Relativity Fest 2025 concludes today, with more sessions all day! Here’s what you can expect from Relativity Fest 2025 Thursday sessions!

The conference has been conducted at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for the fourth straight year and began Tuesday with afternoon sessions and activities, before a full day yesterday and today. As usual, I’m covering educational sessions at the conference and reporting on whatever else seems interesting. Here are Relativity Fest 2025 Thursday sessions of note:

9:00 AM-9:45 AM CT

Agency and Agentic AI: Thriving in Transformative Times, Grand Ballroom

Relativity Fest emcee David Meade hosts a talk show-style discussion with Relativity and customers on leading teams through technology change. Joining David are Ruth Hauswirth, special counsel and head of discovery services, and Miranda Camozzi, senior litigation and e-discovery services analyst, both at Cooley LLP. Ruth, a 2023 Relativity AI Visionary, will share her learnings from three decades of leading teams through transformation. Miranda will discuss the firm’s experience using Relativity aiR. Relativity’s Kyle Disterheft, senior director of product management, and Aron Ahmadia, senior director of applied science, will round out the discussion to share what they are hearing in the industry and Relativity’s commitment to empowering its customers.

Speakers: Aron Ahmadia, Senior Director, Applied Science, Relativity, Miranda Camozzi, Senior Litigation and E-Discovery Services Analyst, Cooley, Kyle Disterheft, Senior Director, Product Management, Relativity, Ruth Hauswirth, Special Counsel & Head of eDiscovery, Cooley LLP, David Meade, International Keynote Speaker.

10:15 AM-11:00 AM CT

Influencing Innovation: Driving Change and Adoption at Your Corporation, Crystal A

Influencing stakeholders to adopt modern tech, such as generative AI, within an organization is critical as the pace of innovation increases and the desire to work faster and more efficiently grows. But strategic innovation doesn’t happen in a day. Leading through change requires stakeholder alignment, risk management, and clear communication to ensure seamless adoption. By prioritizing these critical steps, legal leaders can foster a culture of adaptability, innovation, and continuous learning. Hear from industry leaders who have successfully implemented generative AI in their organizations and the lessons they learned along the way.

Speakers: Trina Anderson, Senior Analyst, Legal Projects, ConocoPhillips, Maks Babuder, Director of Product , Relativity, Matt Bohn, Amgen, Erica Hawthorne, eDiscovery Senior Manager, Salesforce.

Looking Ahead for Public Sector: Navigating Change with AI, Automation, and Cloud, Regency D

Across government, teams are facing mounting pressure to do more with less: fewer staff, tighter budgets, and greater demands for speed, transparency, and accuracy. This session explores how public sector organizations are navigating that reality today using tools that are already available – generative AI, automation, and secure cloud solutions. Through discussion and real examples, we’ll highlight the practical ways these technologies are being used to relieve pressure, reduce manual effort, and increase impact. Whether you’re just beginning to explore these capabilities or are already experimenting with them, this session is designed to inform, inspire, and help you see what’s possible.

Speakers: Brian Thompson, Director of Practice Empowerment, Public Sector , Relativity, Dave Fronapfel, Sr. eDiscovery Manager, PCAOB.

Uniquely LLM: How Generative AI Presents New Solutions in eDiscovery, Grand Hall IJ

There are unique challenges in eDiscovery that have been difficult to handle through the use of traditional review methodologies (search terms, linear human review, TAR, etc.). AI tools, including aiR products, have been able to tackle many of these challenges in ways that prior solutions have struggled or outright failed to address. In this session, we’ll walk through real-world examples of dimensions in which today’s AI-powered solutions are transforming complex tasks.

Speakers: Ben Sexton, Vice President of eDiscovery, JND, Jeff Gilles, Lead GenAI Solutions Engineer, Relativity.

10:15 AM-11:15 AM CT

From Access Ramps to AI: Physical Access and Access to Justice, Regency C

This session may be CLE eligible.

Access to justice has many variables, and one that is sometimes overlooked is physical access itself. Accessibility is not just about ramps and elevators. It’s about ensuring people can access systems, services, and justice itself. This program will explore the intersection of physical accessibility, digital accessibility, and emerging technologies such as AI, focusing on how each impacts the legal system. How can people with disabilities access courts, their facilities, and legal resources – either in person or online? When and where do laws and regulations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act apply? What role can artificial intelligence play? In this program, developed as part of Relativity Legal Education’s partnership with the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), we’ll examine these questions and explore the practical implications for people with disabilities, their families, and the entire justice system.

Speakers: Sujatha Branch, Vice President for Civil Rights and Systemic Litigation, Equip for Equity, David Horrigan, Discovery Counsel & Legal Education Director, Relativity, Wes Oliver, Professor of Law, Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University, Judge Michelle Rick, Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals, Victoria Willis, Chief Judge, 15th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth of Virginia.

