The Legal Innovation Forum Chicago 2025

FULL-DAY FORUM

Location: TBC

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

Critical Minerals Forum NYC 2025

New York city skyline as seen from a bridge with the sun rising in the background

June 18th, 2025

OVERVIEW

The Energy Roundtable + The Legal Innovation Forum will host a live event in New York focused on Canada’s critical role as an energy security and resources and value-added supply chain partner for foreign investors and buyers.

Energy systems are undergoing a significant overhaul as societies dramatically ramp up the use of low carbon electricity in efforts to mitigate the emissions associated with climate change. At this crucial junction, collaboration between like-minded countries is essential to ensure a smooth transition to a low-carbon future and battery-powered technologies.

Canada is uniquely positioned to mine and process critical minerals and metals — including copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite — which will allow us to develop and manufacture the modern energy technologies required for the electrification of our economies.

This live event examines the critical role Canada is playing in providing a robust supply chain of critical minerals and metals as part of an integrated energy security and resources partner for the US and Europe.

Structure + Audience

Full day event followed networking reception hosted in downtown Manhattan
A minimum of 125 attendees: leaders from mining companies, financial services, government, professional services firms.
Program will be comprised of panel discussions, fireside chats and presentations on the themes outlined above.

Our Sponsors

Themes + Agenda

Panel 1: A wealth of resources: Canada’s abundant supply positions it as the provider of choice for international investors

Abundant resources: Canada has a rich and diverse supply of critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements
Financing a clean economy: How Canada’s abundant – and easily accessible – supply of natural resources makes it a valuable investment choice for foreign investors
Meeting increasing demand: How is Canada positioned to support the growing global demand for critical minerals and metals for production of batteries and other essential energy sources?

SPEAKERS COMING SOON

Panel 2: Leveraging Canada’s supply chain for economic opportunities across the border

Advanced infrastructure: Canada’s well-developed transportation, energy, and processing facilities support efficient mineral extraction and export to US markets
The processing opportunity: Canada is uniquely situated to capture the value chain associated with metals and critical minerals. This includes midstream processing, refining and downstream utilization in areas such as battery production.
Skilled workforce: Canada offers an advanced labor force supported by educational programs in mining, engineering, and clean technology
Proximity to US manufacturing hubs ensures a fast and cost-effective flow of critical minerals
Canada’s strong, stable regulatory environment protects investors and ensures ethical sourcing and supply chains

SPEAKERS COMING SOON

Panel 3: Indigenous partnerships: Creating economic opportunities and lowering regulatory and capital risk through collaboration

Best practices for working with Indigenous partners to expedite mining projects and facilitate reconciliation
Fast-tracking regulatory approvals: The Canadian government prioritizes Indigenous partnerships in resource development
Financial benefits: Investors working with Indigenous groups may qualify for grants, tax incentives, and funding programs, lowering capital risk

SPEAKERS COMING SOON

Panel 4: Cross-border relationships: Canada’s relationship with the US and other allies amid current trade tensions

Geographical advantage: Shorter transportation distances reduce costs and delivery times, and eliminate reliance on complex global shipping routes
Well-developed rail, road, and port infrastructure ensures smooth logistics and minimal disruption in transportation
Focusing on trading partnerships to help mitigate reliance on strategic competitors such as China

SPEAKERS COMING SOON

Panel 5: Available capital: Matching capital with opportunity

Leveraging the opportunity to capitalize on a secure and resource-rich environment and value-added supply chain in Canada
How US investors and buyers can capitalize on vast, untapped reserves of critical minerals essential for EVs, batteries, and defense
Accelerating mine development, refining, and battery material production with US capital to strengthen North American energy and manufacturing independence

SPEAKERS COMING SOON

LIF: Financial Services Infocus 2024

This event is under consideration for CLE credits from NYS CLE Board

OVERVIEW

A series of small forums to be held in New York, Toronto and London will bring together financial services (banks, funds) and insurance firms’ legal teams, LegalTech companies and other legal sector service providers focused on the FS space.

Each forum will cover the specific, unique challenges facing legal practitioners in the financial services industry. It will also outline the role of the legal department in the wider organization and market and how it is evolving, and help participants to define, develop and implement strategies to ensure they are innovating and delivering value for their organizations in the face of rapid change.

