OVERVIEW
The Legal Innovation Forum is bringing its flagship forum to Chicago in November 2025.
This full-day forum is centered on its unifying theme: Navigating disruption in a risk-on era.
The legal ecosystem and the broader business world are undergoing a profound transformation driven by a wealth of factors including the rapid rise of generative AI, financial pressure, political unrest, globalization, shifting client expectations, and increasing risk and regulatory complexity.
Generational shifts, evolving workplace dynamics, and conflicting perspectives between legal professionals and their third party partners are creating further challenges, while also presenting new opportunities for collaboration and innovation within the legal ecosystem.
This year’s forum will shine a light on the dynamics at play at the intersection of business, innovation and law, and will reveal the skills needed to be successful in the evolving legal profession. By combining legal acumen with business awareness, tech expertise and emotional intelligence, Chicago legal professionals will redefine the industry and deliver more innovative, client-centered solutions.
PURPOSE OF FORUM
Review key drivers and trends influencing the shifting dynamics of the legal ecosystem
Uncover new business models shaping the legal industry and learn how practitioners can embrace agile strategies to stay competitive and relevant
Look at best practices in law firms, legal departments and their third-party partners for driving business resilience through innovative thinking
Create a network of leading legal innovators to share knowledge and experiences to help drive change in the legal ecosystem and the organizations they support
Discussion Themes
Full-Day Forum | September 23, 2025. 8:30 am to 5:00 pm:
The business of Artificial Intelligence: How is AI giving law firms and legal departments a competitive edge?
Transforming the legal landscape: Navigating innovation and change in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
The risk imperative: Navigating uncertainty with strategy and resilience.
Protecting Chicago businesses in the digital age: Navigating the growing digital risk landscape.
The talent crunch: Challenges and opportunities in an evolving legal ecosystem
Driving business growth: How can Chicago lawyers add value through an evolving legal landscape?
Being an innovative leader: How are general counsel adding value to the business in a risk on world.
STRUCTURE
Full-Day Forum:
- 250+ high-level decision-makers from legal departments, law firms and third party partners from across the US and overseas
- Discussions and presentations focused on key topics for law firms + legal departments related to the intersection of business, innovation + the law
Who’s attending
Legal departments: General counsel, associate/assistant general counsel, in-house counsel, legal operations professionals
Law firms: Heads of innovation, knowledge management, senior partners, COO, CIO, chief client officers
Tickets:
In-house counsel: Limited free tickets available* (upon completion of survey)
Law firms
Legal sector service providers
Tables of eight are available for purchase: Located in a premium location at the conference, a table offers convenience, flexibility and a significant cost discount on a per delegate basis. For more information contact jacquie@adbinsights.com
THEMES + AGENDA
The Business of Artificial Intelligence: How is AI giving law firms and legal departments a competitive edge?
AI is revolutionizing the legal industry by providing legal professionals with tools that boost efficiency, accuracy, and strategic decision-making.
Chatbots are enhancing client services, while emerging tools are allowing firms to rapidly analyze data insights for personalized legal solutions. Tools for compliance monitoring, due diligence, and billing transparency also serve to streamline operations, thus reducing costs and boosting revenue.
This panel explores how law firms and legal departments are leveraging AI to gain operational efficiency and to provide more strategic, data-driven, and client-centric services.
Beyond automation: Understanding the potential for AI to drive success in multiple areas including data analysis, legal research, and client service
Driving revenue: How AI is lowering operational costs by minimizing spend and reducing overheads
Attracting talent by positioning the firm or legal department as a tech-savvy workplace
Risks + opportunities for the legal ecosystem in the age of AI
Transforming the Legal Landscape: Navigating Innovation and Change in a Rapidly Evolving Ecosystem
The legal ecosystem is undergoing a profound transformation driven by rapid technological advancements, financial pressure, shifting client expectations, and increasing regulatory complexity.
The rise of alternative legal service providers and the growing emphasis on ESG considerations are also reshaping the legal landscape.
Discover how to thrive in today’s dynamic environment by embracing innovation and adopting agile strategies to stay competitive and relevant.
Drivers and trends influencing the shifting dynamics of the legal space
Decoding innovation: Understanding new business models shaping the legal industry
The tech revolution: Leveraging technology in the new legal landscape
Bridging the gap: How are generational shifts reshaping the legal landscape?
Protecting the Business in the Digital Age: Navigating the Growing Digital Risk Landscape
In today’s hyper-connected world, privacy and digital risk have become critical concerns for businesses. With the rise of cyber threats, data breaches, and emerging technologies presenting new vulnerabilities, protecting sensitive information has never been more challenging.
