Event Agenda

Making the most of data in the legal department

Michael Burkart, Global Head of Legal Operations & Strategy, Implenia 

The legal operations 
journey

Mipe Okunseinde, Global Head of Legal Operations, booking.com

Using digital front doors to automate legal intake

Stefan Kaus, Head of GCO Operations, Legal Business Partner to the COO, Springer Nature Group

10.35 - Panel discussion: Generative AI: potential risks and value for in-house legal 
Corporate legal teams find themselves in a unique position, serving as both users and gatekeepers of generative AI within their organization,  challenged to not only embrace the opportunities and possibilities AI offers but also navigate the potential challenges and risks it presents. Having moved past the initial frenzy and hype cycle, it's time to engage in a frank conversation about the true value and potential of this technology. From possible use cases and benefits to emerging risks and unforeseen consequences, this panel discussion will explore the practical implications and limitations of this technology for corporate legal teams.

Michael Francony
Senior Legal Project/Operations Manager
Novartis

Bart Garré
Head of the Legal Division’s Innovation Centre of Excellence
Euroclear

11.05 - Keynote presentation: Legal transformation is a state of mind, not a destination 
Get ready to be both challenged and inspired as Matt, a seasoned legal tech professional with a non-legal background, draws on two decades of experience to shatter preconceived notions about the legal industry's pace of change. This thought-provoking presentation challenges the widely used term 'transformation' and explores the idea that the legal field is in a constant state of evolution, with today's pace rivalling any in history.  

Matt Crocker, Chief Strategy Officer, Morae

11.20 - Networking break in the exhibition area  

12.00 - Keynote presentation: The psychology of change: why we resist change how we can foster a culture of innovation in a profession hardwired to resist change.     
We are all hardwired to resist change and none so more than lawyers. Dr Helena Boschi will offer fresh insight into this perennial problem facing legal teams: driving user acceptance and adoption of new tech. Why, when presented with new initiatives with clear benefits, do we resist and why is change harder now than ever?  How can we push the brain to think differently to be able to increase cognitive agility and creativity and do the same for others? What does all this mean for legal leaders and their teams when implementing new tech within the legal function?

These are just a few of the things our attendees have to say about our most popular speaker: 

“My favourite speaker was Dr Helena B” 
“(Helena is) always totally fascinating” 
“Amazing”, “standout”, “thought-provoking”, “fab!” 

Dr Helena Boschi, Psychologist, speaker and educator, specialising in applied neuroscience at work 

12.40 - Panel discussion: Empowering the legal team: raising the legal team's voice and value in technology decisions – both for legal and across the organisation  
Delving into critical topics such as aligning legal, enterprise, and company tech and navigating the challenges of securing the legal department an equal role in shaping the organization's technological infrastructure, this panel discussion will address critical challenges facing legal operations’ leaders, including: : 

• To build or not to build? 
• Budget considerations, scalability, security, and the integration of legal systems within broader organizational ecosystems, the intersection of legal tech and enterprise systems 
• Finding the right tech for your team and organisation’s needs and unique requirements 
• Strategies for cross-functional collaboration to leverage knowledge and expertise from different departments
• Assess the potential of MS365 in alleviating budgetary constraints and enhancing operational efficiency
• Strategize legal integration within distinct business ecosystems, particularly for those beyond Office 365, to ensure seamless functionality and establish a defined position.  
• Gain insights into areas where independent tech solutions may be the optimal choice and engage in discussions on ownership and responsibility of shared platforms like CLMs.  

13.05 - Networking lunch

14.30-15.40 - Knowledge-sharing discussions part 1 of 3 - Session A*

15.40 - Networking break in the exhibition area

16.10-17.15 - Knowledge-sharing discussions part 2 of 3 - Session B*

*Peer-to-peer Roundtables are 30-minute discussion groups, each led by a technology leader from a professional services firm. These facilitated discussions will deliver insights and take-aways from across the professional services sector that are simply not otherwise available. Experienced practitioners discuss real experiences in a confidential, intimate and interactive setting.

