6th 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 29, 2026; 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
In-Person at Willkie Farr & Gallagher Conference Center,
300 North LaSalle Dr.
CHICAGO
It’s All About AI in 2026
-
State of the Market including effects of inflation/energy costs
-
Lateral Hiring Strategy has “Significantly Tightened”
-
Corporate Counsel Collaboration with Law Firms Using AI
-
How Does Global Disruption and Conflict in the Middle East Affect Firm Profitability?
-
Complying with Revised Outside Counsel Guidelines Which Include Pricing and AI Guidance
-
How Can Firms Charge Clients for AI?
-
How Does AI Investment Change Profitability Models?
-
Emphasizing Performance Management and Project Management in the Firm
State of the Market, Client Relationships, Rates and AI
We live in a period of disruption, heightened economic volatility and higher energy costs with risk of rising inflation affecting clients and firms. Firms are using AI to understand drivers of profitability, how to collaborate with clients’, which tools to use, and how to use AI to maximize profitability.
Large rate increases are more difficult to sustain in 2026. Eroding margins are likely in 2026. What steps can your firm take to avoid/fix diluting margin issues? Since firms raised rates in 2025, how are working relationships with clients affected? AI is central to today’s profitability discussions with clients. Firms are struggling to understand where AI productivity and 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 partner with clients? What clients want from their law firms is lower prices. Since AI is used by partners and associates for client work; what savings can be reflected in bills, if any? Are AFAs or fixed fee arrangements a preferred way to package services including AI?
FACULTY
Stellar Panel of Experts…
Amol V. Bargaje
Global Chief Innovation Officer,
Mayer Brown LLP,
Chicago
Michael A. Carrillo
Partner, Chicago Managing Partner,
Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago
Chris Cartrett
President & CEO,
Aderant, Atlanta, GA
Alex Crowley
Applied AI Practice Team, BakerML,
Baker & McKenzie LLP, Chicago
Justin Ergler
Principal, J Ergler Consulting,
Raleigh, NC
Dennis Garcia
Vice President & General Counsel,
Litera; Former Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft, Chicago
Richard F. Hans
Managing Partner, Vertical Operations,
DLA Piper LLP (US), New York
Richard Jolly
Associate Clinical Professor, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University;
Director, Stokes & Jolly Consulting Ltd.,
Chicago
William Josten
Director of Client Value and Commercial Strategy,
Honigman LLP, Chicago
Gregory A. Klamrzynski
Chief Executive Partner,
Chapman and Cutler LLP,
Chicago
Daniel W. Linna Jr.
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law & McCormick School of Engineering, Senior Lecturer & Director of Law and Technology Initiatives
CodeX – The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics
Affiliated Faculty, Chicago
Todd Lippman
Vice Chairman, CBRE, Inc., Chicago
Lynette L. Lupia
Director II, Outside Counsel Strategy
& External Initiatives, AbbVie Inc.,
Evanston, IL
Craig C. Martin
Chairman, Americas,
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Chicago
Keith M. Maziarek
Consultant, Lucratic Method;
Formerly Director of Pricing and Legal Project Management, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Chicago
Sonia Menon
Chief Operating Officer,
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, Chicago
Paul Nicandri
Chief Practice Management & Pricing Officer,
DLA Piper, New York
Francesco Paolino
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel - Services & Solutions, CDW, Chicago
Mark Wasserman
Partner/CEO Emeritus,
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, Atlanta
Joel A. Wirchin
Senior Director, Legal Strategy,
Williams Lea, New York
Program: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
Panel 1: Disruption and the State of the Market
-
Law firm strategy
-
How do lateral acquisitions change profitability strategy?
-
Strategic planning and AI
-
-
Preparing data to use in productivity and profitability analysis
-
AI data structure and implementation
-
-
Business risk
-
Firm rules and policies including new positions
-
Training staff to deploy AI
-
-
Continuing real estate spend
-
Examples of new arrangements, AFAs
Panel 2: AI and Profitability
-
Structuring data to use in large language models
-
Using AI in record keeping and tracking profitability and pricing
-
Budgeting
-
Rolling out applications
-
Predictive analysis and the budget process
-
Firm attorney and matter budgets
-
-
New ways for firms to take advantage of AI.
-
Using AI to improve forecasting and increase efficiency.
-
Training partners, associates and business C-levels and staff
-
Use Cases
Panel 3: Pricing, Fees & Rates
-
Law firm billing rates and discounting; margin erosion
-
Keeping within budgeted prices
-
Alternative fee arrangements. Will AI lead to more AFAs? Are we at a tipping point with more and more AFAs? Over 50%?
-
Discounting, write-offs, aged WIP. Handling pricing disputes. Preventing pricing disputes
Panel 4: What Clients Want—And Expect: How to Collaborate Effectively with Them Using AI
-
Client expectations
-
Interacting with firm legal and business teams; dealing with lawyer leaders
-
Record high billing rates
-
Who on the firm business side are “in the room” with representatives of clients