11:30 AM-12:15 PM CT

Embracing Partnership: Driving Social Impact and Inclusion Through Collective Action, Crystal C

How can businesses work together to accelerate social change? In this session, leaders from Relativity and mission-aligned external organizations — including members of the Pledge 1% Builders community – will share how they’re advancing equity, inclusion, and social impact through innovative partnerships. From employee-led initiatives to strategic community collaborations, panelists will discuss real-world programs that are making a measurable difference. Attendees will leave with practical ideas, partnership models, and next steps they can take to spark change within their own teams and networks.

Speakers: Liz Myers, Talent & Community Enablement – Engineering, Relativity, Sean Neilsen, Manager, Talent Pathways Programming, Relativity, Jocelyn (Alvarez Arias) Plain, J.D., Solutions Architect, Epiq, Min Yoo.

Preserving Organizational Privilege in Transformative Times, Crystal A

While email remains the cornerstone of business communications, the rapid rise of short-form messaging and collaboration tools has transformed how in-house counsel and employees communicate. Substantive conversations are now frequently conducted via chat, posing new challenges for e-discovery. Technology was the solution for this conundrum – it helped cut the time for review, identifying the right conversations at the right time. Now, the landscape of electronic communication is changing again, which makes it more important than ever for organizations to evolve their technology solutions at the same pace. Generative AI tools, such as Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT, and content summarizers can now create and facilitate broader access to information within an organization. If your employee base is regularly using these tools, what does this mean for protecting organizational privilege? How are corporations ensuring compliance with information management policies as wider adoption of generative AI ensues?

Speakers: Ava Guo, AVP – Senior Legal Counsel, AT&T, Ruth Hauswirth, Special Counsel & Head of eDiscovery, Cooley LLP, Beth Kallet-Neuman, VP, Legal, Relativity, Adam Rouse, Senior Counsel and Director of eDiscovery Operations, Walgreens.

11:30 AM-12:30 PM CT

The General Counsel Report, Regency C

This session may be CLE eligible.

The seventh annual edition of ‘The General Counsel Report’ will continue the tradition of providing insights from the leaders of corporate law. In this research project by Relativity and our partners at FTI Consulting’s FTI Technology team, we’re also commissioning in-depth interviews of chief legal officers from around the world. In a new twist for 2025, we also commission interview with chief information officers (CIOs). Because they are guaranteed anonymity, the respondents are free to share with you perspectives you get only rarely from these legal leaders – all of whom are the chief legal officers of their organizations or CIOs – providing a view from the top of corporate legal departments. Whether you’re with a corporate legal department or a law firm, service provider, or public sector organization that hires outside counsel, ‘The General Counsel Report’ will give you actionable intelligence on what heads of corporate legal departments believe is important.

Speakers: David Horrigan, Discovery Counsel & Legal Education Director, Relativity, Ari Kaplan, Principal, Ari Kaplan, Wendy King, Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, FTI Consulting, Adam Weiss, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Legal Officer, Relativity.

1:30 PM-2:15 PM CT

Agentic AI: First-hand Experiences to Help You Cut Through the Noise, Crystal B

Agentic AI is a term rising fast in AI discourse, but what does it actually mean in practice –especially for legal professionals? In this session, we’ll go beyond the buzzwords. Join us for a candid conversation with a Relativity applied science expert and several AI enthusiasts who are actively exploring agentic AI in their own workflows.

You’ll hear anecdotes and real-world examples from legal teams using agentic AI to delegate tasks, scale insight, accelerate work, and enhance outcomes and gain early insight into how Relativity is thinking about agentic AI – what it is, what it’s not, and how it ties into our broader product vision.

Whether you’re curious about AI or leading innovation efforts at your firm or organization, this session will help you distinguish signal from noise and envision actionable use cases.

Speakers: Aron Ahmadia, Senior Director, Applied Science, Relativity, Bennett Borden, Founder & CEO, Clarion AI, Manfred Gabriel, Partner, Holland & Knight, Lenora Gray, Elevate.

Stellar Women: Redefining Success on Your Own Terms, Crystal C

In today’s hybrid, tech-driven world, ambition is no longer defined by linear promotions or traditional ladders. With increased flexibility comes a new set of expectations—constant availability, blurred boundaries, and an unspoken pressure to do more. This session explores how women are redefining success in a post-COVID landscape by embracing lateral growth, prioritizing well-being, and finding purpose in nontraditional paths. Through candid stories and practical insights, we’ll unpack how to navigate evolving workplace dynamics, avoid burnout, and sustain a career that aligns with your values—not just your job title.