In response to these drivers and trends covered, we will review core legal technology solutions available to address these challenges specifically. We will also cover areas of ways that legal departments are aligning with the business and how they are managing the triumvirate of people, process and tech to deliver results.

Partner Curation

What’s different about LIFInFocus events is that we aim to create a market of focused sellers and buyers of legal technology and services. In effect, a buyers club matching best in class technology and services targeted specifically for problem sets faced by legal departments in financial services firms.
The outcome is of equal value for both sides: buyers will be presented with solutions that are specific to their needs and pre-vetted. Sellers will be able to connect with focused buyers, decreasing the cost of sale and increasing connections with genuine, targeted leads.
To be accepted as a seller we will apply our methodology of cross checking technology + service based solutions with our expert panel of thought leaders to ensure their value to end users in FS firms. We will also cross check seller’s solution sets through our LIF specific frameworks, ensuring they are uniquely placed to support solutions to challenges faced by financial services firms’ legal departments.

STRUCTURE + AGENDA

Full-day event held in New York City
50 high level decision makers from financial service sector legal departments (GC, AGC, senior legal operations leaders) speaking at and attending each event.
Content will be thematically focused on key challenges facing FS legal departments.
Format will be composed of fireside chats, group work and multiple networking opportunities.
Location: Sidley Austin LLP : 787 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019

WHY ATTEND?

Practical, problem-focused content for today’s legal department

We explore the most pressing current issues and emerging threats facing legal departments (and their leaders) at financial institutions, and the role of technology in addressing these challenges
Learn from real-world use cases – such as dealing with regulatory challenges and black swan events – with practical insights to inform future strategies
Leave with an understanding of how to leverage technology – not just for efficiency – but for minimizing and managing legal risks effectively

The right people in the room

The forum is specifically tailored for those tasked with strategizing about risk – including GCs and tech/process experts looking for a collaborative, holistic approach to risk management
Engage with peers from the buy and sell sides of financial services, and gain insights into new tech that will help your legal department evolve and stay ahead of the curve
Explore how to integrate risk analysis (the strength of law firms) with technology and process improvements for greater scalability and speed

The ideal environment for productive conversations

With a limited number of attendees (no more than 50, including vendors and experts), the workshop format ensures meaningful interactions and direct engagement with speakers and experts
Enjoy a safe, collaborative environment under Chatham House Rule, promoting open and honest discussions about shared challenges and solutions
By avoiding the typical pay-to-play format, we ensure speakers and vendors are chosen for their expertise and quality – not their marketing budgets

Program

REGISTRATION + NETWORKING BREAKFAST 9:00-9:30 AM

9.30 - 9.50 AM | INTRODUCTION TO THE FORUM

Why we are running the series
What’s the purpose of the legal department? By structuring your department in a specific, thoughtful manner you will get better outcomes
Outline of our approach to financial institutions + the overall financial ecosystem

Founder & CEO, The Legal Innovation Forum

The functional tensions encountered by legal departments:

Cost center vs Lifesaver
Proactive vs reactive
Generalizable vs idiosyncratic
Law vs tech/LSP budget

9.50 - 10.40 AM | FIRESIDE CHAT: Evolution of the legal ecosystem: an inflection point

In conversation with:

Co-Founder, Catylex

Associate dean for research + intellectual life, Albany Law School

Partner, Sidley Austin

Associate dean for research + intellectual life, Albany Law School

10.40 - 11.40 AM | GoAL Setting For Today’s Legal Department

Cover the objective and goals of the breakout sessions
Review of the contemporary challenges
Working groups of 7: in-house lawyers + sponsors
Overview of the 5 step process

VP, Innovation, Elevate

Founder, The Legal Innovation Forum

11.40 AM - 12.00 PM | THE 5-STEP PROCESS

The 5-Step process – inspired Bridgewater’s founder, Ray Dalio’s Principles – is our organizing narrative for the structure of the day’s forum- link to learn more is here.

Co-Founder, Catylex

Director: product marketing, Catylex

12.00 pM - 1.00 PM | GROUP BREAKOUT SESSION 1 - IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

Here we will focus on two areas: optimal operating structures for FI legal departments (goals) + the areas that are holding them back from these optimal states (problems).

