ILTACON 2025 is on! The conference has already started with the Opening Reception last night, so here are Monday happenings at ILTACON 2025!
As I discussed here, here and here, the International Legal Technology Association’s (ILTA) annual conference ILTACON 2025 is being conducted this week at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. The conference has already started with the Opening Reception last night and today is the first day of sessions!
Each day at ILTACON 2025, 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. Here are Monday happenings at ILTACON 2025!
9:00am-10:30am:
Monday Keynote: What’s Your Pink Cadillac? The Transformational Power of Prioritizing Joy (Potomac A/B)
Dive into the joy-fueled resilience hidden in our hobbies, interests, and simple pleasures. In a fast-paced world where our challenges are relentless and the solutions seem out of reach, Ryan delivers a message of accessible, attainable change. From the highs of a world record-breaking expedition to the most unimaginable low of a plane crash and paraplegic diagnosis, Ryan uses his story to highlight the realities of adversity and the role of resilience.
11:00am-12:30pm:
Data Lakehouses: Not Just Fun for the Summer! (Maryland B456)
A session to go over how firms build out solutions to organize their data and push it out to their different integrated applications. With all the different application providers (DMS, FMS, reporting, HRIS, etc) and legacy integrations firms inevitably face, making them all work together and keeping data consistent across platforms is an ever-increasing challenge.
Speakers: Eric Anderson – Practice Lead, Data, AI & Search, Fireman, an Epiq Company; Jordan Galvin – AI and Data Governance Senior Manager, Holland & Knight LLP; Amanda Oudemans – Manager, Enterprise Applications Engineering and Data Analytics, Keller and Heckman LLP; Casey Rauschenberg – Experience Manager, Frost Brown Todd LLP.
eDiscovery & Litigation Support Roundtable: From TAR to Generative AI (National Harbor 2/3)
In the 2015 edition of The Roundtable, we examine how legal teams have handled rapid changes in technology. Critiques of keyword search in the first decade of this century set the stage for the 2012 landmark opinion and order in Da Silva Moore v. Publicis Groupe, which opened a new era for technology assisted review (TAR)—with another new era beginning in November 2022 with release of ChatGPT. What impact have these changes had on the world of eDiscovery and litigation support? How are legal teams using generative AI and other advanced technologies? How does it differ from how they worked with TAR? What are the differences between small, mid-size, and larger firms? Find out as practice group, litigation support, and legal operations leaders discuss the impact of these technological changes and what they mean for your career. As always, The Roundtable is your opportunity to join the discussion..
Speakers: Janis Cheston – Lead, eDiscovery Services – Operations, Miller Thomson LLP; David Horrigan – Discovery Counsel and Legal Education Director, Relativity ODA LLC; Scott Milner – Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, L.L.P.; Melissa Weberman – Counsel | Head of eData, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP; Phil Weldon – Director of eDiscovery and Litigation Support Technology, Hecker & Fink LLP.
Project Management: The Secret Edge to Strategic Planning (Maryland C)
PMOs and Project Managers have key insight into business case development and strategic planning. In this session, we’ll share how to meet stakeholders where they are and help them make their case for their priority projects!
Speakers: Reesa David – Project Manager, InOutsource; Cindy Etoh – Director of Project Services, Ropes & Gray; Cindy Fragliossi – Manager, Head of Project Management Office (PMO), Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP; Mary Nguyen – Director of Planning & Strategy, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Maura Whelan – Director, Project Management, Schulte Roth & Zabel.
2:30pm-3:30pm
The Human Element: Digital Legal Skills Evolution? (National Harbor 2/3)
This session explores how legal professionals can adapt to the rapid advancements in eDiscovery, practice support, and legal technology. Topics include mastering legal tech tools, enhancing efficiency through automation, and cultivating the human judgment and ethical considerations that technology alone cannot replicate. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, discover how leading firms are reimagining their workflows in response to technological disruption. Perfect for legal practitioners seeking to future-proof their careers and sharpen their digital acumen.
Speakers: Jeffrey Chivers – Chief Executive Officer, Syllo; Jamie LaMorgese – Practice Support Director, Holland & Hart; Shana Pederson – Recruiting Manager, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, L.L.P.
Ethics and Accountability in AI & Legal Technology (National Harbor 10/11)
With artificial intelligence transforming the legal industry, it’s crucial to address the ethical challenges posed by machine learning tools. From predictive coding to contract analysis, AI is influencing decision-making in ways that require transparency, fairness, and accountability. This session will delve into key issues such as bias in AI algorithms, data privacy implications, and the need for human oversight in automated processes. Attendees will explore real-world case studies, learn best practices for integrating AI responsibly into legal workflows, and gain practical strategies to ensure compliance with ethical and regulatory standards. Whether you’re a technologist, legal professional, or thought leader, this session will equip you to navigate the complexities of AI adoption while upholding trust and integrity.
