RelFest 2026 continues today, with sessions all day! Here’s what you can expect from RelFest 2026 Wednesday sessions!

Relativity Fest is now officially “RelFest”, which is an annual conference designed to educate and connect the eDiscovery community The conference is being conducted at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for the fifth straight year and begins with afternoon sessions and activities today before a full day tomorrow and Thursday. As usual, I’ll be covering educational sessions at the conference and reporting on whatever else seems interesting. Here are RelFest 2026 Wednesday sessions (location in parenthesis):

9:00 AM-10:30 AM CT

RelFest Chicago Keynote (Grand Ballroom)

The industry is changing fast, and so is the tech – and the community – powering it. Kick off RelFest with an inspiring opening keynote, where we’ll discuss the pivotal transformations shaping our industry and how Relativity is showing up to empower your success. You’ll hear from Relativity CEO Phil Saunders, President Chris Brown, and other distinguished guests as they showcase groundbreaking product innovations designed to help you thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge and hear directly from industry leaders.

Speakers: Phil Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, Relativity, Chris Brown, President, Relativity, Chris Haley, Vice President, Practice Empowerment, aiR, Relativity, Elise Tropiano, Senior Director, Product Management, Relativity, Dorna Moini, VP, Product Management; CEO/Founder of Gavel, Relativity, Lindsey Lanier, Senior Director, Product Management, Relativity.

11:00 AM-12:00 PM CT

The Legal Data Intelligence State of the Union (Regency C)

The traditional RelFest State of the Union’s gathering of legal and technology professionals, members of the legal media, and judges gets an expanded focus for 2026 as the Legal Data Intelligence State of the Union. The experts will consider the vital issues of legal data intelligence today, law firm and corporate practitioners will make their arguments to the jury comprised of members of the legal media, and our judges will consider whether to affirm the findings of the Fourth Estate or issue a judgment non obstante veredicto (JNOV) if they believe the journalists should be overruled with a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Join us for this annual program where you’ll learn about important issues of law and technology, including AI use in law firms, legal departments, and the courts, the latest in e-discovery law, and even the Latin meaning and frequency of the JNOV.

Speakers: Dr. Victoria McCloud, Judge (Ret.) & Company Director, Judiciary, Rhys Dipshan, Editor-in-Chief, Legal Technology, Law.com, Legaltech News, Joe Patrice, Senior Editor, Above the Law, Greg Buckles, Editor, eDJ Group, David Horrigan, Discovery Counsel & Legal Education Director, Relativity, Fiona Campbell, In-house Counsel, LexisNexis, Honorable Pamela Washington, Scott Milner, Partner & Global Analytics & Governance Practice Group Leader, Morgan Lewis, Stephanie Wilkins, Editor-in-Chief, Legaltech News, ALM Media, Robert Ambrogi, Publisher, LawSites/LawNext, Honorable James Francis, Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master, JAMS.

1:00 PM-1:45 PM CT

From the Lab to the Courtroom: Using Generative AI to Accelerate Forensic Investigations (Grand Hall IJ)

Forensic investigations are increasingly shaped by large volumes of endpoint data, mobile artifacts, cloud sources, communications, system logs, structured data, and multimedia evidence that must be analyzed quickly and defensibly. This session will explore how generative AI can accelerate forensic workflows across the investigation lifecycle — from early lab-based triage and artifact analysis, to Relativity-based review and fact development, to courtroom-ready timelines, issue summaries, and expert support. Panelists will discuss practical ways AI can help investigators identify key custodians, surface relevant communications, summarize technical findings, correlate events across data sources, and prepare defensible narratives without replacing forensic validation or expert judgment. Attendees will leave with a framework for using GenAI to move faster while preserving chain of custody, audibility, repeatability, and evidentiary defensibility.

Speakers: Cristin Traylor, Head of Legal AI Consulting, Relativity, Sam Sessler, Director, Global eDiscovery Services, Norton Rose Fulbright, Michael Sarlo, John Wilson, CISO & President of Forensics, HaystackID, Matt S. Jackson, Counsel, Sidley Austin LLP.