We will look at problems in the context of contemporary challenges faced by financial institutions outlined below. Groups will select two challenges to address and identify goals to solve them and problems holding them from these goals.

Contemporary challenges faced by Financial Institutions (Each group will have two assigned)

Managing emerging regulations
Regulatory inquiry
Black Swan events
Credit crisis + counterparty default
Payment or trade error
Significant corporate event

Key principles to consider (Goals):

Prioritize: While you can have virtually anything you want, you can’t have everything you want
Never rule out a goal because you think it’s unattainable
Remember that great expectations create great capabilities

Key principles to consider (Problems):

Be specific in identifying your problems
Don’t mistake a cause of a problem with the real problem
Distinguish big problems from small ones
Once you identify a problem, don’t tolerate it

1.00 - 1.50 | NETWORKING LUNCH

1.50 - 2.05 PM| RECAP OF BREAKOUT 1 + OVERALL GROUP DISCUSSION

Here we will prompt a group discussion of the outcome of the mornings sessions. We will identify key problems faced by financial institutions in the face of the contemporary challenges the groups have focused on.

Defining the core problems: What was learned, key themes across group, interesting patterns and outliers

2.05 - 3.05 PM | GROUP breakout session 2 : DiAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS

Building on our work in the morning assessing goals and identifying problems for their two challenges facing FIs they’ve selected, our groups will then move on to diagnosing them.

We will aim to dig into the the root causes of these challenges and how they relate to risk mitigation for the broader organization and sector.

Key principles to consider (diagnosis):

Focus on the “what is” before deciding “what to do about it.”
Distinguish proximate causes from root causes
Recognize that knowing what someone (including you) is like will tell you what you can expect from them

3.20 - 3.40 |NETWORKING BREAK

3.25 - 3.40 PM | RECAP OF BREAKOUT 2

Here we will prompt a group discussion of the outcome of the afternoon session.

Defining the core problems: What was learned, key themes across group, interesting patterns and outliers

3:40 - 4:40PM | OPEN DESIGN DISCUSSION + WORKSHOP CLOSE

6:00 - 7:30 | DRINKS RECEPTION @ THE BRITISH RESIDENCE

themes of the forum

CONTRACTS THROUGH THE BUSINESS CYCLE LENS:

Deal acceleration (Boom economy)

Deal acceleration is a prime business focus for legal departments in financial services firms during an economic upturn. In order to meet accelerated targets, successful practitioners will be those who focus on leveraging advanced processes and technology to support swift reviews of third-party paper, rapid scanning of negotiation drafts, and the data analysis to support the business.

Risk analysis (Bust economy)

In a downturn: crisis management requires understanding rapidly and well how to deal with counterparty risk, force majeure events and other problems correlated with crashing markets. FS legal departments must assess contracts diligently to uncover key risks to the business – including reputational risk, regulatory compliance, and cyber risk. Legal and compliance may also need to scramble to remediate contract issues.

Portfolio optimization (Recovery economy)

A recovering economy is the one time where a legal department is not under boom or crisis pressure, and presents an opportunity for legal departments to catch their breath. This is the time to reflect on lessons learned and improve and optimize processes and technology in preparation for the next deluge. Focus here becomes better interoperability and integration with

processes and systems outside of the legal department, as well as . a thorough examination of negotiation systems and playbooks. This is also an opportunity to replace legacy systems with new technology and emerging ones.

CONTRACTS THROUGH THE EVENT LENS:

Black Swan events

Black swan events, such as the COVID 19 pandemic, Russia’s war on the Ukraine, or financial crises, such as Lehman – and more recently smaller events like SVB and Credit Suisse’s demise following the collapse of Archegos Capital – can have immediate and long-term effects on financial services firms, causing business disruption, risk and supply chain challenges. Defining, developing and implementing a strategy to prepare and address such events is a core responsibility for legal departments to protect against franchise risk.

Regulatory efforts

Major regulatory changes are often implemented in the wake of a black swans, such as the Dodd-Frank, and the Great Recession. Additional regulatory efforts can continue to generate work that stretches across years: for example, margin rules implementation, LIBOR remediation, and recently the Private Funds Rule.

