THE CANADIAN LEGAL INNOVATION FORUM

2022 Fall Webinar Series



Canadian Legal Innovation Forum 2022 Webinar Series returns with its Fall 2022 series. The webinars’ content is comprised of a series of focused, collaborative presentations from experts at law firms, law departments and third party sector service providers focused on key themes related to the intersection of business and law.

The presenters will focus on their innovative approaches to common challenges faced by stakeholders in the sector. They will provide specific examples and case studies of solutions that improve processes, encourage better collaboration and leverage technology to improve legal service delivery.


Structure

  • Webinars are are free to attend and accredited for professionalism credits by the LSO and CPD credits from LSBC

  • Panel discussion format with 3-4 presenters from law firms, in-house counsel and third party partners

  • Content for the program is highly curated, directed by user demand and provides clear takeaways for end users

  • Users will be able to access the webinar for free by registering their details

  • Webinars will be available live or in archived format via Zoom’s webinar platform


Speakers Include

 

Webinars Available on Demand (Free to View)

 

Past Webinars

Cyber Security + Privacy: Mastering emerging risks in your organization (December 1st: 12.00-1.00pm ET)

In 2021, data breaches cost Canadian companies up to $7M in recovery, and the potential costs for litigation are significantly higher.

With most organizations adopting hybrid work models, where employees regularly work offsite, there is increased exposure to cyber attacks. Because a hybrid organization’s data is distributed across multiple users, platforms, and devices, breach response is often very complex.

Data forensics is now a critical element in legal counsel’s breach response strategy: to mitigate the impact on the organization, counsel needs to know exactly what data was accessed, whose data was accessed, and whether there is obligation to report.

In this informative panel discussion, experts in cyber security, eDiscovery forensics and privacy law will focus on the role of legal counsel in preparing for and responding to a cyber breach.

We’ll cover:

  • Best practices for data security & information governance

  • Defensible data collection and preservation

  • How to engage with 3rd parties on a data security strategy

  • How IT and legal can work together effectively

  • Tips for building a comprehensive disaster response plan

Speakers:

Natasha Anzik, Privacy Counsel, Wealthsimple

Ryan Berger, Partner, Lawson Lundell

Bradley Freedman, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais

Sean Lynch, Director of Client Strategy, Ricoh Canada

Chair: Prerna Pandey, Senior Solutions Consultant, IT Services, Ricoh Canada

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

 

Mastering Corporate Governance, Part 2 (November 16: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET)

To ensure that organizations have an effective corporate governance strategy in place, legal departments play a key role. Corporate governance centers around a structure of rules, practices and processes used to direct an organization’s strategy and operations. And recently, new drivers in areas such as ESG, cyber-security and diversity and inclusion are playing key roles in shifting the corporate governance landscape.

In part two of our series, our speakers - leading corporate governance experts - will focus on managing and mitigating risk when it comes to corporate governance. 

The discussion will cover the following points:

  • What are the key risks organizations are facing when it comes to corporate governance and how are they mitigating them?

  • A focus on specific areas surrounding financial concerns, compliance and regulation and people management in a corporate governance context.

  • How are legal departments implementing effective corporate governance strategies from the ground up?

Speakers:

William Chung, Business Development Executive, DiliTrust

Nagendra Krishnamurthy, Head of Legal & Corporate Secretary, Tata Consultancy Services Canada Inc.

Jeremy Trickett, SVP & Global Chief Governance Officer, Great-West Lifeco Inc. / Canada Life

Leila Rafi, Partner, McMillan

Kintxo Freiss, Alliances + Legal Practice Manager, DiliTrust

Chair:
Gary Kalaci, Founder + CEO, Alexa Translations

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

 

How are lawyers evolving their estate practices to deliver results? (November 8th: 12.00pm - 1.00pm ET)

In the midst of the greatest intergenerational wealth transfer in history, innovation is disrupting how estates are planned, managed and distributed.

For legal professionals focused on estates - there are many opportunities emerging to help address this disruption. In this session, our speakers will look at contemporary drivers and trends at play when it comes to estates; and lawyers are evolving their practices to meet them.

Topics covered during the webinar will include:

  • Meeting evolving client needs. How are estate lawyers responding to generational and societal shifts in terms of client expectations?

  • How are legal professionals driving better client outcomes by evolving the relationship between people, process and technology in their practices?

  • Innovation beyond people, process and technology. What tools and services (i.e. financial) are available to estate lawyers to deliver value for their clients?

