2024 Programme | Thursday 7 March

Time Session / Speaker
8.00 - 9:00 AM
Registration & Expo Hall Open
9.00 - 9.05 AM
LawFest 24 Opening
Helen Mackay, Director, Juno Legal & LawFest MC
9.05 - 9.10 AM
Principal Partner Welcome
Jennifer Cathcart, Regional Director APAC, Netdocuments
9.10 - 9.55 AM
Designing Tomorrow: The future of law in the age of AI
Cat Moon, Director of Innovation Design, Vanderbilt Law School

In an era where AI threatens to overshadow human roles in law, how can legal professionals remain at the forefront? Join Cat on a journey that unveils the power of human-centered design in reshaping the legal landscape. Discover a vision of the future where lawyers and AI harmoniously collaborate, driven by design principles.

Throughout this interactive journey, you will be inspired to visualize a brighter, innovative future in the law.

This talk not only sets the stage for the day but also paves the way for the transformative Mega Sprint, culminating in a hands-on exploration of the future of law.

9.55 - 10.30 AM
Leading in the age of AI
Grant Herbert, Professional Services Leadership Mentor

The world is constantly changing – consequently, so is the way we need to lead. Command and control leadership doesn’t work so we must change the leadership landscape to get the best out of ourselves, our teams, and our firms.

In this session, Grant will show you how to navigate the changing landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and leverage your most valuable asset - your people. He will share his insights on how to inspire and empower your team to thrive in this new era 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 - 12.00 PM
Fireside Chat: Leading and adapting to change
Charles Spillane, CEO, Dentons Kensington Swan
Cecilia Burgess, CEO, Cooney Lees Morgan
moderated by Helen Mackay

Join these law firm leaders for an exclusive ‘fireside chat’ as they reveal how they are leading and embracing change to prepare their organisations for the future. They will share their practical experiences on culture, innovation, strategy and much more. They will also discuss how they have adapted and what they expect for the future of legal services in a changing market.

12.00 - 12.30 PM
Demystifying AI
Cat Casey, Chief Growth Officer, Reveal

Everything is moving so fast with AI and it has the potential to fundamentally change how legal services can be delivered.

Join Cat, one of the world's leading legal AI experts, as she moves beyond the hype to demystify AI. In this session you will learn how to take advantage of the opportunities that AI can provide currently to complete the practical tasks in the legal industry. You’ll also leave with an understanding of what is still to evolve even further in the future.

12.30 - 1.00 PM
Legal innovation still has a long way to go
Titus Rahiri, CEO & Founder, KorumLegal

Legal innovation is a buzzword in the legal industry. While we have seen some incremental change, there is still a long way to go for true innovation to really be seen.

In this session, Titus will reflect on the changing legal ecosystem and catalysts for change to date; note global examples of innovation that have shifted the legal landscape; discuss how regulation has enabled innovation in some countries and restricted in others; and reflect on how technology and generative AI will impact the future of law. He will conclude with his thoughts on how we can be truly innovative in the legal sector.
1.00 - 2.00 PM
Lunch
2.00 - 3.15 PM
Law Firm Focus Stream
Working Differently
Moderator:
Panellists:

This session will showcase some legal innovators who have disrupted the conventional way of delivering legal services. They will share their stories of how they adopted a different work style and leveraged technology to transform their business models and practices.

They will also provide some practical tips and insights on how to start, adapt and thrive in a changing market. This session is very interactive and allows you to engage with the experts.

Law Firm Focus Stream
Masterclass on successful legal software implementations

Don't let your software project turn into a nightmare! You've picked the right tool for your legal needs, but how do you make sure it works as expected, on time, on budget, and with everyone on board?

Learn from David, an expert in software implementation, how to avoid the common pitfalls and achieve a successful outcome. He will guide you through the best practices of project management and business change, and give you tips on how to make your project as smooth as possible.

In-house Focus Stream
In-house innovation stories from the coal face
Moderator:
Panellists:

Learn from the experiences of top in-house lawyers who have successfully innovated their legal departments and organisations. They will share the key strategies, tactics and tools they used, as well as the challenges and failures they faced.

