On 11 & 12 March, over 400 legal professionals from across Aotearoa and abroad will gathering in Auckland for the premier legal innovation and technology event on the New Zealand calendar.
LawFest continues to be the only opportunity in New Zealand for the legal and technology community to come together to network, collaborate and learn about how to innovate and adapt to change, shaping the future delivery of legal services.
A new two-day experience + a new venue
Get ready for a new era of LawFest, with the event expanding to two dynamic days at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, combining a world-class conference with a free Expo & Networking Afternoon.
Day One is the new Expo & Networking Afternoon, which is completely FREE to attend. The new format provides an opportunity for the wider profession to discover the latest legal-tech solutions, meet innovators and connect with peers in an open, collaborative space.
Whilst Day Two is the LawFest we all love, with inspiring keynotes, practical panels and the always-popular Tech Talks + not to be missed networking and Expo.
A programme to inspire & challenge your thinking
With 20+ amazing speakers from New Zealand and abroad, the interactive programme will deliver practical insights of how to innovate and leverage technology to help you deliver legal services for today and the future.
The 2026 programme is designed to challenge thinking and inspire human-centred innovation, because real progress begins with people. From generative AI and automation to leadership, culture and capability, every session focuses on the opportunities of enabling technology to enhance how we work, not replace it.
We welcome back the exceptional Janey Haringa as the MC of the incredible speaker line-up.
Australians leading futurist Steve Sammartino is the keynote, and will explore how businesses can now optimise operations and drive innovation like never before – all enabled through AI. He will cut through the hype, and show the importance of the ‘human-layer’ for successful AI adoption. He will explore how businesses can now optimise operations and drive innovation like never before. All attending will be left with a clear understanding of what’s possible, what’s next and how you can leverage the power of AI.
Ben Gilbert of Microsoft ANZ then explores how a “legal frontier department” uses AI to achieve more with less. He’ll demonstrate how legal teams are already integrating AI into workflows to streamline operations, uncover insights, and create space for deeper strategic and human work.
Responsible adoption and moving beyond the hype
In Shaping Responsible AI, Dr Sarah Mitchell, Joy Guo and Rick Shera tackle the crucial intersection of governance, ethics and innovation. Their discussion goes beyond policy to the practical steps needed to adopt AI safely, transparently and responsibly, a vital foundation for long-term trust and sustainability.
Leading law firm CEO, Tessa van Duyn re-imagines how AI and value-based pricing can work hand-in-hand to transform profitability, client satisfaction and service delivery. Her insights reveal how technology can enable lawyers to focus more on what matters most: meaningful outcomes and stronger relationships.
Josh McBride then takes us Beyond Hallucinations: making AI work for you, showing how to reliably integrate AI into firm and business processes while maintaining professional standards and human judgment. He will demonstrate effective prompting, fluency, and trust, using standard risk management frameworks and techniques for high-stakes matters, with a focus on practical implementation that meets client expectations and ethical requirements.
People, culture and the future of work
Change is not just about tools – it’s about people. You will hear how organisations are leveraging technology to empower their people and improve client experience.
The Working Differently panel features leaders such as Andrew Petersen, Renika Siciliano, Scott Moran and An-Ru Stevens who will share how culture, leadership and collaboration drive transformation within their organisations. Expect practical lessons on empowering teams, overcoming resistance and building a mindset of continuous improvement.
In the Reimagining the Legal Workforce panel, The Law Association of New Zealand Chief Executive Clayton Kimpton will moderate a panel featuring industry leaders Jo Stevenson, Hayden Wilson, Wenee Yap and Debbie Humphrey to explore the evolving roles, skills and structures shaping the next generation of legal professionals. They’ll show how firms and in-house teams can develop people who adapt, learn and thrive in an AI-enhanced world.
Practical Insights of leveraging tech
The always-popular Tech Talks return with short, powerful stories full of practical insights from legal professionals of how they have leveraged technology. These talks will highlight the Why, What, How and the Lessons Learnt from a number of different tech projects.
LawFest will continue to inspire and challenge your thinking and guarantee you will find something you can take away and implement in your own team.
Checkout the full programme and all the speakers.
See all the tech in one place
LawFest will again feature the largest expo of legal tech solutions in New Zealand, with 40+ exhibitors all under the one roof. This is a not to be missed opportunity to see who they are, what they do, and how they might be able to help you!
The Expo hall will be the place to be over the two days with live demos, conversations and discovery, your opportunity to see the latest innovations up close.
Both days conclude with not to be missed Networking Functions, courtesy of By Lawyers and The Law Association of New Zealand respectively.
Why you should be there?
LawFest 26 is where ideas turn into action. Whether you’re starting your innovation journey or leading transformation – LawFest has something for everyone. This is your chance to explore how AI can enhance how we work, how we collaborate, and how we deliver value.
Across two energising days, you’ll gain the tools, perspectives and relationships to drive transformative change, powered by technology but grounded in human creativity, curiosity and empathy.
If you want to innovate, adapt, leverage technology, drive efficiency and prepare for the future, then LawFest is for you!