ILTA Voices

#0167: (WWL) Resilience in Action: Inside Women Who Lead: Catalyst

What does resilience really look like in today’s rapidly evolving workplace? In this episode, Julia Montgomery, Beverley Seche, Nicole Monroe, and Doreen Kaminsky from the Women Who Lead Committee discuss the inspiration and themes behind Women Who Lead: Catalyst, and why resilience has become one of the most critical skills for the future of leadership.Haven't registered for Catalyst yet? Register now: https://www.iltanet.org/live-events/catalyst

#0166: (CT) Making Pilots Fly: Why Planning Matters More Than Ever

Why do some legal tech pilots soar while others stall? This session explored what it takes to design pilots that lead to lasting change. The speakers looked at lessons from success and failure, balancing risk reduction and validation with the need to test business hypotheses - not just tools. With GenAI and other emerging technologies, the stakes are higher than ever: MIT research shows 95% of pilots fail to deliver measurable ROI, and legal tech is no exception. Listen as they discussed how sponsorship, culture, and clear outcomes can turn pilots into launchpads for adoption.
Moderator: Floor Blindenbach, CEO, Organizing4Innovation LLC
Speakers:Sam Harden, Director of Litigation Support, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLPAdam Licht, Legal Tech ConsultantJames Mosher, Chief Innovation Officer, McInnes Cooper

#0165: (CT) ILTA Just-in-Time: Why Firms Need to Upskill Internal "AI Editors"

As Generative AI moves from pilot to practice, firms need to equip their teams with a new skill set: the ability to serve as “AI editors." Firms need to think about how to train their teams to review and validate AI-supported work to ensure accuracy, ethics, and client trust. This podcast explored why this skill set is critical, how firms can upskill attorneys to do it, and practical steps to maintain quality and keep matters moving fast. 
Moderator:@Patrick DiDomenico - Founder & CEO, InspireKM Consulting
Speaker:@Kathy Harford - Senior Knowledge Lawyer - Innovation & IP, Stevens-Bolton
Recorded on 03-05-2026.

#0164: (CT) Managing Constant Change on the Desktop

The pace of technology updates can be difficult to keep up with. From security vulnerabilities that must be addressed in operating systems or specific software, to feature enhancements and critical bug fixes. While automatic updates offer convenience, they can also introduce unexpected disruptions. How does a firm stay current with constant changes while still maintaining productivity and focus on core work? In this podcast episode, we explored how organizations can strategically manage ongoing updates, minimize risk, and create processes that keep teams informed without overwhelming them.
Moderator:@Shannon O'Connor - Legal Systems Manager, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LL
Speakers:@Michael Buckwell - IT Security & Compliance Manager, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP@James Kody - Senior Desktop Engineer, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP@Jenny Shanks - User Experience Team Lead, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP@Justin Siess - Enterprise End User Technology Architect, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Recorded on 02-27-2026.

#0163: Enabling Midmarket Law to Thrive with Actionstep

Triona Buckley is Chief Product Officer at Actionstep, and a strategic leader with more than 20 years’ experience driving growth, innovation, and transformation across law firms and legal technology businesses in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Known for challenging conventional thinking and aligning innovation with real business outcomes, Triona is focused on delivering solutions that empower firms to embrace the thriving future of midmarket law.
To learn more about Actionstep, visit: https://www.actionstep.com/
For more information about Trace, check out: https://www.actionstep.com/trace/
To book a demo, go here: https://www.actionstep.com/book-a-demo/
Find Triona Buckley, Chief Product Officer at Actionstep on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trionabuckleysaunders/

#0162: So You Wanna Join the C-Suite: Episode 5 — TRUST ECONOMY: Influence Without Overselling

In leadership, trust isn’t a given—it’s earned, protected, and sometimes rebuilt. This episode gets practical about the quiet power of credibility and how to lead without playing politics.
- How do you build trust with IT, attorneys, and senior leadership—without overplaying your hand?
- What do you do when you're caught off guard, and your credibility is on the line?
- What are the trade-offs between being liked and being respected—and how do you navigate them with intention?
- And what happens when trust breaks down?
We share a moment that didn’t go as planned, and the lessons that followed. This episode earns its place in the series by grounding listeners in the real work of influence—before we dive into heavier leadership terrain. If you’ve ever led from the middle, the margins, or the hot seat, this one’s for you.

#0161: (CT) To AFA or Not to AFA, That is the Question

For decades, people have been suggesting that the death of the billable hour was inevitable.  Evan Chesler said, “[t]he billable hour makes no sense, not even for lawyers” in his 2008 Forbes article "Kill the Billable Hour.” We haven't seen a lot of movement since that article, but with the explosion of GenAI in legal, there has been increased discussion and focus suggesting that AFAs will replace the billable hour. Will we be looking back on this time in 20 years and saying, “Remember when we thought the billable hour would go the way of the dodo bird?”
Moderator:@Michael Ertel - Director of Practice Innovation, Crowell & Moring   
Speakers:@Jared Applegate - Chief Legal Operations Officer, Barnes & Thornburg@Purvi Sanghvi - Director of Strategic Pricing, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP@Cassie Vertovec - Chief Practice Management Officer, Loeb & Loeb LLP
Recorded on 02-23-26.

#0160: (CT) Content Remix Series - Security & Compliance

We are pleased to introduce the second ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.

#0159: (CT) Content Remix Series - Technology Solutions Part 2

We are pleased to introduce the ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.
This series highlights compelling conversations and thought‑provoking discussions from recently delivered sessions, offering members an accessible way to stay informed, inspired, and connected to emerging ideas shaping the legal industry.

#0158: (CT) Content Remix Series - Technology Solutions Part 1

We are pleased to introduce the ILTA Content Teams and NextGen Innovators Group podcast series—an initiative designed to repackage high‑value, evergreen content in a format tailored for today's Next Gen legal professionals.
This series highlights compelling conversations and thought‑provoking discussions from recently delivered sessions, offering members an accessible way to stay informed, inspired, and connected to emerging ideas shaping the legal industry.

#0157: So You Wanna Join the C-Suite: Episode 4 — THE LEAP: From Expert to Executive

Every executive was once an expert—until the job demanded more than mastery. In this episode, we explore the pivotal shift from doing to leading, and what it really takes to make that leap.
- How do you evolve from technical excellence to strategic influence?
- What skills matter most when stepping into executive leadership—and which ones quietly fall away?
- What leadership cliché did you once believe, only to discard with experience?
- And what did you have to unlearn to thrive in your second or third C-suite role?
This episode bridges the gap between ambition and reality, offering honest reflections for anyone preparing to lead at the next level. If you’re standing at the edge of the leap—or already midair—this one’s for you.