Speakers:

Jordan Atin, Counsel + Co-Founder of e-State planner, Hull & Hull

Margaret O’Sullivan, Managing Partner, O’Sullivan Estate Lawyers

Emma Michael, Partner, Aion Law Partners

Amanda Bafaro, General Counsel, BridgePoint Financial


Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

In association with:

 

How are legal professionals embracing change and driving transformation in law firms? (October 26: 12.00pm - 1.00pm ET)

Increasingly, legal professionals (both paraprofessionals and other allied professionals) are playing a key role in driving transformation in their law firms. They are super users of legal technology, have deep experience in process and project management and are the backbone of their law firms’ cultures. As more law firms are engaging in transformation in an evolving legal market, having the right legal professionals in place to drive change is critical.

On this 60 minute webinar, our speakers - leading legal professionals from Canadian law firms - will focus on how they are driving transformation in their law firms. Topics will include:

  • How are legal professionals defining what change management/transformation means in their law firms? And what role are they playing in influencing their firms’ strategies?

  • The role that legal professionals are playing in implementing transformation strategies and how are they addressing resistance to change in their firms?

  • What cloud based technologies married with advanced processes are helping to drive transformation and why are they impactful?

Speakers:

Karen Anderson, Manager, Corporate Services, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Karen Tuschak, Founder and CEO, Spider Silk Innovative Solutions Inc.

Victoria Snook, Director, Law Clerks + Paralegals, McMillan

Tiffany Pereira, Director, Customer Success, MinuteBox

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

 

Mastering risk for legal departments (October 19: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET)

How can legal departments operate effectively in an evolving risk landscape?

The top priorities for today’s legal departments continue to be focused on regulatory compliance (including labor + employment and ESG challenges), data privacy and security, and anticipating and responding to other, unanticipated risks faced by their business units.

To respond to these challenges, legal departments must better map their compliance processes, infrastructure and department business strategies. And leverage this to focus on ways to to be a more engaged strategic advisor and partner to their organization.

During this 60-minute session, our panel will discuss the following:

  • A review of drivers and trends of the evolving risk landscape faced by legal departments

  • Developing and implementing tech-forward solutions married with advanced processes to better automate legal department functions that anticipate current and future risks

  • A look at how legal departments can evolve their strategy by leveraging people, process and technology. And how they can collaborate with 3rd party partners to deliver results.

Speakers:

Al Park, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting

Beth Ranney, Event Content Consultant, ADB Insights

David Meadows, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting

Jennifer Jobanputra, Senior Director, Compliance & Ethics, Loblaw Companies Limited

Rustam (Rusty) Juma, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Privacy Officer, Eckler Ltd.

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

 

CANLIF InFocus: Family Law Firms (October 18: 12:00pm - 2:00pm ET)

Evolutions in Canadian family law: key drivers + trends (Session 1)

In 2021, the Divorce Act and the Children’s Law Reform Act were amended to include significant changes to divorce, separation, and parenting to reflect the current societal changes from a traditional nuclear family to more diverse family structures. Family lawyers now handle a wide variety of matters: child custody, parental rights, divorce, child support, spousal support, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, disability benefits, family mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), real estate, wills, and trusts.

During this 60-minute session, our panel of family lawyers and their service providers will discuss:

  • What has changed in family law for lawyers and their clients vis-a-vis the Divorce and Children’s Law Reform Acts

  • How to better attract engage and services clients with law and listening skills

  • The evolving role of financial innovation in supporting family law files

Speakers:

Christine Vanderschoot, Principal, Vanderschoot Family Law

David Morneau, Managing Partner, Musson Morneau LLP

Kavita Bhagat, Certified Family Law Specialist, Family Law Solutions

Steve Benmor, Family Lawyer, Mediator & Arbitrator, Benmor Family Law Group

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Innovation and family law firms (Session 2)

To compete in family law, a firm must have a growth strategy covering how to build the team through recruitment, training, and retention; levering technology solutions that work for both clients' and law firm's needs; and employing creative marketing and client development strategies to attract, onboard and retain clients.

During this 60-minute session, our panel will discuss how leading family lawyers and service providers are innovating in the following areas:

  • Strategies on sourcing and developing talent who fit within your firm’s culture

  • Developing and implementing tech-forward solutions to better meet clients’ needs, manage internal workflow and reduce cybersecurity risks

  • Unleveling your marketing and client development and retention strategies

Speakers:

Ainsley Viera, Partner, Jones Divorce Law

Anna Marie Musson, Managing Partner, Musson Morneau LLP

Edward Kirk, Head of North America, Settify

Keri Campion, Legal Risk Analyst, Bridgepoint

Chair:

Heather Suttie, Legal Market Strategy and Management Consulting, Suttie


** Post Webinar In Person Mixer**

Supported by Bridgepoint Financial, we are hosting a complimentary wine tasting and mixer after the virtual event in Toronto on the evening of October 18th (5.30-7.30pm) @ The Wine Academy (67 Richmond St W)

You can register for the networking event on the zoom registration page for the virtual event. Contact andrew@adbinsights.com for more information.

