September 22-24, 2026

Emily Lekahal is Assistant General Counsel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where she supports a wide range of legal and business matters across sponsorships, marketing, football operations, ticketing, and organizational compliance. She advises internal departments on contract drafting and negotiation, risk management, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on enabling business objectives while protecting the club's legal and operational interests. Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Emily earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School. She gained early experience in professional sports during law school with the Minnesota Vikings and further developed her sports and entertainment law background following graduation through her work with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). This experience provided her with a strong foundation in league operations, partnerships, and event-based legal support within professional sports environments. Emily brings a practical, business-oriented approach to in-house counsel work within the NFL.

Mark C. Palmer helps lawyers harness transformative technology while upholding the rigorous standards that define effective legal practice. He has served since 2015 as Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, where he advances ethics, civility, and access to justice through statewide mentoring, training, and educational initiatives. A recognized leader in legal innovation, Palmer serves on the Illinois Supreme Court's E-Business Policy Board and AI Task Force as well as the Illinois State Bar Association's Steering Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Standing Committee on Legal Technology. Palmer is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law since 2009 and a dedicated public servant, contributing extensively to bar leadership, pro bono work, and mentoring.

Jared D. Correia, Esq. is a former practicing lawyer, who has been a business management consultant, exclusively for law firms, since 2008. In that time, Correia has worked with 1000s of law firms, all over the world, ranging in size from solo offices to Big Law firms. He is an internationally recognized legal technology expert. Correia is the founder and CEO of Red Cave Law Firm Consulting, which offers services directly to lawyers, as well as through bar associations, for member attorneys. Correia was the host of the 'Legal Toolkit' podcast on Legal Talk Network, from 2009 to 2025. He is currently the host of the 'Legal Late Night' podcast on the Legal Broadcasting Company, and the host of the 'Adventures in LegalTech' podcast for Above the Law, in addition to contributing to the ATL Tech Center 2025. Correia is a regular presenter for legal organizations, and writes often for law firm business management publications.

Nicole Black is an attorney, journalist, and Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8am. She is the author of "Cloud Computing for Lawyers" (2012) and co-author "Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier" (2010), both published by the American Bar Association. She also co-authored "Criminal Law in New York," a Thomson Reuters treatise. She writes regular columns for Above the Law, ABA Journal, and The Daily Record and regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law and emerging technologies.

Ruby L. Powers, a Board Certified Immigration Attorney and founder of Powers Law Group, P.C., has over 17 years of expertise in law practice management and legal innovation. Author of Power Up Your Practice and host of the Power Up Your Practice podcast, she is also a professor and national and international speaker. A pioneer in remote law practice and an early adopter of AI-driven legal tools, Ruby helps firms modernize and grow through her consulting company, Powers Strategy Group. She also serves as Co-Vice Chair of ABA TECHSHOW and contributes regularly as a columnist for ABA Law Practice Magazine, Above the Law, and the Texas Bar Journal.

Richard Greenblum has been a construction lawyer in Austin, Texas for 43 years where he also represented owners with defective automobiles and aircraft repairs. Richard served in the JAG Corps of the Texas Army National Guard for two years and the Air Force Reserve both as a traditional reservist and an Individual Mobilization Augmentee for more than 22 years. Richard attended St. Mary's University Law School (San Antonio) on an educational leave of absence from Ford Motor Company but chose to enter private practice after graduation. Richard received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University.

Lance Kennedy is an attorney and law-firm founder who created lancekennedy.ai to help lawyers use AI in practical, responsible ways. A former federal prosecutor and U.S. Army Judge Advocate, Lance has tried seven federal jury trials and more than 50 trials in Texas courts. He also built a seven-figure law firm in under three years, so his work is grounded in the daily realities of running a practice. Through lancekennedy.ai, he shows firms how to improve intake, client communication, legal-work support, scheduling, financial reporting, and other repeatable work while keeping lawyers in control. Lance speaks to attorneys, firm owners, and legal organizations about choosing useful tools, setting clear rules, and turning AI from a source of confusion into practical help and measurable results for firms and their clients.

Gyi Tsakalakis is a prominent digital marketing strategist and the founder of AttorneySync, an agency dedicated to helping law firms grow profitably. As a licensed, non-practicing attorney, Gyi brings an authentic, data-driven perspective to the legal space, advocating for transparency and ethical marketing practices. An influential voice in legal tech, he is a former Co-Chair of the ABA TECHSHOW, a frequent industry speaker, and the co-host of the Lunch Hour Legal Marketing podcast. When he isn't helping lawyers master SEO and digital growth, Gyi is an avid coffee enthusiast, whiskey aficionado, and passionate Michigan football fan.

