OVERVIEW
The Legal Innovation Forum returns to Chicago on November 12, 2026, bringing together leaders from law firms, legal departments, technology providers, and the broader business community for a full-day event packed with critical insights and networking opportunities.
This year’s edition of our flagship annual forum is anchored by a bold, overarching theme: The 2030 mandate: Leading transformation in the global legal and business ecosystem.
As the pace of change accelerates, the legal function stands at a critical inflection point. Advances in AI, mounting economic pressure, regulatory divergence, geopolitical volatility, and evolving client and stakeholder expectations are fundamentally reshaping how legal services are delivered—and how risk and value are managed across businesses.
This year’s forum will explore what it takes to build resilient, data-driven legal departments and firms capable of thriving through 2030 and beyond.
PURPOSE OF THE FORUM
- Examine the critical forces reshaping the global legal and business ecosystem and how these dynamics will redefine law firms and legal departments on the road to 2030
- Explore emerging business and operating models transforming legal services, and learn how firms and legal departments can adopt agile, future-ready strategies
- Share best practices from law firms, legal departments, and third-party partners on building resilience through innovation, technology, and data-driven decision-making
- Cultivate a connected community of legal and business leaders committed to exchanging insights, accelerating transformation, and driving meaningful change across the legal ecosystem
Who’s attending
150+ high-level decision-makers from legal departments, law firms and third party partners from across Canada, the US and overseas
- Legal departments:
General counsel, associate / assistant general counsel, in-house counsel, legal operations professionals
- Law firms:
Heads of innovation and knowledge management, senior partners, COOs, CIOs, chief client officers
STRUCTURE
Through a series of high-impact panels and discussions, we’ll examine how technology, data, operating models, and leadership must evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly advancing global landscape.
THEMES + AGENDA
10:30 - 11:00 | REGISTRATION
11:00 - 11:05 | Welcome + introduction
11:05 - 11:50 | INTEGRATING ECOSYSTEMS: HOW LAW FIRMS, LEGAL DEPARTMENTS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE COLLABORATING TO MANAGE THE BUSINESS OF RISK
In association with:
Today’s risk landscape is complex and ever-evolving, requiring integrated management. Discover how interconnected legal ecosystems are emerging, bringing together law firms, in-house legal teams, technology companies, and alternative service providers to share expertise, integrate capabilities, and deliver stronger, more resilient outcomes.
- Collaboration models: How are law firms, legal departments and service providers working together to drive innovation
- Redefining value: Shared accountability for outcomes and risk—including through the lens of investor expectations on transparency, efficiency, and risk-adjusted performance
- Data and interoperability: Enabling insight through connected systems and partners
- Capital markets perspective: How investors evaluate scalability, resilience, and execution risk across integrated service ecosystems
11:50 - 12:00 | ELEVATOR PITCH 1: HARVEY
12:00 - 12:40 | Lunch
12:40 - 1:10 | FIRESIDE CHAT: BUILDING A RESILIENT LEGAL TECH STACK: SYSTEMS, DATA, AND ARCHITECTURE FOR THE FUTURE
Legacy systems and fragmented data limit legal’s ability to scale, innovate, and adapt. Discover how organizations can implement resilient, flexible legal tech platforms that support AI, analytics, and long-term transformation.
- Platform strategy: Transitioning from disconnected solutions to integrated legal technology ecosystems
- Data readiness: The data foundations required for AI, reporting, and decision intelligence
- Risk + resilience: Balancing innovation with security and compliance
- Change management: Building buy-in in the AI era
1:10 - 1:20 | ELEVATOR PITCH 2
1:20 - 1:30 | KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: INNOVATION IN ACTION
1:30 - 2:00: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS: THE FUTURE OF LEGAL: HOW TECHNOLOGY IS RESHAPING LAW FIRMS AND LEGAL DEPARTMENTS
Attendees participate in facilitated discussions exploring how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping legal practice, client expectations, and the future of legal service delivery.
2:00 – 2:15 | REPORT-BACK
Group leaders share key findings from the roundtable discussions.
2:15 - 2:25 | ELEVATOR PITCH 3
2:25 - 2:40 | Networking Break
2:40 - 2:50 | ELEVATOR PITCH 4
2:50 - 3:20 | FIRESIDE CHAT: THE LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVE: SKILLS, CULTURE, AND GOVERNANCE FOR TRANSFORMATION
Technology alone does not drive transformation. Leadership is key. This fireside chat examines the skills, mindsets, and governance structures required to lead legal organizations through a sustainable transformation journey amid ongoing global disruption.
- Leadership capabilities: Skills required to lead in an AI- and data-driven environment
- Cultural transformation: Building teams that embrace innovation, agility, and learning
- Change management: Leading across generations, roles, and operating models
- Governance frameworks: Balancing speed, experimentation, risk, and accountability
3:20 - 3:50 | ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS: LEADING THROUGH CHANGE: BUILDING HIGH-PERFORMING LEGAL TEAMS
Attendees participate in facilitated discussions on the leadership skills, strategies, and organizational culture required to build high-performing legal teams in an era of rapid change.
3:50 – 4:05 | REPORT-BACK
Group leaders share key findings from the roundtable discussions.
4:05 - 4:15 | ELEVATOR PITCH 5
4:15 - 4:20 CLOSING REMARKS
4:20 - 5:20 | Drinks & Networking
OUR PARTNERS
GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNER
GOLD SPONSORS
SPONSORSHIP
Partner with The Legal Innovation Forum to engage senior legal leaders and innovators shaping the future of the industry.
For inquiries, contact christopher@adbinsights.com
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