Speakers: Peg Gianuca, The Walt Disney Company, Alicia Hawley, Of Counsel, K&L Gates, Dani Hubner, Senior Product Marketing Manager , Relativity, Jyoti Signhal, Manager, Kroll.

Then vs. Now: How Legal Data Intelligence Could Have Changed the Case

What happens when you apply today’s Legal Data Intelligence (LDI) lens to yesterday’s legal challenges? In this interactive session, we’ll revisit a real-world case—one where data complexity, siloed teams, and reactive strategy led to missed opportunities. Then, we’ll reimagine the same case using the LDI model to explore how a structured, insight-driven approach could have transformed the outcome.

This session will:

• Introduce a foundational case study that contrasts traditional and LDI-informed approaches
• Spark conversation on hot topics and points of debate from the LDI community
• Teach how to break down silos, engage with other departments, and deploy an LDI mindset on future matters

Whether you’re new to LDI or helping shape its future, this session will challenge your assumptions, sharpen your strategy, and inspire your next move.

 Programmed by members of the Legal Data Intelligence project.

Speakers: Kevin Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Right Discovery LLC, Dr Tristan Jenkinson, Head of Forensics and Investigations, Sky Discovery, Danny Chan, Senior eDiscovery Case Manager, Miller Thomson.

1:30 PM-2:30 PM CT

Your Organization’s AI Journey: Legal, Practical, and Governance Insights, Regency C

This session may be CLE eligible.

Generative AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday use at work, creating both opportunities and risks for employers. For in-house counsel and compliance leaders, the challenge is understanding how to introduce and oversee AI responsibly within the workplace while navigating an evolving legal landscape. This session will examine the key risks, emerging laws and regulations, and practical steps for building effective governance processes, including setting parameters, establishing oversight mechanisms, and advising leadership on adoption. Panelists will share practical guidance on how to balance innovation with compliance and unlock gen AI’s potential while minimizing exposure.

Speakers: Joe Campbell, Senior Managing Counsel, Employment, Relativity, Nate Reichardt, Director, PwC, Raquel Rodriguez, Assistant General Counsel, The AES Corporation, Jeanne Somma, CCO & GC, Lineal.

2:45 PM-3:30 PM CT

Applying a Legal Data Intelligence Mindset: Strategic Innovations in Data Protection

Data Protection Compliance is not just a requirement, but a strategic advantage. Dive into the transformative world of Legal Data Intelligence (LDI), where data insights are empowering proactive compliance and business strategy across a wide range of use cases. This session guides attendees through structured, methodical approaches to proactively manage compliance risks, enhance operational effectiveness, and preemptively address evolving regulatory demands.

Programmed by members of the Legal Data Intelligence project.

Speakers: Joseph Bartolo, Solutions Consultant, The Project Consultant, Ryan Costello, Senior Managing Director, Advisory Services, Haystack, George Phillips, Director of eData Development & Technology, Morgan Lewis.

Legaltech Week at Relativity Fest, Crystal B

Join host Bob Ambrogi and his panel of legal tech journalists as the weekly program comes to Relativity Fest. Bob and the irreverent band of pundits will recap the week at Relativity Fest as well as other late-breaking news from the world of legal technology. Before you head to the Innovation Awards and the Networking Event, stop by for your chance to be in the studio audience for Legaltech Week!

Speakers: Robert Ambrogi, Publisher, LawSites/LawNext, Nicole Black, Principal Legal Insight Strategist, 8am, Steve Embry, Publisher, TechLaw Crossroads, David Horrigan, Discovery Counsel & Legal Education Director, Relativity, Victor Li, Assistant Managing Editor, ABA Journal, Joe Patrice, Senior Editor, Above the Law, Stephanie Wilkins, Director of Content, Legaltech Hub.

Navigating the Ethical Maze: Generative AI in e-Discovery, Regency C

When it comes to generative AI in e-discovery, there are so many ways to turn. Add ethics into the equation, and it’s easy to get lost. Watch the discussion on the practical implications of your ethical obligations when using generative AI in e-discovery. We promise to help you make the right choices and escape the maze!

Speakers: Bobby Malhotra, Partner & Chair, eDiscovery and Information Governance Practice, Winston & Strawn LLP; Meredith Perlman, Senior Counsel, Hilgers Graben; Cristin Traylor, Senior Director, AI Transformation and Law Firm Strategy, Relativity.

4:00 PM-5:00 PM CT

The Relativity Innovation Awards, Grand Ballroom

Finally – an opportunity to celebrate you! Join us for this year’s Innovation Awards as we recognize the individuals and innovations driving change.

Pricing is available here for either in-person or digital pass, with registration links for each option as well. If you’re here at the conference, say hi!

So, what do you think? Which Relativity Fest 2025 Thursday sessions are you attending? 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.