14th Annual, By Invitation Only
Law Firm PROFITABILITY,
PRICING & AI Conference
Financial Discipline Makes a Difference!
Top Panel Includes Clients, Law Firm Partners,
Senior Business Professionals
Wednesday, April 8, 2026; 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
In-Person at DLA Piper Conference Center
1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York
2026 Priorities, Prospects, Pitfalls—It’s All About AI!
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As Firms Raise Rates, How Does This Affect Working Relationships with Clients
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How Does AI Change the Client Relationship?
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How Does Lateral Hiring Affect AI Strategy
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Complying with Revised Outside Counsel Guidelines Which Include Pricing and AI Guidance
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Corporate Counsel Collaboration with Law Firms Using AI
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How Can Firms Charge Clients for AI?
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How Does AI Investment Change Profitability Models?
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Emphasizing Performance Management and Project Management in the Firm
State of the Market, Client Relationships, Rates and AI
We live in a period of persistent economic volatility affecting clients and firms. Firms are using AI to understand drivers of profitability, which tools to use, how to use AI to maximize profitability.
As firms raise rates, how are working relationships with clients affected? AI is central to profitability discussions with clients. Firms are struggling to understand where AI efficiencies are most effective.
We will discuss how outside counsel guidelines have been updated by clients as AI gains importance as a tool and a solution used by both clients and firms.
How can firms collaborate with clients? What clients want from their law firms is lower prices. AI is used by partners and associates for client work so clients want savings to be reflected in bills.
FACULTY
Stellar Panel of Experts…
Nitin Batra
Regional Chief Operating Officer – Americas,
Clifford Chance,
New York
David Cunningham
Chief Innovation Officer,
Reed Smith LLP,
Houston
Stan Gershengoren
Director, Practice & Business Systems,
Debevoise & Plimpton,
New York
Melissa Gyure
Director of Pricing,
Paul Hastings LLP,
New York
Richard Hans
Managing Partner, Verticals,
DLA Piper,
New York
Conan Hines
Director of Practice Innovation,
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP,
New York
David M. Kleinhandler
Senior Vice President, CBRE,
New York
Sara Miro
Managing Attorney-Director KM Solutions,
Sullivan & Cromwell,
New York
Paul Nicandri
Chief Practice Management & Pricing Officer,
DLA Piper,
Reston, Virgina
Sean McNamara
Chief Financial Officer – Global,
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP,
New York
William Perlstein
Senior Managing Director, Vice-Chair, Client, Services
FTI Consulting, Washington, D.C.
Melissa Prince
Chief of Legal Operations and Acting COO,
Ice Miller LLP,
Philadelphia
Eric J. Sekler
Chief Operating Officer,
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP,
New York
Raman Sharma
Vice President, Outside Counsel Management,
Deutsche Bank, New York
Thomas G. Trujillo
Chief Innovation & AI Officer,
SVP/Director MWAccel,
McGuireWoods LLP,
Charlotte, NC
Mark D. Wasserman
CEO Emeritus,
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP,
Atlanta
Gary M. Wingens
Chair and Managing Partner,
Lowenstein Sandler LLP,
New York
Joel A. Wirchin
Senior Director, Legal Strategy,
Williams Lea, New York
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Panel 1: Financial Discipline Makes a Difference: Trends in Profitability, and Data-Driven Decision Making Including AI
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Law firm strategy
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How do lateral acquisitions change profitability strategy?
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Strategic planning and AI
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Preparing data to use in productivity and profitability analysis
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AI data implementation
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Business risk
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Firm rules and policies including new positions
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Training staff to deploy AI
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Continuing real estate spend
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Examples of new arrangements
Panel 2: AI and Profitability
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Structuring data to use in large language models
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Using AI in record keeping and tracking profitability and pricing
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Budgeting
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Rolling out applications
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Predictive analysis and the budget process
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Firm attorney and matter budgets
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New ways for firms to take advantage of AI.
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Using AI to improve forecasting and increase efficiency.
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Training partners, associates and business C-levels and staff
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Use Cases
Panel 3: Pricing, Fees & Rates
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Law firm billing rates and discounting
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Keeping within budgeted prices
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Alternative fee arrangements. Will AI lead to more AFAs? Are we at a tipping point with more and more AFAs? Over 50%?
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Handling pricing disputes. Preventing pricing disputes
Panel 4: What Clients Want—And Expect: How to Collaborate Effectively with Them Using AI
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Client expectations
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Interacting with firm legal and business teams; dealing with lawyer leaders
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Record high billing rates
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Who on the firm business side are “in the room” with representatives of clients
Questions? Email: GinaRivera@sandpiperpartners.com Or Call: 973-278-8800.
CLE, CPE credit has been applied for.