Legal departments — and other business areas — are navigating a complex web of regulations, while also addressing growing consumer demands for data transparency and accountability.
In this critical session, you will learn how effective management of digital risk requires a multi-faceted approach, including robust cybersecurity measures, regular risk assessments, employee training, and a strong governance framework.
Creating and implementing privacy policies and ensuring compliance with global privacy laws
Developing a robust cybersecurity strategy – and an incident response plan
Seizing opportunities for innovation and business growth by leveraging new technologies in the digital era, while safeguarding the business from risks
Educating employees and leadership teams on data privacy regulations, cybersecurity risks, and best practices for compliance
Where does the buck stop? The role of legal as quarterback in mitigating digital risks in an organization
The Talent Crunch: Challenges and Opportunities in an Evolving Legal Ecosystem
The legal industry is facing significant challenges in attracting and retaining top talent amid generational shifts, evolving workplace dynamics, and differing perspectives among internal and external stakeholders.
Remote and hybrid work models have increased competition for talent across geographic boundaries, while younger legal professionals are increasingly prioritizing work-life balance and opportunities for growth, prompting a shift away from traditional career paths in law.
Discover how firms and legal departments can position themselves as attractive employers by fostering an inclusive culture and seeking opportunities for innovation as they embrace the generational shift in the Midwest.
The multigenerational law firm: Understanding the unique work styles and preferences of each generation
Overcoming roadblocks to attracting and retaining talent
Workplace culture in a hybrid world: Evolving workplace norms and values
Aligning with the generational shift in leadership by challenging long standing business models
Bridging the divide: navigating conflicting perspectives between general counsel, managing partners, hiring managers, associates and ALSP leaders, to drive alignment
The career lattice trumps the career ladder: how are legal professionals embarking on new and innovative career paths?
Driving Business Growth: How can Lawyers add Value WHILE NAVIGATING A NEW PARADIGM?
With policy changes and economic developments now occurring at breakneck speed, Chicago legal department leaders and their law firm partners are working to help businesses stay resilient, minimize economic fallout, and position themselves strategically in an unpredictable trade environment.
Legal leaders across industries are tasked with updating or re-evaluating cross-border trading contracts, navigating regulatory requirements and finding exemptions and legal avenues to mitigate potential tariff impacts.
This session explores the evolving role of lawyers in helping boost business resilience, and mitigate risk in these volatile times.
Advising on trade compliance + strategy: Guiding the business amid new tariffs, ensuring compliance with shifting regulations, and exploring legal avenues such as exemptions and reclassifications
Reviewing and modifying contracts: Ensuring compliance with existing trade agreements, and navigating termination clauses
Advocating for policy solutions: How can legal leaders engage with government officials, trade organizations, and industry stakeholders to shape policies that minimize exposure to trade-related risk?
Educating business partners: Legal departments are providing thought leadership to keep businesses informed of the evolving trade landscape.
Handling trade disputes and litigation cases to protect the business from risk
Fireside Chat: The Future is Here - How is the Legal Ecosystem Evolving in North America and Beyond?
The global legal industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, with alternative legal service providers, technology-driven solutions, and regulatory shifts redefining the way legal services are delivered.
In this dynamic fireside chat, Elevate CEO, Liam Brown, will sit down with ClearyX CEO, Carla Swansburg, to explore the evolving legal ecosystem, and examine what the future holds for legal innovation in North America and beyond.
Discussion points include:
The rise of ALSPs and new models in North America and globally
The “sandbox” issue and its impact on the future of legal services
The role of GenAI versus other factors in accelerating industry shifts
Opportunities for shifting work from BigLaw to ALSPs
The biggest challenges and opportunities facing legal innovators
Being an Innovative Leader: How are General Counsel Adding Value to the Business in a Risk On World?
In today’s volatile global business environment, legal department leaders are stepping into more strategic roles, and helping organizations navigate challenges with innovative solutions. General counsel play a pivotal role in aligning legal objectives with broader business goals, ensuring compliance while driving growth initiatives.
With a focus on cross-functional collaboration, GCs are not only protecting the organization’s interests but also contributing to long-term business success.
The speakers in this panel — general counsel and chief legal officers from leading organizations – will reveal their strategies for driving innovation and business growth in today’s risk-on environment.
Turning challenges into competitive advantages: Driving business resilience by helping the organization adapt to changing market conditions, regulatory environments, and emerging risks
The client-centric lawyer: Encouraging innovative thinking across your organization
Reimagining legal education: Training the next generation of lawyers for success
How emerging technologies are redefining leadership styles and expectations