You will get practical insights and tips that you can apply to your own team! This session is highly interactive and allows you to ask questions and exchange ideas with these in-house experts.

In-house Focus Stream
Rising Strong: Thriving through change, adaptation and continuous learning

Join Seshani on a journey from surviving to thriving in a BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible) world!

In an era of constant disruption and unpredictability, this session will explore why embracing change, adaptability, humanity and continuous learning are your legal lifelines.

Get ready to hear lessons from the trenches and practical strategies that will empower you to conquer resistance, embrace technology/AI and build a culture of continuous learning and experimentation. It's not just about change, it's about re-framing mindsets to rise strong.

Tech Talks Stream
Are You AI Ready? Preparing Your Firm for Success
  • Lindsay O'Connor, General Manager Content Australia & Content Strategy Asia Pacific, LexisNexis

Join Lindsay for an engaging session on how law firms can get ready to adopt AI and generative AI tools. She will explain the risks of using AI tools, and how to overcome them with practical steps. Lindsay will also share some of the current and future use cases for AI in the legal industry and give you some useful tips on what to look for when choosing AI tools. She will wrap up with some advice on change management, and how to get your team excited about AI and generative AI technologies.

You will learn how to reduce the risks of using AI and generative AI; what to ask vendors of AI tools; and how to motivate your team to embrace AI and Generative AI technologies.

FileTrails innovative approach to Data Management in Corporate Governance

This session will shed light on the importance of effective corporate information governance in the digital age. It will focus on FileTrail's strategic advancements in data management and how they are influencing legal practices.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about innovative solutions that tackle the challenges of data stewardship, ensuring compliance and improving operational efficiency.

This presentation is essential for professionals who want to navigate the complexities of modern data security and records management, especially in a landscape where regulatory requirements and client expectations are constantly changing.

Customer-led innovation to transform the legal sector

Join Stephen for this captivating session where he will show you how:

-putting people first in tech innovation can improve the legal sector, community well-being, and the environment;

- he worked with a leading New Zealand law firm to tailor eBrief Ready specifically for their needs; and

- based on his 30 years of experience, you can succeed in collaborative development projects with law firms, courts, and in-house teams.

Don't miss this chance to learn from the customer-led innovation expert!

Dark Data Discovery, Compliance and Governance

Legal firms handle very sensitive and confidential data from their clients, so they always need to show that they can protect and manage it well. But today, they also face stricter privacy rules, and more chances of data breach. Outside Counsel now seek assurance and increased transparency into those practices.

So, governance and compliance teams need to be sure about their data compliance, especially for the data they use in different places like file shares, email, chat, and document management systems (such as iManage or NetDocs). One of the biggest challenges has been getting a clear and consistent view from all the different data sources we have and it’s hard to do without spending too much time and money on it.

Simon will discuss innovative business solutions that help solve these business problems.

Harnessing AI to protect your clients' personal data

This presentation explores how AI can help New Zealand law firms protect their clients' Personally Identifiable Information (PII). AI can detect, label, and secure sensitive data, improving privacy and compliance.

The talk also covers the pros and cons of AI adoption, offering a practical guide for law firms who want to enhance their information security with AI.

3.15 - 3.45 PM
Afternoon Tea
3.45 - 5.00 PM
Mega sprint into the future!
Cat Moon, Director of Innovation Design, Vanderbilt Law School

Dive deep into the culmination of a day filled with inspiration, insights, and forward-thinking discussions. The ‘mega sprint into the future’ is a unique opportunity for attendees to collaboratively harness the day's collective wisdom, converging it into actionable plans for the future of legal services.

Under the guidance of Cat Moon, a pioneer in legal innovation design, participants will employ design thinking methodologies to ideate, reflect, and craft solutions that merge human expertise with AI's potential.

It's more than a wrap-up; it's an innovative laboratory where the future of law begins to take shape, right in front of your eyes.

