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Speakers

Bio

David Ackert

Founder & CEO, Ackert

Programs: Driving Growth: Business Development Initiatives That Accelerate Revenue; Fishbowl: A Tale of Three Pipelines: How to Maximize your Sales, Service, and Cross-Selling Pipelines

Bio

Robyn Addis

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, LISI

Program: Get With it, Already! Creating Digital Marketing Infrastructure

Bio

Lyndsay Aland

Team Lead – Solution Consulting, Introhive

Program: Fishbowl: Building One Firm with Client Intelligence

Bio

Madina Aylen

Experience Director, CX Pilots

Program: TED Talk: Future Proof Your Firm with Client Experience

Bio

Steve Bell

Principal, LawVision LLC

Program: Law Firm Business Development Strategies: Tactics for Business Professionals to Strengthen Relationships with Clients and Deliver Exceptional Experience

Bio

Rich Bracken

Program: Law Increase Your “Prohactivity”! Leveraging Little Changes for Big Success for You & Your Firm

Bio

David Burgess

Publishing Director, Legal 500

Program: The Legal Industry: The View from Social and Legal Media

Bio

Ben Chiriboga

Chief Growth Officer, Nexl

Program: A.I. and What it Means for Legal Marketers

Bio

Julie Chodos

Chief Marketing Officer, Axinn Partners

Program: Harnessing the Power of Specialization: Building Industry-Targeted Go-to-Market Strategies That Work

Bio

Allie Clement

Business Development Manager, Sidley Austin LLP

Program: From Process to Product: How to Increase Marketing and Business Development Process Efficiency

Bio

Rachel Cohee

Consultant, Fireman & Co.

Program: Guiding Lateral Partners on the Path to Success

Bio

Michael Couch

Account Executive, Introhive

Program: Fishbowl: Building One Firm with Client Intelligence

Bio

Jasmine Trillos-Decarie

Chief Client Officer, Lathrop GPM

Program: You Bought It, Now What? Best Practices for Successful Implementation and Adoption

Bio

Duane Eddy

Customer Success Manager, LexisNexis

Program: The Evolution of CRM: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Business Development Initiatives

Bio

Paula Edgar

CEO, PGE Consulting

Program: How to Effectively Build and Maintain Your Personal Brand

Bio

Deborah Farone

Farone Advisors, LLC

Program: Collaboration – How Marketers Can Use it to Implement Software, Motivate Lawyers and Build Super-Functional Teams

Bio

Dr. Heidi Gardner

Distinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School

Program: Collaboration – How Marketers Can Use it to Implement Software, Motivate Lawyers and Build Super-Functional Teams

Bio

Bela Grover

Chief Client Relationship Officer, Goodwin

Program: Law Firm Business Development Strategies: Tactics for Business Professionals to Strengthen Relationships with Clients and Deliver Exceptional Experience

Bio

Kelly Harbour

Chief Business Development Officer, Goulston & Storrs

Program: You Bought It, Now What? Best Practices for Successful Implementation and Adoption

Bio

Dave Harvey

Principal, Harvey Global Consulting

Program: Harnessing the Power of Specialization: Building Industry-Targeted Go-to-Market Strategies That Work

Bio

Aja Hendrix

Marketing Technology Manager, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Program: The Evolution of CRM: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Business Development Initiatives

Bio

Elise Holtzman, JD, PCC

President and Founder, The Lawyer’s Edge

Program: Fueling Business Development Success: How Rainmaking Differs for Women Lawyers

Bio

Victoria Hudgins

Reporter, Global Data Review

Program: Media Matters: Building & Leveraging Authentic Relationships

Bio

Jill Huse

Partner, Society 54

Program: Working in Concert to Elevate Your Brand and Position

Bio

Andrew Hutchinson

CEO, Databall

Programs: Get With it, Already! Creating Digital Marketing Infrastructure

Bio

Kevin Iredell

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Lowenstein, LLP

President-Elect, LMA International Board of Directors

Programs: A.I. and What it Means for Legal Marketers; Fishbowl: A.I. Applications and Ethics