Speakers: Nathaniel Baker – Key Account Executive, US, Jus Mundi; Marcin Krieger – Associate, Reed Smith LLP; Priti Saraswat – Director of Knowledge and Innovation, Levenfeld Pearlstein; Christy Weisner – Litigation Services Innovation, Paul Hastings LLP.
Building a Future-Ready Law Firm: Implementing Information Governance with ARMA’s IGIM 2.1 in the Age of AI (Maryland 2)
This session presents a clear, actionable roadmap tailored specifically for law firms, based on the updated ARMA Information Governance Implementation Model (IGIM 2.1). Attendees will learn how to:
- Establish a cross-functional IG Steering Committee that can oversee both traditional information governance and AI governance.
- Align IG policies with emerging AI regulations, privacy laws, and ethical guidelines.
- Build the core support structures — project management, communication, training — necessary to scale AI responsibly.
- Implement foundational capabilities to ensure secure, compliant, and transparent AI data pipelines.
- Strengthen technology architecture and infrastructure to support AI adoption while managing risks.
- Monitor and continuously improve IG practices to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving AI and regulatory landscape.
Packed with real-world examples, templates, and a step-by-step roadmap, this session equips attendees to position their law firms for success in an AI-driven future — where strong Information Governance isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
Speakers: Maged Helmy – Founder & CEO – newcode.ai; Jim Merrifield – Director of Information Governance & Business Intake – Robinson & Cole.
4:00pm-5:00pm:
From Reactive to Proactive: Building a Litigation Response Playbook (National Harbor 2/3)
“Plans are useless but planning is indispensable” – Eisenhower. Legal teams often have to reinvent the wheel each time a new litigation matter hits. This session will guide attendees through creating a proactive litigation response playbook, covering workflows, technology preparation, and cross-functional collaboration to reduce downtime and stress.
Speakers: Doug Austin – Editor, eDiscovery Today; Ross Dubinsky – Managing Director, Harbor.
From Boomers to Zoomers: Demographic Challenges in Knowledge, Legal Tech, Risk and Records Management (Maryland B456)
We now have four distinct generations in the workplace: Boomers, GenX, Millennials (GenY) and Zoomers (GenZ). What characteristics define these age groups? How do their workplace characteristics impact law firms or legal departments and Knowledge Management, Legal Technology, Risk and Records Management strategies? What is the War for Talent and why is it happening now (again)?
Take Aways:
- Generational characteristics and workplace behaviours.
- Knowledge and risk management strategies for different generational needs.
- Legal Tech adoption across the generations.
- Strategies for winning the War for Talent.
- Generational case studies: comings and goings, technology design, and generative AI.
Speakers: Joseph Campbell – Relativity ODA LLC; Eugene Cipparone – Associate General Counsel, Goodmans LLP; Mayisha Khan – Senior Innovation Solutions Analyst, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP; Vinitha Thankam – Senior Application Developer, Bilzin Sumberg, LLP.
AI in Legal Practice: From Theory to Practical Solution (National Harbor 10/11)
As the AI hype cycle peaks, legal organizations are grappling with the challenge of turning promises into tangible results. This session focuses on the practical applications of AI in the legal profession, moving beyond theoretical potential to real-world use cases. Attendees will gain insights into how legal organizations are leveraging AI to solve actual business problems, improve efficiency, and enhance client service. The session will explore strategies for identifying meaningful AI use cases, implementing AI solutions responsibly, and measuring their impact. It will also address the practical challenges of adoption, including data readiness and ethical considerations. Whether your legal organization is taking its first steps into AI or seeking to scale existing initiatives, this session will provide actionable advice to help you realize the benefits of AI in a post-hype world.
Speakers: Tim Fox – Director Practice Innovation & Analytics, Ogletree Deakins; Lisa Mayo Haynes – Director of Technology and Innovation, Ballard Spahr LLP; Kate Orr – Global Head of Practice Innovation, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; Jill Schornack – Vice President, Product, NetDocuments.
Here’s a link to the page with the detailed agenda for the week.
In addition to those Monday happenings at ILTACON 2025, there is also the Exhibit Hall Opening Reception in Prince George’s Exhibition Hall, from 7pm to 9pm. Always a terrific networking event!
So, what do you think? Are you checking out the Monday happenings at ILTACON 2025? 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.