5.00 - 6.30 PM
Networking drinks

Registration & Expo Hall Open

LawFest 22 Opening
Helen MackayDirectorJuno Legal & LawFest MC
Premium Partner Welcome
Jennifer CathcartRegional Manager – Asia PacificNetdocuments
Developing an Innovative Mindset
Frances Valintine CNMZFounderTech Futures Lab

In this keynote address, Frances shares her expertise in creating a mindset that is adaptable and embraces change. Given our futures are tech based, she explores the importance of collaborating and continuing to learn as our customers are changing and so do their needs. Discover practical tips to help you with your innovation initiatives and prepare you for now and the future. Be inspired and empowered to take risks, step off the conveyor belt, think originally, and lead with possibility – creating greater value for your clients.

Accelerating your legal team’s digital transformation
Marlo-Osborne Smith and Eric ChinDirectorsNewLaw – PwC

The pace and degree of digital transformation was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology budget restrictions loosened as digital adoption took a quantum leap and lawyers and corporate counsel transitioned to remote working. This shift presents a generational opportunity for us to move the legal industry into the digital age. Marlo and Eric will provide powerful frameworks, strategies and solutions to help you shape and accelerate your legal team’s digital transformation journey and share their hard-won learnings from other corporate services transformation projects.

 

The Pitch
Rapid-fire 60 second elevator pitches showcasing our major partners
Morning Tea
Māori Transformational Leadership: a Journey as an Agent of Change
Juliet Tainui-HernandezAssistant Governor & General Manager of Transformation and People at Te Pūtea Matua, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand

After two decades building her legal career internationally, Juliet Tainui Hernandez returned to Aotearoa to take up a pivotal role leading transformation, people and culture at Te Pūtea Matua (The Reserve Bank), while also serving as a non-executive director on the Board of Ngāi Tahu Holdings. In this inspiring session, she talks about her career journey, contributing to her iwi, and using Te Ao Māori to support financial and economic inclusion.

The Power of Wellbeing – Rewriting our Social Contract in a Post-pandemic World
Clive Elliott QC Barrister & ArbitratorShortland Chambers

The legal profession plays a critical role in maintaining the fabric of civil society, by upholding the rule of law and helping to resolve conflicts. However, unprecedented social change and technology is challenging almost everything we stand for. We need to understand what is driving this process so we can remain ahead of the curve and provide leadership and advocate for positive change. In this session, Clive provides a blueprint for how individuals, communities and humanity as a whole can flourish and thrive in the rapidly changing and unsettling post pandemic world and make a difference.

Privacy, Trust & Technology: Innovation with Accountability
Moderator:
Panellists:

With the rapid innovation in technology and growth in the internet of things (IOT), comes enormous opportunities to deliver value. On the flip side, relentless cyberattacks, rising data breaches and changing global privacy regulations require organisations to mitigate increasing risks and costs. Panellists will discuss how they apply robust governance to drive regulatory compliant processes, socially and ethically responsible actions to enable consumer and citizen trust both in businesses and government. This wide-ranging discussion will answer critical questions including what is privacy-by-design and security-by-design, why trust and ethics matter, how good governance can help mitigate risk and how to make the business case for investment in privacy and governance projects.

Law Firm Focus Stream
Practical Design – Delivering Projects for Law FirmsPractical Design – Delivering Projects for Law Firms

In this interactive session, Sara will discuss the power of legal design to help you and your team explore the unknown and the importance of cognitive diversity for successful project implementation. Drawing on use cases and example projects, Sara will illustrate how legal design can be used to deliver practical and meaningful change within law firms.

In-house Focus Stream
In-house innovation stories from the coal face
Moderator:
  • Sam KiddPanel Facilitator and CEOLawVu
Panellists:

Leading in-house lawyers share their personal innovation war stories, outlining the key strategies, tactics and tools they have adopted to drive change in their departments and organisations. Discover what worked (and what didn’t) plus the challenges they overcame along the way. You are guaranteed to find something you can take away and implement in your own team! This is a highly interactive session enabling delegates to discuss further with these in-house experts.