Bio

Jason Kennedy

Operational Excellence Consultant, Calibrate

Program: Turning Insights Into Action With Your Marketing Data

Bio

Douglas Ladendorf

Marketing Database & CRM Manager, Mayer Brown

Program: The Evolution of CRM: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Business Development Initiatives

Bio

Andrew Laver

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

Program: Working in Concert to Elevate Your Brand and Position

Bio

Trish Lilley

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Thompson Coburn LLP

Program: Media Matters: Building & Leveraging Authentic Relationships

Bio

Jay Linder

Global Director of Communnications
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

President, LMA Northeast Region

Program: Welcome Address

Bio

Jennifer Manton

Managing Director, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Kramer Levin

Program: You Bought It, Now What? Best Practices for Successful Implementation and Adoption

Bio

Stefanie Marrone

Fractional/Outsourced Marketing Director, Chief Strategy Officer & Social Media Strategist, Stefanie Marrone Consulting/The Social Media Butterfly

Program: How to Effectively Build and Maintain Your Personal Brand

Bio

Ari Melber

Anchor & Chief Legal Correspondent, MSNBC

Keynote Address: Disruption: How Technology is Revolutionizing the Law & Media

Bio

Kate Meltzer

Director of Knowledge Management Technology, Ropes & Gray

Program: You Bought It, Now What? Best Practices for Successful Implementation and Adoption

Bio

Cynthia Migliaccio

Sr. Business Development Manager, Sidley Austin LLP

Program: From Process to Product: How to Increase Marketing and Business Development Process Efficiency

Bio

Chris Newman

Senior Director of Practice & Industry Business Development and Client Solutions, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Program: Working in Concert to Elevate Your Brand and Position

Bio

Jason Noble

President, Co-Founder, iKaun

Program: How to Reduce RFP Response Times by 90% with AI Tools

Bio

Erin Normile-Elzinga

Director, Sectors & Clients, Foley & Lardner

Program: Harnessing the Power of Specialization: Building Industry-Targeted Go-to-Market Strategies That Work

Bio

Allison Nussbaum

Vice President, Client Value, Pitchly

Program: You Bought It, Now What? Best Practices for Successful Implementation and Adoption

Bio

Chris Opfer

Team Lead, Business of Law News, Bloomberg Industry Group

Program: The Legal Industry: The View from Social and Legal Media

Bio

Joe Patrice

Senior Editor at Above the Law and Managing Director at RPN Executive Search LLP

Program: Media Matters: Building & Leveraging Authentic Relationships

Bio

Lee Peretz

Director of Marketing & Business Development, Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Program: Law Firm Business Development Strategies: Tactics for Business Professionals to Strengthen Relationships with Clients and Deliver Exceptional Experience

Bio

Nicole Petrie

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 

Program: Law Firm Business Development Strategies: Tactics for Business Professionals to Strengthen Relationships with Clients and Deliver Exceptional Experience

Bio

Joe Przybyla

Sr. Sales Director, North American Legal Lead, Introhive

Program: Fishbowl: Building One Firm with Client Intelligence

Bio

Sumathi Pundit

Founder and CEO, Kaitongo

Program: A.I. and What it Means for Legal Marketers

Bio

Natalie Rodriguez

Assistant Managing Editor, Law360

Program: The Legal Industry: The View from Social and Legal Media

Bio

Jaron Rubenstein

Founder & CEO, RubyLaw

Program: VUCA! Reframing Website Revitalization Initiatives as Valid Undertakings Calmly Achieved

Bio

Erin Ryan

Director of Partner Integration & Business Development Coaching, McGuireWoods

Program: Guiding Lateral Partners on the Path to Success

Bio

Sarah Ryan

Director of Marketing & Business Development, Stark & Stark

Program: Increase Your “Prohactivity”! Leveraging Little Changes for Big Success for You & Your Firm

Bio

Tim Ryan

Managing Director, Growth Enablement, Williams Lea

Program: Program: Harnessing the Power of Specialization: Building Industry-Targeted Go-to-Market Strategies That Work

Bio

Carolyn Sandano

Principal, The Legal Marketing Coach

Program: Fishbowl: Career Ownership: Thriving – on Your Terms – in Volatile Times

