The Legal Business Strategy Conference, held on February 4-5, 2020, at the New York Hilton Midtown, was a premier event focusing on the strategies, practices, and organizational policies essential for law firms and corporate legal departments. Organized by ALM Media, this multi-track program provided insights that drive the business of law, strengthen client-law firm collaboration, and foster talent development and advancement.
Key topics covered during the conference included business development and marketing strategies, implementation of firm strategies, and talent advancement. Sessions such as "The CMO and the CIO: A Winning Partnership," "40 Years of Data: What the Data on the Industry Says About Its Future," and "When Opportunity Knocks: As GCs Actively Seek Diverse Counsel, How Do You Get the Work?" offered attendees actionable insights into the evolving legal landscape.
The conference featured notable speakers, including former United States Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who delivered the opening keynote address. Other distinguished speakers included Ralph Baxter, former leader of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, and Gina Passarella, editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer. The event also provided ample networking opportunities, with an exhibit hall showcasing the latest legal technologies and services.
This conference was ideal for legal professionals seeking to stay ahead in the rapidly changing legal industry. Attendees gained valuable knowledge on implementing effective business strategies, enhancing client relationships, and advancing talent within their organizations.
Speakers(62)
Aleisha Gravit
Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Ali Harwin
Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp
Annette Bernstein
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at AIG
Ari Kaplan
Principal at Ari Kaplan Advisors
Ari Kaplan is an attorney and legal industry analyst, recognized as a Fastcase 50 honoree and a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management. He is the author of 'Reinventing Professional Services' and 'The Opportunity Maker' and serves as the principal researcher for various benchmarking reports. Kaplan is also the founder of the Lawcountability® business development software platform and an avid swimmer and two-time Ironman triathlon finisher.
Ben Seal
Executive Editor at The American Lawyer
Ben Seal is the executive editor of The American Lawyer, having joined the magazine in February 2018. Previously, he spent five years at The Legal Intelligencer, editing magazines and supplements and reporting on Pennsylvania's state courts, legislature, and Attorney General's Office.
Bettina Warburg
Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Warburg Serres Investments and Animal Ventures
Bettina Warburg is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Warburg Serres Investments, an early stage venture capital fund focused on the decentralization of trade and Blockchain Technology. She is also a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Animal Ventures, an investment advisory firm that builds and invests in tech startups, educates executives, and designs new ways for Fortune 500 companies to commercialize and leverage emergent technologies.
Bill Carter
CEO at ALM Media
Brian Cuban
Attorney, Author, Addiction Recovery Advocate
Bruce MacEwen
President at Adam Smith, Esq., LLC
Catherine Zinn
Chief Client Officer at Orrick
Chris Wilson
Partner at Taylor English Duma LLP
Dan DiPietro
Principal at Dan DiPietro Consulting LLC
Daniel W. Linna
Senior Lecturer & Director of Law and Technology Initiatives at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law & McCormick School of Engineering
David Lat
Managing Director at Lateral Link
David McClune
Chief Marketing Officer at Hogan Lovells LLP
Dawn Sheiker
Chief Client Strategy Officer at Morris James LLP
Deborah Farone
Founder at Farone Advisors LLC
Desiree DeStefano
CFO at Mariposa Capital
Eileen Travis
Director, Lawyer Assistance Program at NYC Bar Association
Elena Rand
Chief Marketing Officer at Wiggin and Dana
Elena F. Rand is the Chief Marketing Officer of Wiggin and Dana, focusing on business development, strategic planning, public relations, firm branding, practice group management, and traditional legal marketing. She is a certified executive career coach, licensed psychotherapist, former practicing NYC litigator, serial entrepreneur, and author/public speaker.
Frank D'Amore
Principal at Attorney Career Catalysts
Gina Passarella
SVP Content at ALM
Jae Um
Founder & Executive Director at Six Parsecs
Jae Um is a strategy executive, insights analyst, and business designer for fast-changing legal markets, with over a decade of industry experience. She currently serves as the Director of Pricing Strategy for Baker McKenzie worldwide and is the founder of Six Parsecs, a market insights company focused on the legal vertical. Um is also a contributing author to Legal Evolution and The American Lawyer.
