:25 PM – 5:30 PM

Day 1 Closing Remarks

Reflecting on an action-packed first day, our closing remarks will recap key highlights and pivotal moments, emphasizing the themes that emerged from our discussions. This wrap-up sets the stage for Day 2 sessions, inspiring us to return with fresh perspectives as we continue exploring the future of e-discovery.

Speaker: William Hamilton

Here’s the full agenda, including the Wednesday 2025 UF Law eDiscovery conference sessions.

Here’s the bad news. I found out last night that, once again, even virtual attendance has been closed. Hey, I warned you! The conference has more than 3,300 attendees this year and even the virtual app is at capacity! So, if you didn’t register this year, plan to register earlier next year!

So, what do you think? What do you think of the Wednesday 2025 UF Law eDiscovery conference sessions? 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.