Other regulatory efforts emerge over time from long evolving problems:

Cybersecurity standards are ramping up in addition to growing work for security and technology departments and have substantial implications for legal contracting and event response.
Climate change response generates legal work in supply chain and disclosure review

M&A Activity

Contract diligence has not gone away, with cost and time pressure only getting worse over time.

OUR partners

HOST PARTNER

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Partners

Academic Partner

Information Regarding CLE Accreditation

Albany Law School’s Center for Continuing Legal Education has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an accredited provider of Continuing Legal Education in the State of New York. This program has been accredited as a source of 1 continuing legal education credit for both transitional and non-transitional attorneys in New York State. (1 Ethics). For financial hardship guidelines, please call the Center for Continuing Legal Education at (518) 472-5888.

Accommodation

We welcome requests for accommodation due to a disability. Please contact Albany Law School’s Center for Continuing Legal Education at (518) 472-5888 at least a week prior to the course to discuss your requirements.

Note

New York State Continuing Legal Education Board regulations state that credit shall be awarded only for attendance at an entire course or program, or for attendance at an entire session of a course or program. No credit shall be awarded for attending a portion of a course or a portion of a session.

Chicago The Legal Innovation Forum 2023

OVERVIEW

The Legal Innovation Forum is hosting its first in-person, US conference in Chicago on June 22nd, 2023.

This year’s forum is centered on its unifying theme: Leading to drive change and deliver value in an evolving legal ecosystem.

The sector faces numerous headwinds: an uncertain economic climate, emerging risks (digital and analog), pressure to do more with less and ongoing generational shifts.

To address these challenges – and create opportunities from them – the sector is embracing innovative approaches unpinned by leadership and collaboration amongst sectoral practitioners (law firms, legal departments and third party partners).

The purpose of this year’s forum is to shine a light on the dynamics at play in the Midwest’s legal ecosystem when it comes to the intersection of business and law. And provide examples of how leadership and collaboration within the ecosystem is helping to deliver value and sustain and drive change.

STRUCTURE

Half-day event (afternoon) held in Chicago: June 22nd, 2023

80 high level decision makers from legal departments and law firms from the Midwest
4 panel discussions focused on key topics for law firms and legal departments related to the intersection of business + law
This course is approved for 4.00 Illinois MCLE general credit hours

purpose & Themes

TALENT: The people puzzle – attracting, retaining and developing talent in a new paradigm
LEADERSHIP:L Leading at the intersection of business and law – how are leading lawyers in key sectors driving growth in their organizations?
RISK: Mastering digital risk – how to define, develop and implement a strategy to navigate emerging digital risks
LEGAL OPERATIONS: How to make the business case for and deliver change in your law firm/legal department

Meet our speakers

Senior Vice-President & General Counsel, Sun Life

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Interac Corp

VP, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Kraft Heinz

General Counsel, IBM

AVP, Shared Services, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Honda & Honda Financial Services

SVP, Legal General Counsel & Corporate Security, Descarts Systems Group

Senior Vice-President, Group Head of Legal & Business Affairs and Corporate Secretary, TMX Group

Head of Law, Compliance and Government Relations Strategy and Operations, Manulife

Chief Legal Officer, Cboe Canada

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, WorkSafeNB

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, CIRO

AVP, Legal Knowledge Management, Education, Technology and Transformation, TD

Director, Legal Operations and Reporting, Sun Life

VP & Associate General Counsel, OPTrust

Partner and Head of Technology, Co-Chair Cybersecurity and data privacy, Norton Rose Fulbright

Chief Legal Talent Officer, Bennett Jones

Senior Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management, Davies

Chief Executive Officer, Clarilis

Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer, BLG

CEO at Alexa Translations

Chief Operating & Information Officer, BLG

Senior Manager, Legal Business Solutions, PWC

Founder & CEO at ADB Insights

THEMES + AGENDA

12:00-12:50 PM | REGISTRATION & Lunch

12:50-1:00 PM | Opening Remarks

1:00 - 2:00 PM | TALENT: The people puzzle - how are law firms, legal departments and sector service providers attracting, developing and retaining talent in an era of change

The legal market is witnessing an unprecedented shift when it comes to talent. Lawyers are changing firms, moving in-house, to alternative legal service providers and in some cases moving out of the profession entirely. This is having a significant impact on the shape of the sector and promises to continue to do so for years to come.