Staying Focused in an Era of Change: Scaling Justice Through Technology (Crystal C)

In a fast-evolving legal landscape, professionals are constantly balancing shifting demands, advancing technology, and the need to deliver meaningful impact. Staying focused and effective in this environment requires more than just technical skill – it calls for clarity of purpose and sustainable ways of working. This session brings together industry leaders and practitioners to explore how they maintain focus, build resilience, and stay connected to purpose in their day-to-day work. We’ll share practical approaches to managing complexity, sustaining energy, and leveraging technology to expand access to justice and increase impact. By grounding the conversation in real-world strategies and examples, attendees will walk away with actionable tools to stay effective, navigate change with confidence, and lead with intention – no matter the moment.

Speakers: Maribel Rivera, VP, Strategy and Client Engagement, ACEDS, Juan Ramirez, Founder / CEO, NSerio, Jennifer Polzer, Director of Eimer Stahl Discovery Solutions, Eimer Stahl Discovery Solutions, Michael Obregon, Manager, Sales Engineering, Relativity.

1:00 PM-2:00 PM CT

Workplace Investigations in an AI‑Powered World (Regency C)

AI is rapidly entering the workplace, and internal investigations are no exception. This session examines how employers are beginning to use AI in investigations and the legal risks that can follow when the technology outpaces established guardrails.

Speakers: Joe Campbell, Senior Managing Counsel, Employment, Relativity, Mark Bussey, Senior Counsel Data Protection and Commercial Transactions, Relativity, David Froiland, Jacklin Rad.

2:15 PM-3:15 PM CT

How to Choose the Right AI Tool for the Job in Litigation Workflows (Regency D)

Legal teams have more AI options than ever, but knowing which tool to use for which task is becoming just as important as knowing how to use AI at all. This session will explore how to evaluate different AI tools and platforms for common litigation jobs, from drafting and analysis to digging into data, building timelines, preparing for depositions, and getting trial-ready. Panelists will discuss where Relativity aiR fits especially well, where other tools may play a role, and how to think about quality control, validation, and human oversight across each use case.

Speakers: William Belt, Managing Director, Advisory, Complete Discovery Source, Inc., Peter Haller, Director, Product Management, Relativity, Ruth Hauswirth, Special Counsel / Head of Litigation & eDiscovery, Cooley LLP, Jim Witte, Director, Product Management, Relativity, Melina Efstathiou, Managing Director, Legal Data Intelligence, Grant Thornton UK, Jim Calvert, Principal, Troutman eMerge.

Judges and Professors on AI and Access to Justice (Regency C)

The AI era has raised issues about how humans and technology will coexist in the 21st Century, and when it comes to the legal system, judges arguably have the greatest impact on justice and access to it – but judges began their legal journeys in law school, and professors shape how the law is developed. Join us as the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), Relativity Legal Education, and Relativity Justice for Change come together to examine the role of AI and other technologies in advancing access to justice. Learn what judges are doing to address access to justice, how law professors believe AI can contribute to the judicial system, and how you and your organization can make a difference.

Speakers: Dr. Victoria McCloud, Judge (Ret.) & Company Director, Judiciary, April Dawson, Professor of Law & Faculty Director of AI Initiative, Howard University School of Law, Judge Michelle Rick, Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals, David Horrigan, Discovery Counsel & Legal Education Director, Relativity, Honorable James Francis, Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master, JAMS.

2:15 PM-3:00 PM CT

The Data Tells the Story: Rethinking Government Investigations (Crystal A)

Every investigation your agency runs carries the weight of public trust. Whether it’s financial fraud investigations, Medicaid billing abuse, public corruption, internal misconduct, or an open records disputes, someone is waiting for your findings. Each of these investigations presents a different problem, but at the core of each one is the same challenge: massive volumes of unstructured, disconnected information that a small team has to make sense of, fast and under scrutiny. Most agencies are solving that challenge with a different tool for each mission, which means processing the same data repeatedly, building institutional knowledge in silos, and leaving the next investigation no easier than the last. Successful, forward- thinking agencies are asking whether there is a smarter way to transform raw data into findings across investigation types. This session demonstrates how one platform can adapt to many investigative missions, helping teams stay agile, maintain transparency, and deliver results they can stand behind.

