Day One
Time
Session
1.00 pm
Registration & Expo Hall Open
1.00 - 6.30 pm
Free Expo Day
5.00 - 6.30 pm
Networking Drinks sponsored by By Lawyers
Day Two
Time
Session / Speaker
8.00 - 9.00 am
Registration & Expo Hall Open
9.00 - 9.05 am
LawFest 26 Opening
Janey Haringa, Principal, JH LAW & LawFest MC
9.05 - 9.10 am
Principal Partner Welcome
Mason Hafez, New Zealand Sales Manager & Global Business Enablement Manager, LEAP
9.10 - 10.00 am
Artificial Intelligence – The Future is NOW
Steve Sammartino, Australia’s Leading Futurist
Generative AI has taken the world by storm and but it’s just the start of the AI Revolution. Are you ready to witness the future unfold before your eyes? Imagine a world where machines can think, learn and adapt just like us. That world has already arrived – Artificial Intelligence is here…. And the humanoid robots a just a few meters behind.
Businesses can now optimise operations and drive innovation like never before. Thanks to recent advances in Artificial Intelligence. A.I is set to become a business ally for organisations quick, smart and brave enough to embrace it. It’s the most important technology in human history, possibly our last ever invention, and there isn’t an industry it won’t affect.
The advancements in this field will change the way we live, work and play. New issues will emerge like Agentic Liability, biometric copyright, synthetic relationships to name a few.
So brace yourself for the ride of a lifetime, because the future is here, and it’s powered by Artificial Intelligence. The time to embrace it is now – because you can be sure your competitors are.
At the end of this keynote, you’ll have a clear understanding of what’s possible, what’s next and how you can leverage the power of AI the moment you leave the room.
10.00 - 10.30 am
What it takes to become an AI Frontier Legal Department
Ben Gilbert, Head of Legal, Microsoft ANZ
Discover how an AI frontier legal department leverages generative AI to bridge the gap between soaring business demands and limited legal resources. This session reveals real-world strategies for driving cultural transformation, upskilling teams, and deploying AI-powered solutions that streamline workflows, boost productivity, and uphold ethical standards. Learn from Microsoft’s experience with practical examples, lessons learned, and a vision for how legal teams can lead at the cutting edge of innovation.
10.30 - 10.45 am
The Pitch
Rapid-fire 60 second elevator pitches showcasing our major partners
10.45 - 11.30 am
Morning Tea
11.30 - 12.05 pm
Shaping Responsible AI
Panelists;
Dr Sarah Mitchell, Founder, Anadyne IQ
Joy Guo, Senior Associate, Duncan Cotterill
Rick Shera, Partner, Lowndes Jordan
Moderated by Janey Haringa, Principal, JH LAW
These leading experts will share their experiences and keys to successful AI adoption in both your organisation and your clients.
They will look deeper into AI governance to ensure safe and responsible use of AI.
This session will provide insights of what practical AI adoption and enablement looks like so you can shape responsible AI use.
12.05 - 12.40 pm
AI vs the Billable Hour - Why Value-Based Pricing is Better Suited to Adopting AI Tools
Tessa van Duyn, CEO, Moores
Let’s have an authentic conversation about how AI is reshaping legal services and impacting profitability. Tessa will share Moores’ journey with switching off billable hours and moving to value-based pricing, so you can learn from our mistakes and successes. Indulge your curiosity about how to experiment with alternative pricing models to leverage AI and technology with improved client experience outcomes.
12.30 - 1.05pm
Beyond hallucinations: making AI work for you
Josh McBride, Barrister and Technology Law Specialist, Richmond Chambers
This session discusses how to reliably integrate AI tools into complex legal workflows, while maintaining professional standards.
Josh will examine real case studies that explain AI’s value in discovery, case strategy, legal research, and document analysis, and give his views on which tools work best in which situations.
Attendees will learn about 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.