On this panel, we’ll review the following:

What are the key drivers and trends shaping the battle for talent in the legal sector?
What are law firms, legal departments and sector service providers doing to attract, develop and retain talent in a dynamic marketplace?
Portfolio careers. What types of new career paths are available to lawyers versus traditional ones?
Passion, purpose and generational change. A new generation of lawyers is taking the reins in the legal sector. Purpose driven, portfolio careers must be matched with authentic organizational values (flexibility, diversity and inclusion, collaboration). What does this mean for the legal profession moving forward?

Speakers:

Shauna Fulbright-Paxton, Division Counsel – Labour + Employment, Abbott Laboratories

Brooke Loucks, Director, Brand and Communications, McDermott Will & Emery

Beth Solomon, SVP & Deputy General Counsel, Pathward, N.A.

Amol Bargaje, Global Chief Innovation Officer, Mayer Brown

Neil Araujo, Co-Founder + CEO, iManage

Chair: Kevin Clem, Chief Growth Officer, HBR Consulting

MCLE credit requirements here.

2:05 - 3:05 PM | LEADERSHIP: Leading at the intersection of business and law - how are leading lawyers driving value in their organizations?

In a complex operating environment, legal leadership plays a critical role in helping guide organizations’ approaches to risk management as well as growth.

Areas such as corporate governance and ESG, privacy, compliance and flexible organizational strategy are all at the top of the corporate agenda. And for organizations and law firms, having an effective and empowered legal team coupled with an optimized and innovative approaches to address these and other areas is key.

On this panel, our speakers – legal leaders from the Midwest – will look at how their roles are evolving in terms of the challenges they are facing, how they are aligning their teams with their broader organizations and how they are acting as agents of change.

Topics covered will include:

Drivers and trends for legal leaders in a complex operating environment.
Examples of how lawyers’ roles and legal departments are evolving to meet mission critical needs of their organizations and what these challenges are.
How are legal departments evolving their strategies and engaging with the wider legal ecosystem to better align with the business to both manage risk and drive growth?

Speakers:

Douglas Barnard, General Counsel and Secretary, CF Industries

Kruti Trivedi, Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Dennis Garcia, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft

Vania Montero Wit, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, United Airlines

Trisha Cole, General Counsel + COO, Medtelligent

Chair: Stuart Douglass, Vice President, iManage

MCLE credit requirements here.

3.05 - 3.25 PM | Networking Break

3:25 - 4:25 pm | RISK: Mastering Digital Risk - how to define, develop and implement a strategy to navigate emerging digital risks

Managing digital risk is at the top of many corporate agendas. The explosion of use of collaborative technologies and the attendant data trails left by them, managing complex entity structures, evolving privacy rules and breaches are all examples of the critical importance of having a robust digital risk mitigation strategy in place.

For legal departments and their advisors – increased digital risk equals increased legal risk – especially as they relate to accelerating regulatory scrutiny and compliance.

On this panel, our speakers will look at how they are assessing and addressing present and emerging digital risks.

Topics covered will include:

Key drivers + trends when it comes to digital risk – data breaches, know your customer (KYC), ultimate beneficial owner (UBO), privacy rules and complex entity management
How to develop and define an organization wide strategy to address digital risk and the role that legal departments play in supporting them
Delivering a digital risk mitigation strategy across the organization. Best practices in leveraging people, process and technology to manage risks? How to work cross departmentally and with 3rd parties to support these strategies.

Speakers:

Daniel Farris, Partner-in-Charge, Chicago, Norton Rose Fulbright

David R. Cohen, Partner (Chair Records + E-Discovery Group), Reed Smith

Ashley S.A. Jackson, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer, Olive AI, Inc

Adrian Camara, Chief Executive Officer, Athennian

Chair: Stephanie Curcio, CEO + Co-Founder, NLPatent

MCLE credit requirements here.

4:30 - 5:30 pm | LEGAL OPERATIONS: Mastering change management - how to deliver change in your legal department

In order to effect change in organizations, effective execution is key. On this panel our speakers – legal operations leaders – will review how to define, develop and implement a change management strategy in legal departments..