Bio

Lise Anne Schwartz

Director, Strategy & Content, Right Hat

Bio

Duncan Shaw

Chief Creative Officer, Living Group

Program: VUCA! Reframing Website Revitalization Initiatives as Valid Undertakings Calmly Achieved

Bio

Dawn Sheiker

Director of Client Relations, Morris James LLP

Program: Get With it, Already! Creating Digital Marketing Infrastructure

Bio

Kelsey Eidbo

Vice-President, Infinite Global

Online Reputation Management for Law Firms: Building Trust in the Digital Landscape

Bio

Patrick Smith

Senior Writer, The American Lawyer

Program: Media Matters: Building & Leveraging Authentic Relationships

Bio

Clay Steward

Vice President, Infinite Global

Program: Online Reputation Management for Law Firms: Building Trust in the Digital Landscape

Bio

Stuart Teicher

Teicher Professional Growth, LLC

Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

Program: Fluff is for Pillows, Not Marketing Copy

Bio

Tom Mariam

Director of Public Relations, Seyfarth Shaw

Program: The Legal Industry: The View from Social and Legal Media

Bio

Rachel Watson

Director of Business Development, Client Development and Campaigns, Akin

Program: VUCA! Reframing Website Revitalization Initiatives as Valid Undertakings Calmly Achieved

Bio

Yasmin Zand

Client Success Consultant, Passle

Program: Get With it, Already! Creating Digital Marketing Infrastructure

David Ackert

Founder & CEO, Ackert

David is President at Ackert and its subsidiaries. He is a highly regarded business development thought leader. Over the past two decades, David has pioneered revenue acceleration programs for hundreds of professional services firms around the globe.

He is the founder of several technology platforms including the PipelinePlus software suite. His programs are winners of “Your Honor Awards” in both the U.S. and Canada and have been featured in NLJ’s “Technologies on the Rise.” David regularly keynotes at partner retreats and speaks at industry conferences. He also serves as a guest lecturer at USC’s Marshall School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, and at the UCLA School of Law.

David’s work has been published and quoted in several business books and media, including the Los Angeles Times, the National Review, the Daily Journal, the Wall Street Journal, Above the Law, Attorney at Work, The Recorder, and the Los Angeles Business Journal. His Market Leaders Podcast has won several JD Supra Reader’s Choice Awards.

David volunteers as a Big Brother with the Big Brothers and Sisters program in Los Angeles. He is also the co-founder of Voices in Harmony, a mentoring organization that has worked with at-risk youth around the globe. He co-produced and appeared in the documentary film, “After Kony: Staging Hope,” chronicling mentoring programs he helped to design and facilitate for former child soldiers in Northern Uganda. The film was used as part of an awareness-raising campaign that raised millions of dollars for health and education in underserved Ugandan communities. David’s charitable work earned the “Difference Maker” award from one of his alma maters, Ithaca College.

David holds a Master’s in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and is a Fellow at the College of Law Practice Management.

Robyn Addis

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, LISI

In 2019, Robyn Addis started looking for a new challenge.For 12 years she had worked in legal marketing at two of the largest firms in Philly: she had led a marketing team; she had created and implemented firm-wide marketing expense and ROI tracking systems; she had designed and executed hundreds of marketing and business development events.

Over those years, Robyn found that she loved legal marketing, and had a talent for it. She found the challenges, expectations, and demanding environment of law firms fit perfectly with her work ethic and passion. Still, she wanted more. In 2019, she began considering a role with an agency, suspecting she could make a bigger impact from outside the four walls of a single firm. She wanted to take the skills she had learned in Big Law and adapt them for small to midsize firms.

Robyn found the perfect match for her skills and desired career move, and joined LISI as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer. With an ambitious mission to grow the agency 5x by 2025, Robyn developed a strategic plan outlining five new lines of business, a reimagined revenue/pricing model, and the infrastructure required. The result in 2020 was a record-breaking 57% growth in her first year. And she’s only just begun.

Robyn is a leader who believes a cohesive, high-performing team is better than the sum of its parts. She models empathy, and seeks diverse perspectives with the knowledge that because of the contributions of the team, our work product and our operation are better.

