In two weeks, some of the greatest minds in the profession are coming together to work through the biggest challenges and opportunities currently facing the legal industry. And we invite you to join us.

Our Legal Business Strategy conference at Legalweek NY was designed to address the core issues covered by The American Lawyer and Law.com's suite of publications when it comes to the purchase, sale and delivery of legal services. As co-chairs, who each have a lens into that ecosystem through our focus on law firms, clients and law companies, we were particularly focused on not only ensuring we covered the most pressing issues facing the industry, but that all stakeholders were in the room together to work through these topics.

The legal industry is increasingly interconnected, and the future will be not just about maintaining a competitive edge, but finding that edge through collaboration with a widening array of providers to solve evolving client needs. This conference is one of the only ones to bring together all of those players, all with an eye toward strategic advancement of your business and the industry as a whole.

As we meld law firm and law department strategic initiatives with talent advancement, diversity and marketing and business development, there are sessions geared toward anyone in the profession strategically thinking about the delivery of legal services. Our list of topics and speakers offers something for everyone. Join us in discussing topics that include the deregulation of law firm ownership rules, change management, data analytics in practice, strategic initiatives of law companies and the Big Four, guiding organizations through the recession, the impact of calls to action around diversity, talent management, mental health, ensuring racial and gender equity in your organization, lateral integration, nontraditional career paths and client loyalty initiatives.

After two days of deep discussions and debate, we invite all of our attendees to come together in one session to focus on the modernization of legal services delivery. What will the future look like? What needs to happen to bridge the disconnect between client and provider? How do we get there? At the end of our two-day program Feb. 4-5, you will leave with key insights into the future of legal services delivery and actionable items to employ in your organization. What does the evolution of the industry mean for your business? Come join us to find out!

Topics and Speakers

Regulation of Law Firm Ownership Rules

  • Hon. Deno Himonas – Utah Supreme Court
  • Rebecca Sandefur – Arizona State University
  • Hon. Ann A. Scott Timmer – Arizona Supreme Court
  • Andrew Arruda – Ross Intelligence
  • Ralph Baxter, former Orrick chair, now a strategic adviser, Intapp board member, podcast host, and writer

Data on the Past to Inform the Future

  • Jim Jones, Georgetown Law Center
  • Maya Markovich, Dentons NextLaw Labs
  • Dan DiPietro, formerly of Citi, currently consultant
  • Dan Linna,  professor focused on innovation at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
  • Patrick Fuller, ALM Intelligence

GCs Take on Diversity in the Profession

  • Mitch Zuklie – Chair, Orrick
  • Leila Hock – Diversity Lab
  • James Chosy – GC, US Bank
  • Annete Bernstein – Chief Labor and Employment Counsel, AIG

Recession Planning

  • Deborah Farone, Farone Advisors
  • Lisa Simon, CMBDO, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie
  • David McClune, CMO, Hogan Lovells
  • Peter Columbus, CBDMO, Mayer Brown
  • Keith Edwards, Vice President, Legal Market Leader, ALM Media

The Big Four, Law Companies, Law Firms Restructured

  • Nicholas Bruch, Lead Knowledge Analyst For Legal and Tax, EY
  • Luis Fernando-Guerra, Global Leader, Deloitte
  • Jeroen Plink, CEO, Clifford Chance Applied Solutions
  • Karl Kong, SVP of Product, Axiom
  • Gina Passarella, Editor-in-Chief, The American Lawyer, ALM

Building Client Loyalty

  • Rhonda Powell, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Buzzfeed
  • Trish Lilley, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Stroock
  • Mark Young, Counsel, Vox Actio
  • Catherine Zinn, Chief Client Officer, Orrick
  • Gina Rubel, CEO, Furia Rubel Communications, Inc.

Mental Health

  • Brian Cuban, Attorney, Author, Addiction Recovery Advocate
  • Elena Rand, CMO, Wiggin and Dana
  • Eileen Travis, Director, Lawyer Assistance Program, NYC Bar Association
  • Kathleen Mahieu, Lead Business Consultant for Strategy and Innovation, Aetna Behavioral Health

Gender and Racial Equity in Firms

  • David Sandford, Sanford Heisler
  • Jeanne Christensen, Wigdor
  • Johnine Barnes, Greenberg Traurig
  • Tracey Salmon Smith, Drinker Biddle & Reath
  • Lisa Helem, editor-in-chief, The National Law Journal

Change Management

  • Michele DeStefano, Law Without Walls
  • Ari Kaplan, Ari Kaplan Advisors
  • Bill Garcia, Thompson Hine

Data Analytics and What the GC Wants

  • Mark Smolik, General Counsel, DHL Supply Chain Americas
  • Raj Goyle, Co-CEO, Bodhala
  • Jae Um, Director of Pricing Strategy, Baker McKenzie
  • Owen Byrd, Chief Evangelist & General Counsel, Lex Machina

Putting Business Professionals in Front of Clients

  • Melissa Seitter, Kobre & Kim
  • Mike Caplan, COO, Goodwin
  • Dawn Sheiker, Director of Client Relations, Morris James
  • Ben Seal, executive editor, The American Lawyer

The Nontraditional Career Path

  • David Lat, Lateral Link
  • Zach Abramowitz, ReplyAll
  • Chris Wilson, Taylor English Duma
  • Rose Walker, Legal Week

Lateral Integration

  • Aleisha Gravit, CMBDO, Akin Gump
  • Kevin Margolis, lateral hiring partner, Benesch
  • Jasmine Trillos-Decarie, consultant

Training, Talent Loyalty and the Path to Partnership

  • Jill Backer, Pace University School of Law
  • Frank D'Amore, Attorney Career Catalysts
  • Mark Goldstein, Reed Smith

The CMO/CIO Relationship

  • Despina Kartson, CMO, Jones Day
  • Bill Gregory, CIO, Jones Day
  • Scott Winter, Lexis Nexis' InterAction

Register for Legal Business Strategy here.

After decades as chair of Orrick, where he ushered in a new period of growth for the firm, Ralph Baxter has been involved with a series of initiatives around the modernization of law practice. He has or currently sits on the board of several law companies and has been a thought leader, through speaking, writing and podcasting, on the evolution of the business of law.

Gina Passarella is the editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer and ALM's Global Legal Brands, including Corporate Counsel, Legaltech News, The National Law Journal, Legal Week and China Law & Practice.