Speakers: Sean Zacharias, Relativity, Stephanie Caldwell, Senior Counsel, National Association of Attorneys General, Donovan Holyfield, eDiscovery Specialist.

The Privacy Mandate: Building Defensible Strategies and Connected Workflows (Crystal C)

As privacy regulations evolve and scrutiny intensifies, legal teams across corporations, law firms, and service providers are being asked to do more than keep pace – they must help their organizations respond faster, reduce risk, and make defensible decisions around sensitive data. This session will focus on the priorities shaping privacy strategy today, including incident readiness, sensitive data assessment, regulatory response, and the role of technology in creating more connected, efficient workflows across legal, compliance, and investigative matters.

Speakers: Nick Brescia, Legal Lead, Privacy and Data Security, Americas, Astellas, Hannah Woodruff, Director, Product Management, Relativity, Josh Franks, Sensitive Data Leader, Kroll, Blair Dawson, Member, McDonald Hopkins.

3:30 PM-4:15 PM CT

EDRM in Action: Framework Updates and Faster, Lower-Cost Email Discovery (Grand Hall IJ)

EDRM leaders explain how released project work product supports the Relativity ecosystem. See how EDRM 2.0 and IGRM 4.1 support Legal Data Intelligence. Hear how early adopters have achieved documented savings by deduplicating emails across different platforms, versions and migrations, fueling new innovations. Leave with practical guidance on moving data across borders.

Speakers: David R. Cohen, CEO, ATJustice, PBC, Beth Patterson, Shannon Lex Bales, Senior Manager/Adjunct Professor, Munger Tolles/Santa Ana College/UCLA, Matthew Golab, Director Practice Empowerment AI – APAC, Relativity.

Opportunity in Innovation: How Stellar Women Are Leading Through Technological Change (Crystal C)

As Legal Data Intelligence undergoes rapid transformation driven by innovations like generative AI, new opportunities have emerged for those willing to embrace change and lead from the front. In this panel, members of the Stellar Women community will share how adopting and championing new technologies have not only accelerated their careers but also expanded their influence. ​From earning a seat at the decision-making table to redefining what leadership looks like in moments of disruption, our speakers will offer candid insights into the strategies they adopted to increase their professional influence. They’ll also explore how investing in one another through mentorship, advocacy, and community-building continues to shape a stronger, more inclusive future for women in the legal space. Attendees will leave with practical examples of how to leverage innovation as a career catalyst, as well as actionable ways to support and elevate others along the way.​

Speakers: Monette Smith, Director of Technology & Consulting Services, Alston & Bird, Olga V. Mack, CEO, TermScout, Meghan Landrum, Legal, Anthropic, Julia Helmer, Vice President, Advisory & Analytics, Array.

3:30 PM-4:30 PM CT

Leveling the Playing Field: AI for Incoming Productions and Smarter Case Strategy (Regency D)

For plaintiff firms, requesting parties, and government teams, the challenge is often the same: how do you move faster, find the right evidence sooner, and compete against larger, better-resourced opponents? This session will explore how Relativity aiR can help teams make sense of incoming productions, surface key issues earlier, and focus limited resources where they matter most. Panelists will share practical perspectives on using AI to accelerate analysis, identify important documents and patterns, and strengthen case strategy without scaling headcount at the same pace. This discussion will show how modern review technology can help smaller or leaner teams work smarter, respond with confidence, and level the playing field.

Speakers: Stephanie Clerkin, Director of Litigation Support, Korein Tillery, Christine Milliron, Director of eDiscovery, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, Maks Babuder, Director of Product, Relativity, Lea Bays, Partner, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, Chad Bell, Partner, Korein Tillery LLC.

The full agenda is here. Register to attend RelFest 2026 here. If you’re here at the conference, say hi!

So, what do you think? Which RelFest 2026 Wednesday 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.