In addition to her role at LISI, Robyn coaches women to achieve career fulfillment, she serves as Director-at-Large for the Legal Marketing Association Northeast Region Board, and she runs a household of three children, a first-responder husband, a one-eyed rescue cat, and a bratty cockapoo

Lyndsay Aland

Team Lead – Solution Consulting, Introhive

Madina Aylen

Experience Director, CX Pilots

Madina is the Head of Legal Experience at CX Pilots , a leading CX consultancy for professional services firms.  As part of her role, Madina helps law firms with people-centric change initiatives to improve client retention, loyalty and drive revenue growth. Throughout the progression of 20+ career across sectors and geographies, Madina worked as a international business consultant specializing in new market entry and a Business Development and Clients Relations Director for a Top 200 Global law firm. In her previous law firm role, she worked with the firm’s leadership to expand the firm’s global footprint and set up new practice areas.  She was also a part of the firm’s global CX team spearheading the client experience program, and spent 15 years in client-facing roles with some of the firm’s key clients.

Madina’s passion for innovation and excellence has earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor and leader in the CX world. She has been recognized as an industry influencer by her peers, and her commitment to achieving success for her clients is unwavering.

Madina holds an Executive MBA degree from Said Business School, University of Oxford and a Master’s in International Relations and Strategic Studies from L’école des Hautes Études Internationales de Paris. She worked and lived in Canada, UK, Europe and the Middle East and is fluent in four languages. An avid arts supporter and yoga enthusiast, Madina is often seen in her free time either browsing art exhibitions or mastering handstand variations.

Steve Bell

Principal, LawVision LLC

Steve helps law firm leaders create and operate sales functions, drawing on his experience as one of the legal profession’s first Director of Sales and as an innovator helping to build sales teams at Price Waterhouse and Grant Thornton, where he was an equity partner. He is a fierce advocate for law firm business professionals developing relationships with the buyers of legal services and being members of client service teams. As a former vice-chair of the Lex Mundi Marketing & Business Development Committee, he helped Lex Mundi launch its global business development function. Today, he is a Principal in LawVision’s CLIENT Growth and Business Development practice. He is co-author of “SAM-Legal: Turning Key Clients into Strategic Accounts” and a thought-leader and author on the subjects of law-firm sales and on the emergence of client-facing business professionals in the legal vertical.

Rich Bracken

Rich Bracken is an energetic storyteller who blends data and research with emotion and case studies to share insights and strategies on how to implement sustainable positive change.

For over twenty years, he has been researching and consulting businesses of all sizes on how their teams rise and fall with various styles of leadership and employee engagement.

Combining his findings from external consulting and internal analysis with notable companies and corporations, he is an energetic and vocal advocate for an impactful style of business navigation that leverages the power of emotional intelligence, empathy, and mental awareness.

Bringing together his experience as an award-winning salesperson, marketer, and client service expert with his passion for speaking, consulting, and coaching, he delivers a unique and refreshing blend of empathy and positivity that resonates with professionals from every level and background.

He has served numerous Fortune 100 clients and global organizations as a keynote speaker and is a notable media personality appearing in such outlets as ABC, ESPN, Thrive Global, Vice, and Goalcast.

Ben Chiriboga

Chief Growth Officer, Nexl

Julie Chodos

Chief Marketing Officer, Axinn Partners

Julie Chodos is the Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Axinn. In this role, she works closely with firm management and attorneys to increase market prominence by engaging in client strategy to facilitate relationship building, revenue growth, and continuously advance brand positioning.

Julie began her career as a litigator and for over 20 years has led marketing and business development teams in various industries, including tech, global accounting and consulting, and legal. She earned a JD from Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and holds an undergraduate degree in English from Lehigh University.

Allie Clement

Business Development Manager, Sidley Austin LLP

Allie Clement is a business development and marketing manager at Sidley Austin LLP. Allie focuses on marketing strategy ideation and implementation across various sectors for multiple industries and practices. During her tenure at Sidley, she has worked on several firmwide practice initiatives, established recurrent events for Sidley’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, and worked with firm management to refine and advance business development efforts such as the New York ticketing program and overall event programming, ranging from CLE webinars to networking spa days to multi-day conferences. In addition, Allie helps edit and oversee external communications including website collateral, client alerts, and biographies.