Scott Berry, Fractional CMO & Founder of MarketCrest, an international award-winning, 7-figure digital agency helping immigration and family law firms scale with ROI-focused marketing. Co-host of the Immigration Nation Podcast and The Law Firm Growth Lab Podcast. Author of The Law Firm Intake Playbook and frequent collaborator in legal industry publications.

Stacey Burke has been licensed to practiced law in Texas for 25 years and provides marketing and business development consulting services to law firms across the country. She and her team have worked with with hundreds of lawyer and law firms in a wide range of practice areas. Stacey has won many legal industry accolades, and her company has won prestigious marketing industry awards. Stacey's work has been published in the Texas Bar Journal, Trial magazine, Houston Lawyer magazine, Authority, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Legal Business World. She has spoken on legal marketing, legal ethics, and business development across the country and beyond.

Rebecca Ritchey, CEO and Founder of Sibus Law Group, APC, and COO of Prenups.com, is a family law attorney and entrepreneur focused on modernizing how couples approach marriage and divorce. She launched her first business out of law school, later co-founded a firm, and now leads a practice advising clients on divorce and marital agreements. In 2023, she became the California State Partner for Prenups.com, expanding her work to help couples proactively build stronger marriages. Rebecca holds a BS from Juniata College and a JD from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Mathew Kerbis, The Subscription Attorney and CEO of Practi, is an award-winning legal innovator on a mission to end the billable hour and affordably serve the latent legal market. He is the founder of Subscription Attorney LLC, an Illinois-based virtual law firm, where he operates as fractional in-house counsel for small business owners and everyday people, providing transparent and accessible legal advice through a subscription-based pricing model. To further his goal of helping the legal profession abandon hourly billing, Mathew co-founded Practi, a legal technology startup designed to make it easier for law firms to trade billing time for predictable, recurring revenue. He is also a frequent public speaker, host of the Law Subscribed and Legal AI Live podcasts, and instructor of highly-rated CLE courses.

LINDSEY E. EGAN is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Poppy Legal Group, a boutique law firm in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, concentrating in family law and estate planning. In 2018, Lindsey left the corporate legal world to build Poppy Legal Group from the ground up. Today, she represents clients in divorce, custody, support, and other family law matters, while also helping individuals and families create thoughtful estate plans that protect the people they love. Before launching her practice, Lindsey provided litigation support for a Fortune 500 company, where she gained experience managing high-stakes legal matters. She has since built a thriving boutique firm known for its modern approach to legal services, innovative systems, and exceptional client experience. Lindsey serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and co-chairs its Businesswomen's Committee. She is an active member of multiple local and state-wide bar associations. She has served as both a panelist and program chair for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) programs on family law and law practice management and is a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship, client experience, and building a successful boutique law firm. Her work has earned recognition as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's Top Women of Law, a Boston Magazine Top Rated Lawyer in Divorce and Family Law for five consecutive years, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Before pursuing a legal career, Lindsey studied classical piano performance and continues her vocal training. She lives on Massachusetts' North Shore with her husband and their two daughters.

As the owner of Profit Scale Thrive—an Akron, Ohio-based accounting and advisory firm, Kelley Brubaker partners with law firm owners so they achieve overflowing profits, scaled growth, and thriving lives. Kelley hosts the “Your Profitable Law Firm” podcast, and she is the author of the book “Stop Struggling and Start Thriving: A Guide To Transform Your Law Firm”.

Since 2013, Joe Patrice has been mocking lawyers for their own good at Above the Law. An NYU School of Law grad with stints at Cleary Gottlieb and Lankler Siffert & Wohl, Joe left the exciting world of white-collar defense to provide a dose of humor to America's legal news coverage. In addition to covering lawyers, law firms, and the legal academy, Joe follows the legal tech field, watching luddite attorneys have the daily epiphany that there just might be a better way to do all this.

Elissa I. Henry is the Managing Attorney and founder of Homestead Legal, a Texas-based probate litigation and estate planning firm serving families throughout the Austin area. She leads a growing team focused on probate disputes, estate administration, and legacy planning, with an emphasis on creating exceptional client experiences through efficient systems, thoughtful leadership, and innovative legal technology. As a law firm owner, Elissa is passionate about building scalable processes that allow legal teams to deliver high-quality service while maintaining a strong firm culture. Her practice and operations are powered by modern technology solutions, including the 8AM platform, which she leverages to streamline communication, improve client engagement, and support sustainable growth. Elissa is an active member of the Texas Bar College and remains involved in numerous professional organizations, including the Austin Black Lawyers Association, Travis County Women Lawyers Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin, Austin Young Lawyers Association, Williamson County Bar Association, Austin Bar Association, and the Round Rock and Hutto Chambers of Commerce. She is committed to mentorship, professional development, and advancing access to quality legal services. When she's not practicing law or leading her team, Elissa enjoys traveling with her partner and their three children, tackling jigsaw puzzles, birdwatching, and creating memorable family adventures.