Tech Talks Stream
AI and Investigative and Litigation Strategies
  • George SochaSenior Vice President of Brand AwarenessReveal

George Socha and Professor Bill Hamilton of the University of Florida Levin College of Law teach a twice-yearly course at the law school on AI and investigative and litigation strategies. Join George Socha as he covers the highlights of the course in a session tailored to New Zealand and across the region.

AI in legal practice: Benefit or risk?

When considering whether to use AI during your document review, it is vital you are cognisant of both the risks and the benefits inherent in such technology. In this session, we will teach you about the potential risks associated with AI including errors and biases. We will also demonstrate the range of benefits AI can offer including time and cost-saving and improved QA through a series of case studies focussed on RelativityOne’s AI capability – Active Learning.

Responding to data breaches
    • Daniel KavanDirector – Litigation/Cyber Incident ResponseIntegreon

When a cyber attack results in a breach of sensitive data, responding quickly, completely, and correctly is essential to protect an organisation’s brand and bottom line. This session reflects on New Zealand’s mandatory data breach reporting regime under Privacy Act 2020, as well as parallel requirements in other jurisdictions that New Zealand businesses are likely to be impacted by, and considers the best ways to use technology to respond to these regulatory requirements in the event of a breach.

Break – Expo Hall Break
Law Firm Focus Stream
Working Differently
Moderator:
  • Ben PaulFounder & DirectorThe BD Ladder
Panellists:

The way legal service are delivered has been in a constant state of evolution, as law firms looked to disrupt the traditional model in order to achieve competitive advantage and adapt to the rapidly changing environment. In this session, leading legal innovators talk about how they are working differently, sharing their bold, creative and exciting strategies that set them apart. In this highly-interactive session, you will gain practical insights on how and where they started, what their future looks like as they continue to embrace a ‘work-differently’ mindset and discuss how you can successfully leverage technology to transform your business processes and practices with our expert panellists.

In-house Focus Stream
Practical Design – Delivering Projects for In-House Legal
  • Ben PaulFounder & DirectorThe BD Ladder
Panellists:

In this interactive session, Sara will discuss the power of legal design to help you and your team explore the unknown and the importance of cognitive diversity for successful project implementation. Drawing on use cases and example projects, Sara will illustrate how legal design can be used to deliver practical and meaningful change within in-house teams.

Tech Talks Stream
Beyond Static Content: How to use online assessments to attract new clients and referrers

A walkthrough of real-life examples of law firms using online assessment tools as an effective way to market their practice. In this session, you will discover how to effectively leverage online assessments to drive growth for your firm.

Digital transformation vs Ransomware: is going back to paper the data security answer?

Law firms are globally struggling to keep their clients’ data safe in cyberspace while managing the impact of decentralised workplaces. The headlines proclaim how cybercriminals are exploiting the work from home culture to ransom data and breach privacy. Fortunately, an old forgotten analogue friend is disrupting the lucrative ransomware industry with innovative countermeasures to protect your data. Join us for an inspirational talk on how to accelerate your digital transformation journey securely offline.

Afternoon Tea
New Law: What Is It And How To Prepare For It?
Mark A. Cohen, CEO Legal Mosaic & Executive Chairman of the Digital Legal Exchange

“New law” is a catchall industry term popularized in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. It is often linked to “legal tech,” “legal ops,” “ALSP’s,” and “legal innovation.” Each is usually considered discretely, not as part of a larger change process. That begs the question: Has new law produced changes that positively impact customers and society? Short answer: not much. So what is New Law?

This talk will examine its key elements and how legal professionals can prepare for it.

The Wrap
Helen Mackay, Director, Juno Legal & LawFest MC

Registration & Expo Hall Open

Helen MackayDirectorJuno Legal & LawFest MC
Jennifer CathcartRegional Director APACNetdocuments
Cat Moon, 
Director of Innovation Design
Vanderbilt Law School 

In an era where AI threatens to overshadow human roles in law, how can legal professionals remain at the forefront? Join Cat on a journey that unveils the power of human-centered design in reshaping the legal landscape. Discover a vision of the future where lawyers and AI harmoniously collaborate, driven by design principles.

Throughout this interactive journey, you will be inspired to visualize a brighter, innovative future in the law.