Topics covered will include:

Foundations of change management in legal departments. What fundamentals need to be in place for successful change management initiatives to succeed in legal departments and their wider organizations?
Frameworks to approach change management initiatives in your legal department to drive change in your wider organization. Including how to build consensus, put the right teams in place, enhance processes, apply metrics to change management and choose the right technology.
How is legal operations acting as a catalyst for change in the legal ecosystem?

Speakers:

Curtis Batterton, Director of Global Legal Technology + Innovation, McDonald’s

Adina Newman, Associate Counsel, Legal Innovation & Operations, Con Edison (Former)

Adam Rouse, Sr. Counsel and Director of eDiscovery Operations, Walgreens

Jonathan Johnson-Swagel, Senior Legal and Business Operations Manager, Uber

Tiffany Epps Brown, Senior Consultant, Legal Operations, Aecom

Chair: Kim Craig, Co-founder, Bold Duck Studio

MCLE credit requirements here.

5:30 - 6:30 pm | Closing Remarks + Networking Reception

FULL-DAY FORUMLocation: TBC

OVERVIEW

PURPOSE OF FORUM

Discussion Themes

STRUCTURE

Who’s attending

THEMES + AGENDA

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

Protecting the Business 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 Lawyers add Value WHILE NAVIGATING A NEW PARADIGM?

Fireside Chat: The Future is Here - How is the Legal Ecosystem Evolving in North America and Beyond?

Being an Innovative Leader: How are General Counsel Adding Value to the Business in a Risk On World?

June 18th, 2025

OVERVIEW

Structure + Audience

Our Sponsors

Themes + Agenda

Panel 1: A wealth of resources: Canada’s abundant supply positions it as the provider of choice for international investors

Panel 2: Leveraging Canada’s supply chain for economic opportunities across the border

Panel 3: Indigenous partnerships: Creating economic opportunities and lowering regulatory and capital risk through collaboration

Panel 4: Cross-border relationships: Canada’s relationship with the US and other allies amid current trade tensions

Panel 5: Available capital: Matching capital with opportunity

OVERVIEW

Partner Curation

STRUCTURE + AGENDA

WHY ATTEND?

Practical, problem-focused content for today’s legal department

The right people in the room

The ideal environment for productive conversations

Program

REGISTRATION + NETWORKING BREAKFAST 9:00-9:30 AM

9.30 - 9.50 AM | INTRODUCTION TO THE FORUM

9.50 - 10.40 AM | FIRESIDE CHAT: Evolution of the legal ecosystem: an inflection point

10.40 - 11.40 AM | GoAL Setting For Today’s Legal Department

11.40 AM - 12.00 PM | THE 5-STEP PROCESS

12.00 pM - 1.00 PM | GROUP BREAKOUT SESSION 1 - IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

Contemporary challenges faced by Financial Institutions (Each group will have two assigned)

Key principles to consider (Goals):

Key principles to consider (Problems):

1.00 - 1.50 | NETWORKING LUNCH

1.50 - 2.05 PM| RECAP OF BREAKOUT 1 + OVERALL GROUP DISCUSSION

2.05 - 3.05 PM | GROUP breakout session 2 : DiAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS

Key principles to consider (diagnosis):

3.20 - 3.40 |NETWORKING BREAK

3.25 - 3.40 PM | RECAP OF BREAKOUT 2

3:40 - 4:40PM | OPEN DESIGN DISCUSSION + WORKSHOP CLOSE

themes of the forum

CONTRACTS THROUGH THE BUSINESS CYCLE LENS:

Deal acceleration (Boom economy)

Risk analysis (Bust economy)

Portfolio optimization (Recovery economy)

CONTRACTS THROUGH THE EVENT LENS:

Black Swan events

Regulatory efforts

M&A Activity

OUR partners

HOST PARTNER

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Partners

Academic Partner

Information Regarding CLE Accreditation

OVERVIEW

STRUCTURE

purpose & Themes

Meet our speakers

THEMES + AGENDA

OUR SPONSORS

founding partner

gold sponsor

Let's keep in touch.

FULL-DAY FORUM

Location: TBC