James E. Jones
Senior Fellow & Director of Program on Trends in Legal Practice at Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession, Georgetown University Law Center
Janet Stanton
Partner at Adam Smith, Esq., LLC
Jasmine C. Trillos-Decarie
Jeanine Conley Daves
Managing Shareholder at Littler Mendelson
Jeanne Christensen
Partner at Wigdor LLP
Jessica Grayson
Chief Business Development Officer at Phillips Nizer LLP
Jill Backer
Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development at Pace University School of Law
Jim Chosy
SEVP, General Counsel at U.S. Bank
Joe Braue
VP Marketing & Custom Solutions at ALM Media, LLC
Karl Harris
CEO at Lex Machina, LexisNexis
Karl Kong
Senior Vice President of Product at Axiom
Karl Kong is the Senior Vice President of Product at Axiom, dedicated to uniting top legal talent with the future of legal work. He has worked with Fortune 500 legal departments to harness technology, data, and dynamic teams to improve legal delivery. Kong leads the development of a platform that empowers thousands of lawyers across seven countries to discover opportunities, connect, and collaborate.
Kathleen Mahieu
Lead Business Consultant for Strategy and Innovation at Aetna Behavioral Health
Keith Edwards
Vice President, Legal Market Leader at ALM Media
Kevin Margolis
Integration Partner; Chair, Environmental Practice Group at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Leila Hock
Chief Growth Officer at Diversity Lab
Leila Hock joined Diversity Lab with over 10 years of experience in the legal field, including roles as a law firm associate, in-house counsel, and coach and consultant to law firms and associates. She began her career in the corporate practice at Mayer Brown's Chicago office and later practiced in-house at Kraft Foods and a global oil field services company in Denver. Hock is also a certified professional coach.
Lisa Helem
Editor-in-Chief at National Law Journal
Lisa Simon
Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie
Lucy Bassli
Founder and Principal at InnoLegal Services, PLLC
Luis Fernando-Guerra
Global Leader at Deloitte
Mark A. Smolik
Head of Legal DSC AM at DHL Supply Chain
Mark Smolik serves as the Chief Legal Officer for DHL Supply Chain throughout the Americas, leading the company's legal, commercial contracts management, and regulatory teams. He is a member of the company's Executive Team and Board of Directors and serves as Global Chair of the company's Supply Chain Legal Services Practice Group. Smolik is a frequent speaker and author on leveraging AI, technology, and data to drive value in organizations.
Mark S. Goldstein
Partner at Reed Smith
Mark Sportack
Chief Information Officer at Crowell & Moring
Mark Young
Counsel at Vox Actio LLC
Mark Young is Counsel at Vox Actio LLC, a consultancy that assists law firms and in-house legal departments in advancing engagement and service delivery priorities. With over 30 years of experience as a law firm partner, corporate general counsel, and business leader, Young offers a unique perspective informed by his diverse roles in the legal industry.
Maya Markovich
Chief Growth Officer at Nextlaw Labs
Maya Markovich leads the selection, development, and implementation of early-stage legal tech for Nextlaw Labs. With a background in behavioral science, change management consulting, and civil litigation, she focuses on advancing the legal industry through sustainable and scalable design and implementation. Markovich was named one of ABA Legal Technology Resource Center's 'Women of Legal Tech 2018'.
Melissa Seitter
Managing Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications at Kobre & Kim
Mike Caplan
Chief Operating Officer at Goodwin Procter LLP
Mitch Zuklie
Chairman at Orrick
Nicholas Bruch
EY Global Tax and Legal Analyst Leader at EY
Patrick Fuller
Chief Strategist at ALM/LBR Staff
Peter Columbus
Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer at Mayer Brown LLP
Ralph Baxter
Conference Chair at Legal Business Strategy
Reese Arrowsmith
VP, Head of Legal Operations at Campbell Soup Company
Rhonda Powell
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at BuzzFeed, Inc.
Rod Rosenstein
Former United States Deputy Attorney General
Rose Walker
News Editor at Law.com International, ALM
Tracey Salmon-Smith
Partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath
Trish Lilley
Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Stroock
William Garcia
Chief Practice Innovation Officer at Thompson Hine LLP
Zach Abramowitz
Co-Founder and CEO at ReplyAll.me
Event Details
- Date
- February 4-6, 2020
- 3 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 New York, United States
- New York Hilton Midtown
- Audience
- Legal professionals, including law firm leaders, corporate counsel, and legal service providers.