Focussing on how other firms are dealing with the same challenges, these sessions are an integral part of an Alternative Event. The discussions follow the Chatham House rule – giving you the freedom to speak your mind and providing what some previous delegates have described as ‘group therapy’. Small groups allow everyone to participate and brainstorming will give insight into your peers’ challenges and provide solutions to your own. Ask the Expert sessions are 30 minutes led by an industry expert on their specialist subject.

17.15 - Networking break

17.25 - The Samoan Circle: An alternative panel discussion: what skill sets are crucial in the realm of legal tech and legal ops and is being a lawyer a prerequisite?     
Our unique end-of-day-one-closer is the Samoan Circle, an informal and interactive session.  This is your chance to join the conversation, tackle some of these questions and have your say. Set up in the round, delegates will gather around a central circle to eavesdrop on a conversation between four corporate legal leaders.  

Join our expert panel of legal leaders in a lively debate that addresses the evolving landscape of legal technology. Is legal expertise a prerequisite, or can a diverse skill set propel innovation and excellence in this field? Explore the nuanced considerations: have lawyers transitioning into ops been co-opted or have they intentionally moved away from traditional legal roles? What skills are essential, and how can lawyers maintain their marketability? Gain insights into the perspective of non-lawyers entering legal operations and examine the enduring relevance of legal ops roles within an organization beyond immediate transformative phases.  

Michael Francony, Senior Legal Project/Operations Manager, Novartis    
Rafael Merencio, Legal Counsel, Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions  
Facilitated by: Mariano Miccoli, Director of Legal Operations, Euronet 

18.00 - Chair’s wrap-up of the day

18.05 - Drinks reception 

19.30 - Dinner    

09.45 - Knowledge-sharing discussions part 3 of 3 -  Session C
Following the same format as yesterday, select your two preferred roundtable topics from the final breakout sessions. After these discussions and the morning break, we will reconvene for the full conference experience.

10.55 - Networking break in the exhibition area

11.25 - Presentation & discussion: What does the ultimate legal tech stack look like?
Gartner experts expect legal departments to increase their spending on legal technology threefold by 2025. What are you doing to ensure that you are making the right choice of investment? What are the legal tech needs, requirements and priorities according to corporate legal function and team size? Our speakers each representing the small, medium and large legal team perspective will share how they approach their legal tech selection and evaluation process to develop the ultimate tech stack.  

12.05 - Panel discussion - Strategic external counsel management: optimizing collaboration with tech and data     
Creating a truly collaborative partnership with external counsel involves more than just the initial onboarding process. It requires ongoing management, monitoring, and a deep understanding of their value. This session will explore the best practices and tools for optimizing the management of external counsel relationships, including: 

• Utilizing technology to enhance collaboration with outside counsel
• Assessing panel firm performance against key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Identifying and leveraging relevant KPIs
• Accessing and utilizing data held by firms for more meaningful discussions
• Efficiently sourcing and managing data to optimize resources
• Exploring available tech tools for data sourcing and spend management
• Addressing integration challenges between in-house and panel firm tech systems
• Strategies for improving integration and collaboration
• Measuring and benchmarking law firm performance
• Tracking matters and spend using technology solutions

12.35 - Legal talent showcase: the Legal X Factor             
Get ready for an electrifying session that puts legal talent in the spotlight! In this dynamic showcase inspired by the hit TV show "The X Factor", the organisers will be unveiling the extraordinary skills and unique talents within the legal community. Each guest will present one solution or approach they have introduced in their team or department to transform the business. This session offers a platform for in-house corporate legal teams to showcase their specialised knowledge and skills in areas crucial to the conference’s theme of tech-enabled legal optimisation. Our chair will provide constructive feedback, and the audience will have their say in determining who possesses the ultimate legal "X Factor” and choose the winner. 

Suggested contenders may include: 

• Innovative legal tech solutions: Presentation of groundbreaking legal tech tools and platforms developed in-house 
• Legal process automation: Presentations on automated workflows and systems that enhance legal operations
• Contract management solutions: Showcasing innovative approaches to contract creation, review, and management
• AI and Machine Learning applications: Presentation on leveraging AI and machine learning for legal research and analysis
• Legal data analytics and reporting: Demonstrating capabilities in utilizing data analytics to drive legal insights and decisions 

13.05 - Closing remarks and farewell – until next year!

13.10 - Bon Appétit: lunch before departure  

14.15 - Departure