Rachel Cohee

Consultant, Fireman & Co.

Rachel is a consultant at Fireman & Company where she helps firms with the development of their experience management strategy, enabling firms to support key business use cases and processes,  along with the implementation of these solutions. She also advises law firms on their data strategy, evaluating current processes and capture while focusing on the development of a roadmap to align with their strategic priorities. She was formerly with an Am Law 100 law firm where she developed the marketing research and competitive intelligence function, led the implementation of the firm’s experience management platform, and focused on marketing operations. She was also a member of the Practice Innovation Office, a team of staff and attorneys that would evaluate, recommend, approve, and pilot novel approaches to serve clients and improve legal practices. Prior to her joining the legal industry, she was with two Fortune 500 companies where she focused on business intelligence and analytics.

Michael Couch

Account Executive, Introhive

Jasmine Trillos-Decarie

Chief Client Officer, Lathrop GPM

As Chief Client Officer for Lathrop GPM, Jasmine Trillos-Decarie is responsible for leading and unifying all client-experience initiatives throughout the firm. Jasmine brings a wealth of legal-industry experience to this senior administrative team leadership role. She has 25 years’ experience at some of the nation’s leading Am Law 100 and 200 firms. In these prior roles, Trillos-Decarie has overseen client-value initiatives and business growth across the United States and internationally. She has successfully built, led, motivated and coached cross-functional teams in various geographic locations throughout the nation.

An active leader and member of the Legal Marketing Association, Jasmine has served on the International LMA Board of Directors (2008-2009) and the LMA New England Board of Directors (2001-2007), including serving as President. She also served as co- chair of the 2019 LMA Tech West Regional Conference and was directly responsible for returning the conference to a profitable endeavor.

With Hispanic roots, Jasmine brings a diverse perspective to the leadership team and is pleased to join in the firm’s ongoing commitment and value of equity and inclusion.

Outside of the offices, Jasmine enjoys spending time in nature, cycling, skiing and hiking with her husband and son.

Duane Eddy

Customer Success Manager, LexisNexis

Duane Eddy has worked in the CRM market for over 20 years.  For the first 15 years, he was focused on providing technical consulting services with LexisNexis InterAction while performing many tasks such as installations, upgrades, report development, customizations, etc.  He is a problem solver using his years of experience and technical knowledge to find creative CRM solutions. Duane holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Technology and a Master’s of Science degree in Information System from DePaul University. He is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt.  As a Client Advisor, he is a CRM ambassador, working to make sure all customers are successful with their CRM implementations. His focus is to help clients with their CRM strategies, initiatives, and more recently, analytics and reporting, to get the most out of their solutions.

Paula Edgar

CEO, PGE Consulting

Paula T. Edgar, Esq. is CEO of PGE Consulting Group LLC, an organizational strategy firm that provides training and education solutions at the intersection of professional development and diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Paula is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator, conducting live and virtual presentations for clients across industries.  Paula develops customized programming to maximize the experience for attendees, ensuring they leave informed and inspired to have a lasting impact both individually and within their organizations. Paula’s areas of diversity expertise include unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and allyship. Her professional development skill set includes personal branding, relationship building, mentor/sponsor best practices, and business development.  Paula encourages all participants to Engage Your Hustle™- her business tagline, mantra, and method to elevate their professional endeavors. 

Paula is also a committed civic leader. She is active in numerous organizations and social justice initiatives, including her role as a New York City Bar Board Member, a past President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA), and as a founding Board Member of The Black BigLaw Pipeline, Inc. 

Additionally, Paula is a 2015 Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) Fellow, a Trustee of the Ellis L. Phillips Foundation, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Deerfield Academy Alumni Association. 

As an attorney, Paula practiced employment and workplace discrimination law for the New York City Commission on Human Rights and her professional experiences include several leadership roles focused on talent development and inclusion.

Paula has written for and been featured in a wide array of publications including the New York Times, Bloomberg Law, Essence Magazine, Shondaland, and Business Insider.

Paula received the Ruth Whitehead Whaley Service Award from the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA). She has also been recognized by the Network Journal Magazine as a “40 Under Forty” Achievement Awardee, a Ms. JD “Woman of Inspiration”, and as a “Rising Star” by A Better Chance.  