1.15 - 2.15 pm
Lunch
2.15 - 2.50 pm
Working Differently
Panelists;
Andrew Petersen, Managing Partner, Bell Gully
An-Ru Stevens, Principal Consultant, Risk Management Group
Renika Siciliano, Executive Director, McCaw Lewis
Scott Moran, Founder and Director, Moran Law
Moderated by Janey Haringa, Principal, JH LAW
With so much changing (and quickly) with the impact of technology, especially AI, this session brings together some legal innovators who have disrupted the conventional way of delivering legal services.
They will share their stories around leadership, innovation and the future delivery of legal services.
The session will share practical insights of how you can enhance how you work and deliver legal services for the future.
2.50 - 3.25 pm
Reimagining the legal workforce
Panelists:
Jo Stevenson, People & Culture Director, Simpson Grierson
Wenee Yap, Director of AI Literacy, 43° Below
Hayden Wilson, New Zealand Chair and Global Vice Chair, Dentons
Debbie Humphrey, Founder, D/srupt
Moderated by Clayton Kimpton, Chief Executive, The Law Association of New Zealand
Rather than making lawyers obsolete, AI is empowering lawyers to better service their clients.
Yet uncertainty remains about how legal roles will evolve and what skills will be needed going forward.
This session brings together diverse perspectives on the changing nature of legal work – exploring the evolving skills required, together with strategies to retain and attract talent to thrive in an AI-driven era.
You will learn how to lay the foundations for transformative change through effective leadership, a people first forward-thinking culture, and a commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
3.25 - 4.00 pm
Afternoon Tea
4.00 - 5.00 pm
Tech Talks
Our short sharp Tech Talks format will provide practical insights of how legal professionals have leveraged tech.
These talks from legal professionals will highlight the Why, What, How and the Lessons Learnt from a number of different tech projects.
The light bulb moment in 2015 that remained an ember until 2024
Lynn Holtz, Digital Litigation Solutions National Manager, Chapman Tripp
In 2015, while leading Chapman Tripp’s national litigation support team, this former Ohio horse-farm resident saw a gap – external legal teams didn’t have access to the same high-quality support she provided internally.
Nine years later, she’s built an innovative, client-facing service to change that. Through DLS, she built a solution offering secure, conflict-free access to a leading document review platform, expert e-bundle preparation, and electronic courtroom management – bringing gold-standard support to the entire legal profession.
Switching Systems: WMRK’s Practice Management Transformation
Hayley Weber, General Manager, WRMK
Hayley takes you behind the scenes of WMRK’s move to LEAP, exploring the reasons for change, key project steps, and valuable lessons learned. Gain practical insights into how her team managed the transition, from planning and implementation to driving adoption and ensuring the new system delivers real value to the firm.
From RFQ to ROI: Lightspeed Legal’s AI Contracting Tool Adoption
Susannah Bull, Assistant General Counsel, Lightspeed
Suzy takes you through Lightspeed Legal’s rigorous RFQ process and ultimate decision to adopt Spellbook, an AI contract review tool. Learn how her team managed the RFQ and implementation process, driving adoption across the business to ensure the new system delivers tangible Return on Investment (ROI).
Building a 5-Star Practice: Asco Legal’s Tech Journey
Alistair van Schalkwyk, Director, Asco Legal
On their journey to becoming a 5-star SME law firm for both their clients and their team, Asco Legal realised the power of building the right tech stack. Discover how they stood out from the crowd by integrating tools like VXT with their practice management system. Hear from Director, Alistair van Schalkwyk, as he shares how they approached the project, lessons learned along the way, and how they continue to refine their tools and processes to save time, mitigate risk, generate revenue, and drive client satisfaction.
Delivering Change, Not Just Software
Eirlys Beverley‑Stone, Head of Technology Solutions, Lane Neave
Lane Neave is nearing go-live on its new matter management system, ShareDo – but this project is about more than technology. Technology projects succeed or fail on people, not platforms. In this session, Eirlys explores how Lane Neave is embedding change while implementing ShareDo, its new matter management system. Learn how her team tackled resistance, built buy-in, and kept the focus on outcomes – not just go-live. Walk away with actionable ideas for driving adoption and delivering real value in your own firm.