Bradley B. Clark is a Texas civil litigator with 23 years of experience litigating complex commercial disputes across Texas. Mr. Clark is a Texas Super Lawyer, Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, and holds Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent rating, its highest mark for legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Clark is a professor of civil litigation whose research and writing interests center on the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, and the practice of law. In his free time, Mr. Clark designs, builds, and implements AI solutions for the legal industry.

Catherine Dawson, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, leads 8am’s Legal Department. After starting her career in big law, including 10 years at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Catherine was the General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer of several technology companies. She advises on corporate governance, legal compliance, M&A transactions, and corporate strategy. Catherine holds a BA in Economics from Oberlin College and a JD from NYU School of Law.

Anthony "Bobby" Afshar is the Managing Director of LehmanBush's U.S. offices, where he focuses on estate planning, wealth preservation, and business succession strategies for individuals, families, and business owners. Drawing on more than a decade of international legal and business experience, Bobby advises clients on protecting assets, planning for future generations, and navigating complex business and investment matters. Before returning to the United States, Bobby led LehmanBush's Shanghai office and advised private equity firms, investors, and operating companies on cross-border transactions throughout the Asia-Pacific region. His international background provides clients with a unique perspective on wealth management, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning. Bobby previously practiced with a leading global law firm in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and currently serves on the Board of Governors of AmChamUS.

Vi Nanthaveth is the founder and managing attorney of Nanthaveth & Associates, an immigration law firm based in Texas. With more than 20 years of experience practicing U.S. immigration law, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and employers navigate complex immigration matters with strategic, compassionate, and results-driven representation. Her practice focuses on both family-based and employment-based immigration, including humanitarian relief and business immigration. Known for her practical approach and ability to explain complicated legal issues in an accessible way, Vi is also a frequent speaker on immigration law and policy, providing education to legal professionals, businesses, and community organizations. She is passionate about advocating for immigrants while equipping others with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate the ever-changing immigration landscape.

Jennifer Ellis is a Pennsylvania attorney and legal technology consultant whose work focuses on ethics, law practice management, and the practical use of technology in legal practice. She has more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of law, technology, and legal education. She works with lawyers and legal organizations on technology selection and implementation, and she helps them evaluate tools realistically, without hype or false confidence, including the use of artificial intelligence. She frequently speaks and writes on legal ethics, cybersecurity, and the use of emerging technologies in legal practice.

Tristian Shannon is the founder of Primus, a legal marketing agency with a focus in AEO, AI search visibility, and YouTube content systems for law firms. Most law firms are creating content. Almost none of it gets found by AI. Tristian built a system that fixes that and he proves it inside the firms he operates, not just the ones he advises. As Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer at GMR Law, he helped turn a Massachusetts immigration firm into one of the most recognized in the state, with 42,000 TikTok followers, 14,000 on Instagram, and individual videos surpassing 2 million views. One firm he works with has closed over 1,000 cases in under three years. He shares the method through bar association presentations, webinars, and consulting.

Maddy Martin is the GM of Legal at Smith.ai, the AI and human front-office for law firms. Smith.ai is known for its pioneering AI Receptionist and Virtual Receptionist solutions, which give small and midsize firms a launchpad for growth. Maddy has spent the last 20 years growing tech startups and is a sought-after speaker, with expertise in marketing, sales, partner programs, and product development. She lives in Western NY with her husband and two dogs.

Rich Smith coaches senior leaders through the hardest, least-taught part of the job: the shift from being the expert everyone brings problems to, to leading the people who have to solve them. It's the transition that makes or breaks a new executive, and most leadership development never touches it. Rich works both layers — the tactical one (the hard conversation, the team that isn't performing, the decision being avoided) and the one underneath it (why you hold on, what you're protecting, who you think you have to be). He does both because he lived both: an Army officer, a finance director at Amazon, and a CFO. His clients come out more effective as leaders and more themselves.

Brooke Loesby is an attorney career coach, legal career strategist, and founder of Law Life Coach, where she helps lawyers and law firm leaders build high-performing, sustainable careers and organizations. She is the creator of the Lawyer Archetypes framework and author of The Nine Lawyer Archetypes: From Burnout to Breakthrough. Brooke works with attorneys, partners, and law firm leaders to redesign how firms develop talent, distribute work, build leadership capacity, and reduce attorney burnout through better systems rather than individual resilience. She also advises firms on law firm culture, attorney career development, leadership, collaboration, and organizational design to improve both performance and retention. A sought-after speaker and retreat facilitator, Brooke has worked with law firms across the country to help leaders build workplaces where both lawyers and businesses thrive.