ILTACON 2025 is over, but observations about the conference continue! At the end of the conference, I reached out to many of the people I met with for their observations about the conference. So, here are their crowdsourced ILTACON 2025 observations!

FYI, I’m publishing their crowdsourced ILTACON 2025 observations in the order they provided them to me and splitting them over three posts.

ILTA remains the premier conference for education and networking at scale. The Gaylord venue is fantastic, with plenty of local options. I’d like to see a bigger variety of topics across the EDRM and “hands on” experiences incorporated into future events. Shannon Lex Bales, Senior Manager of Litigation Support, Munger, Tolles and Olson

There is no “can” or “maybe” or “soon” — This is what’s happening now. From keynotes to small seminars, people talked about the direct experience and benefit of using GenAI in their work. Reena SenGupta named law firms leaning in on AI for everything from business development to predictive issue spotting. Ediscovery professionals shared stories about speed, cost, savings, results, and defensibility of AI-driven workflows that are yielding valuable results. Chuck Kellner, Strategic Discovery Advisor, Everlaw

At ILTA we saw that organizations are investing heavily in generative AI legal technology, but a major challenge remains: driving widespread adoption beyond the initial wave of tech-savvy early adopters. While these pioneers are embracing the new tools, a significant portion of the legal profession, characterized by a more cautious and change-averse mindset, is hesitant. The core problem is how to “cross the chasm” and convince the pragmatic majority of lawyers to integrate these technologies into their daily workflows, a hurdle that requires a change in mindset. Joshua Schnoll, CMO, Everlaw

We had a fantastic experience at ILTA this year, filled with innovation, inspiration, and connection. The show floor was packed with exciting new technologies and creative solutions shaping the future of legal tech. We had the chance to exchange ideas with an incredible community of peers, partners, and thought leaders. The energy, collaboration, and forward-thinking spirit made this year’s ILTACON truly memorable. Jim Sullivan, Founder & CEO, eDiscovery AI

ILTACON 2025 emphasized that AI in legal isn’t just about flashy features; it’s about delivering real value, more quickly. The conversations during the week revealed that legal teams want tools and workflows that turn information into insight within hours, not weeks. As adoption increases, the key difference will be enabling legal professionals at all levels to work with greater clarity, speed, and confidence. AI’s role in this will be to enhance judgment and strategy, not replace them, and that’s where its true value lies. Tom Palladino, President, eDiscovery AI

The most meaningful moments for me happened outside the sessions, in the hallways, over meals, and in late-night conversations. Everywhere I turned, the topic circled back to AI, not as hype, but as a real force reshaping how we work and connect. It did feel a little different this year, with a quieter energy, but the depth of the discussions made up for it. Those genuine exchanges are what keep our community strong and moving forward together. Maribel Rivera, VP, Strategy and Client Engagement, ACEDS

AI was everywhere, of course, but the conversation was much different from last year.  There were more case studies and use cases, as well as discussions about more mature governance.  We also saw many more attendees with AI in their titles. Joy Heath Rush, CEO, ILTA

This year’s ILTACON was pirate-themed with attendees seeking the illusive AI generated treasure. AI was like the Taylor Swift new album announcement – EVERYONE was talking about it non-stop, but no one had a concrete clue as to what it would look like or sound like in the future. All that being true, there was actually a palpable enthusiasm from attendees this year. Perhaps the exuberance was artificially generated, but it sure was a fun conference for human-networking. Brett Burney, VP eDiscovery Consulting, Nextpoint Law Group

Attendees that I spoke to really loved our conversations around making AI “Accessible” – there were a lot of eager head nods and people leaning in to hear how they could do that. Our job as experts and collaborators is not only to educate but to simplify, demonstrate parallels, and build trust and confidence in these technologies. Implementing the good old “people, process, technology” focus will help us produce defensible outcomes that are greater than the sum of those three parts individually. Tiana Van Dyk, Managing Director, Epiq

Still the conference for the lit support/eDiscovery leader and role in part because the tech is more accessible than at other conferences.  Despite GenAI the core of what the attendees do – the goals and outcomes they help deliver – have not changed drastically nor has the need for them as people. How they get that done and the tools they use are what’s changing – they have more power and efficiency at their disposal now but they still have a role and a place and experience can’t be replaced by AI is the feeling.  The challenge is if the entry level tasks needed to create that experience are replaced what does the future of the roll look like or how are future leaders developed with GenAI performing entry level tasks. Brandon Hollinder, Vice President, eDiscovery and Cyber Solutions, Epiq

Logistically and spatially, I really like the venue.  The conference center at the Gaylord National is conducive to those sorts of chance meetings with new and old friends that make ILTACON both valuable and fun! Gordon Moffat, Manager, eDiscovery and Litigation Technology, Tennessee Attorney General’s Office

ILTACON 2025 was something of a rollercoaster ride through legal tech evolution. On one hand we were talking about personalised and agentic AI, and the other, about how cloud adoption isn’t where it needs to be. The industry is moving faster than ever but there is still much work to be done by many organisations in making sure that they are fit for the next wave of legal practice and the demands that clients will make – and already are making. | The client picture is a fascinating one. They are asking for ROI and how cost savings are being passed on from using generative AI technology, which, while still early days, is fair enough. What is odd, is the number of clients who are reportedly asking for a breakdown of firms’ tech stacks. On what planet did clients ever have that much involvement in how their services are delivered? Surely on this particular point, law firms need to be pushing back? | The ILTA organisers did a fantastic job and I congratulate them on the record numbers and energy this year, they are not only an event but a community, and that is why people come back time and time again. Caroline Hill, Editor, Legal IT Insider

ILTACON 2025 showed just how fast things are moving in legal tech. AI was everywhere (no surprise there), but I kept hearing people talk about data, knowing where it lives and making sure it’s protected. The sessions and hallway chats alike all pointed to the same thing: strategy matters just as much as innovation. Jess Moore, Customer Success Strategist, HaystackID

There were so many people who provided crowdsourced ILTACON 2025 observations that I couldn’t fit it all into one post! I’ll post more comments I received tomorrow and more on Friday! Thanks to all who crowdsourced ILTACON 2025 observations for me – you saved me writing three posts this week! 😀

So, what do you think? Did you attend ILTACON 2025? If so, feel free to comment with your own observations below! 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.