[Part of InsideLegal's guest blogger program - This article authored by Monica Bay, Editor-in-Chief of Law Technology News]
Law Technology News has always been a leader in adopting new technologies within our company, and this spring, we’re very excited about a new program we will launch at LegalTech West Coast in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 27. Called “Law Technology News Presents FutureTech,” it combines a live seminar track, a “six-pack” of podcasts, and articles in the print and online editions of the magazine.
It’s the first-time that LTN has programmed content for a full LegalTech seminar track, and I will moderate the three sessions. FutureTech is sponsored by BlueArc, a San Jose, Calif.-based company that provides high performance unified network storage systems to enterprise markets.
The panels are:
“Sell Your Tech,” 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
It’s no longer enough for firms to win business based on legal skills alone. Today’s savvy firms realize that they must offer top-line technology to win and keep clients. Our panelists will share how their firms have integrated technology tools, such as extranets and wikis, to increase collaboration and better serve their clients’ expectations. Panelists are: Doug Caddell (CIO, Foley & Lardner); Rob Kahn (Director, Business Development, Fenwick & West); and Robin Solomon (Firmwide Knowledge Manager, Heller Ehrman).
“Green Law,” 1:30-3 p.m.
It’s Not Easy Going Green.... Or is It? Using technology tools to create a “green” workplace will not only lower your energy consumption, it will increase productivity, morale, profits, improve lifestyles and health, cut costs, and help you get, and keep, new clients. How your organization can establish a program, from leadership needed to concrete programs that work. Panelists are: Alvidas Jasin (Director of Business Development, Thompson Hine); Bruce Lymburn (Partner, Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean); and Tony Hoke (Global Technology Purchasing/Asset Manager, Morrison & Foerster).
“TomorrowLand” 3:30-5 p.m.
Where is the legal community headed, and what challenges does it face, as technology becomes embedded in every facet of our lives? From delivering the best possible legal services to our clients; to providing opportunities to excel in the workplace and at home; to confronting the challenges of competing interests in a global economy; it’s a heady challenge to move forward. Named for the iconic futuristic venue at Disneyland, this panel will showcase six legal technology leaders who will forecast what lies ahead — and where opportunities may abound. Panelists are: J. Craig Williams (Partner, The Williams Lindberg Law Firm (Tech & Law in Multi-jurisdictional Practices)); Craig Ball (Consultant/Attorney (Crystal Ball: Future of E-Discovery)); Douglas Caddell (CIO, Foley & Lardner (Next Generation – Systems & People)); Peter Hsiao (Head, Land Use & Environmental law Group, Morrison & Foerster (CleanTech)); Tom Baldwin (Chief Knowledge Officer, Reed Smith (Relationship Capital)); and Judith Flournoy (CIO, Loeb & Loeb (Leadership)).
I got the idea for the TomorrowLand session from TED (Technology Entertainment Design) -- the Silicon Valley think tank that produces amazing conferences where speakers are allowed exactly 18 minutes to talk. I loved the concept, so I'm trying this format (15 minutes) for the third session of the track – and we are going to tape them to create six standalone podcasts for our Law Technology Now series (a joint project between Law.com & Legal Talk Network). You can even subscribe on iTunes!
Finally, the LTN component: We'll report on FutureTech in our August issue, which will be available in print, digital and website versions.
We are tremendously excited about this first-ever Live/Podcast/Print/Digital/Website effort. About the only media we're NOT doing (yet) is TV -- but don't rule that out for the future. Let me know what you think! LegalTech West Coast will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 26 & 27.
About Monica...Monica Bay, a California lawyer, is editor-in-chief of Law Technology News, published by Incisive Media.