ACCREDITATION:

Law Society of Ontario:
This program contains 2 hours of Professionalism Content.

Law Society of BC:
This program is accredited for 2 hours of CPD.

 

Mastering transformation in your law firm/legal department (October 12: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET)

In response to changing market conditions, law firms and legal departments are transforming how they provide services to clients or business units, how they are organized, and how they can operate more cost-effectively. Law firms are doing this though expansion and alignment of innovation groups in their firms as well as building out internal, captive ALSPs. And legal departments through an increased focus on and investment in legal operations.

During this 60-minute session, our panel of law firm and legal department leaders will discuss:

  • How to identify pain points in your law firm/legal department and develop a transformation strategy

  • Implementing an effective transformation strategy with the right people, processes and technology

  • Transformation in action: case studies

Speakers:

Jean-Francois Denis, Director, Legal Operations, SNC-Lavalin

Michael Bowmile, Senior Legal Counsel, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited

Rob Morris, Chief Operating & Information Officer, BLG

Sumi Trombley, Senior Advisor, UpLevel Ops

Chair:

Heather Suttie, Legal Market Strategy and Management Consulting, Suttie

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.
Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

 

CANLIF Law Firm Innovation Report Launch (September 27: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET)

The Canadian Legal Innovation Forum is publishing its second annual report focused on measuring innovation in Canadian law firms.

This survey was prompted by the CANLIF Law Firm Roundtable: How are law firms defining and delivering innovation strategies? held in February 2022 where 10+ law firm leaders shared their experiences and best practices when it comes to law firm innovation strategy and execution.

The report is underpinned by a survey of approximately 20 decision makers from Canada’s leading law firms that shows that COVID propelled the use of technology-driven solutions to the virtual work world (video conferencing, e-signature, document management systems, etc.) and management-driven improvements (virtual data rooms, collaboration tools, etc.) to focus on/improve the client experience as these clients continue to expect more from their law firm relationships.

It focuses on their key innovation challenges, where law firms generate innovation projects, what technology they have invested in and the corresponding ROI, and the practice areas that have benefited most from innovation.

To mark the official launch of the report, we are putting on a webinar which will cover the following:

  • An overview of the key findings of the report

  • A panel discussion amongst law firm innovation leaders and legal tech providers:

    • How can law firms accelerate innovation in a post-pandemic world?

    • How are they generating and collecting ideas for innovative projects/products from their clients?

    • What key problems are they trying to solve through innovation and why?

    • What is the role that technology is playing in supporting these approaches?

Speakers:

Andrew Terrett, National Director, Legal Technology & Service Delivery, BLG

James Quinn, Co-Founder + CEO, Clarilis

Kate Simpson, Chief Knowledge Officer, Bennett Jones

Robin Porter, Head of Practice Innovation & Change Management, Blakes


Chair:
Andrew Bowyer, Founder, The Canadian Legal Innovation Forum

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.
Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.

 

Mastering Corporate Governance (September 21: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET)

To ensure that organizations have an effective corporate governance strategy in place, legal departments play a key role. Corporate governance centers around a structure of rules, practices and processes used to direct an organization’s strategy and operations. And recently, new drivers in areas such as ESG, cyber-security and diversity and inclusion are playing key roles in shifting the corporate governance landscape.

In this 60-minute webinar, our speakers will focus on drivers and trends related to governance, how legal department leaders can develop a strategy to support robust governance structures in their organizations and the evolving role of people, processes and technology in supporting them.

Key themes covered in the webinar will include:

  • What are the emerging drivers and trends (i.e. ESG, cyber security, diversity and inclusion) when it comes to corporate governance and what is their impact?

  • What trends are at play with more traditional areas of corporate governance (board composition, risk controls, human capital management) and what role are legal departments playing in addressing them?

  • How are legal departments and the law firms advising them defining, developing and implementing effective corporate governance strategies from the ground up?

  • How are advanced approaches when it comes to people, process and technology - as well as working with third party partners - supporting organizations’ corporate governance strategies?


Speakers:

Bindu Cudjoe, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Laurentian Bank of Canada

Cecile Chung, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Samuel, Son & Co.

Denis Brind'Amour, Senior Manager Governance and Assistant Corporate Secretary, National Bank of Canada


Chair:

Andrew Bowyer, Founder, The Canadian Legal Innovation Forum

Accreditation:

Law Society of Ontario: This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content.
Law Society of BC: This program is accredited for 1 hour of CPD.