This talk not only sets the stage for the day but also paves the way for the transformative Mega Sprint, culminating in a hands-on exploration of the future of law.

Grant HerbertProfessional Services Leadership Mentor

The world is constantly changing – consequently, so is the way we need to lead. Command and control leadership doesn’t work so we must change the leadership landscape to get the best out of ourselves, our teams, and our firms.

In this session, Grant will show you how to navigate the changing landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and leverage your most valuable asset – your people. He will share his insights on how to inspire and empower your team to thrive in this new era of innovation.

Rapid-fire 60 second elevator pitches showcasing our major partners
Charles SpillaneCEO, Dentons Kensington Swan
Cecilia BurgessCEO, Cooney Lees Morgan
moderated by Helen Mackay

Join these law firm leaders for an exclusive ‘fireside chat’ as they reveal how they are leading and embracing change to prepare their organisations for the future. They will share their practical experiences on culture, innovation, strategy and much more. They will also discuss how they have adapted and what they expect for the future of legal services in a changing market.

Cat Casey, Chief Growth OfficerReveal

Everything is moving so fast with AI and it has the potential to fundamentally change how legal services can be delivered.

Join Cat, one of the world’s leading legal AI experts, as she moves beyond the hype to demystify AI. In this session you will learn how to take advantage of the opportunities that AI can provide currently to complete the practical tasks in the legal industry. You’ll also leave with an understanding of what is still to evolve even further in the future.

Working differently
Moderator:
Panellists:

This session will showcase some legal innovators who have disrupted the conventional way of delivering legal services. They will share their stories of how they adopted a different work style and leveraged technology to transform their business models and practices.

They will also provide some practical tips and insights on how to start, adapt and thrive in a changing market. This session is very interactive and allows you to engage with the experts.

Masterclass on successful legal software implementations

Don’t let your software project turn into a nightmare! You’ve picked the right tool for your legal needs, but how do you make sure it works as expected, on time, on budget, and with everyone on board?

Learn from David, an expert in software implementation, how to avoid the common pitfalls and achieve a successful outcome. He will guide you through the best practices of project management and business change, and give you tips on how to make your project as smooth as possible.

In-house innovation stories from the coal face
Moderator:
Panellists:

Learn from the experiences of top in-house lawyers who have successfully innovated their legal departments and organisations. They will share the key strategies, tactics and tools they used, as well as the challenges and failures they faced.

You will get practical insights and tips that you can apply to your own team! This session is highly interactive and allows you to ask questions and exchange ideas with these in-house experts.

In-house Focus Stream
Rising Strong: Thriving through change, adaptation and continuous learning

Join Seshani on a journey from surviving to thriving in a BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible) world!

In an era of constant disruption and unpredictability, this session will explore why embracing change, adaptability, humanity and continuous learning are your legal lifelines.

Get ready to hear lessons from the trenches and practical strategies that will empower you to conquer resistance, embrace technology/AI and build a culture of continuous learning and experimentation. It’s not just about change, it’s about re-framing mindsets to rise strong.

Harnessing AI to protect your clients’ personal data

This presentation explores how AI can help New Zealand law firms protect their clients’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII). AI can detect, label, and secure sensitive data, improving privacy and compliance.

The talk also covers the pros and cons of AI adoption, offering a practical guide for law firms who want to enhance their information security with AI.

Customer-led innovation to transform the legal sector

Join Stephen as he shows you how customer-led innovation can change the legal sector for the better.

Cat MoonDirector of Innovation Design, Vanderbilt Law School

Dive deep into the culmination of a day filled with inspiration, insights, and forward-thinking discussions. The ‘mega sprint into the future’ is a unique opportunity for attendees to collaboratively harness the day’s collective wisdom, converging it into actionable plans for the future of legal services.

Under the guidance of Cat Moon, a pioneer in legal innovation design, participants will employ design thinking methodologies to ideate, reflect, and craft solutions that merge human expertise with AI’s potential.

It’s more than a wrap-up; it’s an innovative laboratory where the future of law begins to take shape, right in front of your eyes.

Networking drinks. 
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