I’ve been attending ALM’s Legalweek in New York for several years. A couple of things every show has had in common was that they were all held at the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. And no matter when the show takes place, it somehow manages to snow.
But this year there were some changes, big and small.
My Takeaways and Points of Interest
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As the use of artificial intelligence permeates legal practice, a critical question confronts every legal professional who uses these tools: Can I trust this?
With a show this big (ALM says over 6,000 attendees over close to four days), it’s impossible to see and learn everything. But every year, I do try to come back with my top 10 takeaways. Or if not takeaways, at least the top things I noted. So here goes.
1. The most visible thing about this year’s show was where it was. Instead of the Hilton, the show was housed in the Javits Convention Center on the City’s west side. Hotel facilities, restaurants, and bars were not as plentiful as in midtown (if they existed at all). The Center was about a 20-minute walk (10 minutes by subway) from Times Square. Instead of the exhibit space being on three floors, it was on one.
Having been through a move from a hotel to a convention center as chair of last year’s ABA TechShow, I knew what to expect. Griping. Complaining. Pining for the past. Often those who advocate strongly for change in the legal profession are the ones who complain bitterly when one of their favorite conferences doesn’t take place in their favorite place.
Get over it. Change is inevitable. I can guarantee you ALM didn’t make the change just to upset you.
And there were some benefits. Open areas. More space. Bigger and better convention areas. But according to the naysayers it was “just too sterile” Give me a break. The show was well run, and the facility was clean, well laid out, and navigable. End of story.
2. Now for some bad news. (I know, I’m also about to complain but not about the facility change). Two of the keynotes had nothing to do with legal. One was by an ex-football player and the other by a writer/actor. I’m sure they are fine, interesting people, and, in the past, I’ve been in generally in favor of non-legal keynotes. But they need to somehow tie legal into the discussion. Usually, conference hosts have at least tried. This year, there was no effort at all.
On the other side of the equation, as I have written, the keynote panel of judges talking about the risks and threats they face every day was top notch. It was something that needed to be said and ALM deserves credit for taking this topic head on. Thanks, ALM.
3. It may just be me, but this year’s show seemed more commercialized than ever. Every keynote had a sponsor. Virtually every presentation involved a vendor as speaker(s) or as a sponsor. I understand economics but sometimes it seems a little much. And many of the presentations were nothing more than vendor marketing. It was to the point that after one of my posts about a session was published, Kevin Bashaw, CEO of Mason, put it well: “Is it me or do many vendors feel like they are aggressively selling timeshares?” Guess it’s not just me (or you, Kevin) after all.
4. Interestingly, Clio had a strong presence at this year’s show, not only taking up lots of exhibit space, but also sponsoring a keynote with an introduction by its CEO, Jack Newton. Relatedly, Harvey, which has traditionally marketed primarily to Biglaw, will be an exhibitor at TechShow. Both companies may be trying to expand their customer base, changing the dynamics of both shows.
5. Despite all the product and product enhancements by vendors, I didn’t see or hear anything completely new or earth shaking at this year’s show. There seemed to be, however, an acceptance this year that GenAI is here to stay and it will be impactful. It’s no longer an if. So, everyone is focusing on it and scratching their heads as to what it means and will mean. See my recent article on this very point.
6. Another interesting point: Microsoft had a huge booth in the exhibit hall. I mention this only because I have recently written about the threat of publicly facing LLMs taking on the legal market and its vendors. The same concept applies to Microsoft: does their presence suggest more direct involvement in the legal market now that the investment dollars are flowing? Hard to say. But it’s at least noteworthy that Microsoft is there in a significant way.
7. Before the show, several non-litigators asked me to let them know what I saw and heard that might pertain to their practices. What I noticed as a result is how heavily this show is directed toward litigation and e-discovery. It’s pretty much everywhere. Good for litigation but it may be leaving some markets untapped.
8. One gripe I kept hearing from vendors: at past shows, they would book rooms at either the Hilton or hotels close by for vendor meetings. Not so easy at Javits since there aren’t as many hotels close by. Many resorted to pop up “rooms” at Javits with portable walls. Not as private but functional as far as I was concerned. And I’ve been to plenty of shows where the vendor meeting places are a little distance from the sessions. They will get used to it.
And others grumbled they couldn’t just tumble down to the Hilton lobby bar and find someone to network with. But I went to plenty of parties and dinners this year and don’t think my life will be any the worse for no hotel lobby bar. In fact, my health may actually be better.
9. Due to its overall importance, the exhibit space deserves a separate mention. In short: huge improvement. The Hilton had the exhibitors spread out on three separate floors. Navigating between the floors was always a bit of a challenge. The space was dark and dingy.
By contrast, the Javits space was nice, open, and easy for attendees to walk around in and find vendors. Not sure what the complaints were (I’m sure there were plenty) other than “we just don’t like change.”
10. I have to mention the Javits staff. They were friendly, competent, and knowledgeable. All too often we talk about the vibe and energy (or lack thereof) of a show. But it’s often forgotten that a large part of that is how the facility staff and host interacts with attendees. It makes a difference if you are greeted with a smile, when your questions are answered, and when you have to be told no, it’s done in a professional nice way. Legalweek and Javits delivered.
And It’s a Wrap
So, it’s a wrap. Good show. Lots of positives. Yes, a few negatives. But that’s the story for most Legalweeks, and for that matter, other legal and non-legal tech shows. We come to learn, see and be seen, network, and be with people. The fact that we did all that in a different place doesn’t change the dynamic of what most of us are really there for. In that regard, not much really changed.
Oh, and by the way, for the first three days of the show, the temperature was in the 70s and 80s. Just when I thought this show would break tradition, guess what? On the last day of the show, yes, it did indeed snow. All is right with the legal tech world, after all.
Stephen Embry is a lawyer, speaker, blogger, and writer. He publishes TechLaw Crossroads, a blog devoted to the examination of the tension between technology, the law, and the practice of law.