Paula received her B.A. in Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton, and her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law.  Stay up to date with Paula at paulaedgar.com, LinkedIn, and on Twitter (@PaulaEdgar).

Deborah Farone

Farone Advisors, LLC

Deborah Farone has had the unique opportunity to play a role in developing the best practices in legal marketing and client service by working with the most respected and demanding professionals in the world. 

Her advisory practice focuses on helping law firms, individual practices and lawyers with their marketing and business development strategy, training and development and strategic planning. She is often asked to speak at law firm retreats and workshops in the US, Asia and Europe. Deborah also serves as a coach to a number of high-profile law firm partners and other executives.

Ms. Farone is the author of the best-selling legal marketing book, “Best Practices: Marketing and Business Development for Law Firms” (PLI 2019), a work based on more than 60 interviews with successful law firm leaders and marketers, general counsel, and innovators in the profession. The book is carried by bookstores of the country’s highest ranked law schools, including Harvard, Yale and Columbia. 

Over the past three decades, Ms. Farone has carved out a niche by distinguishing herself as the CMO of two prestigious law firms, Cravath Swaine & Moore and Debevoise & Plimpton. Prior to entering the legal profession, she honed her business development and communications skills by working at the global management consulting firm Towers Perrin, now Willis Towers Watson. 

Ms. Farone is also involved in the academic arena. She has recently spoken at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, Cornell Law School and Fordham Law School. Earlier in her career, she served as an adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University. 

Ms. Farone has chaired the annual PLI program “All Stars in Business Development” along with Brad Karp, Chairman of Paul Weiss. She is an officer of the International Bar Association’s Law Firm Management Committee, past President of the Legal Marketing Association’s New York Chapter and past Chair of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s marketing communications committee. Ms. Farone is a charter member of the Luxury Marketing Council and serves as an advisor to the Chairman of the New York Public Library. 

Ms. Farone is a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management. She is a recipient of LMA’s Hall of Fame award and LMANE’s Susan Benjamin Award, in recognition of making a distinguishable mark on the chapter and the profession. For many years, Ms. Farone served on the Board of Directors of The Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York.

Ms. Farone has a B.S. in Marketing and Mass Communications from Boston University’s College of Communications, graduating magna cum laude.

Dr. Heidi Gardner

Distinguished Fellow, Harvard Law School

Heidi K. Gardner, PhD, is the author of the best-selling books Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work (2022) and Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos (2017, both Harvard Business Press). A Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School and previously a professor at Harvard Business School, she is currently the faculty chair and instructor of multiple executive education programs at both institutions. 

Named by Thinkers50 as a Next Generation Business Guru and shortlisted in 2023 for their prestigious global leadership award (finalists to be announced in November), Dr. Gardner is a sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and facilitator for organizations across many industries globally. With her team at Gardner & Co., she works extensively with boards and executive teams to boost performance by embedding the practices of smarter, agile, cross-silo collaboration across groups, companies, and the broader ecosystem. Her work results in concrete, quantifiable performance improvements. Her team at Smart Collaboration International has developed a range of tech-based products to bring smarter collaboration to life with cost-effective, scalable solutions.

Altogether, Dr. Gardner has authored (or co-authored) more than 100 books, chapters, case studies, and articles. Her research received the Academy of Management’s prize for Outstanding Practical Implications for Management, and has been selected five times for Harvard Business Review’s “best of” collections. Her work has been featured in major media outlets around the globe including CNN, Time, CNBC, CBS News, Fortune, The Economist, MSN, Fast Company, and more.

Dr. Gardner has lived and worked on four continents, including as a Fulbright Fellow, and for McKinsey & Co. and Procter & Gamble.  She earned her BA in Japanese from the University of Pennsylvania (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude), a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and a second master’s and PhD from London Business School.

Bela Grover

Chief Client Relationship Officer, Goodwin

Bela recently joined Goodwin as Chief Client Relationship Officer, where she leads a high-caliber team of global client development professionals who work with the attorneys and global operations professionals to bring the very best sector and cross-sector insights, expertise, and innovative solutions together through a client lens.

Prior to joining Goodwin, she spent 25 years at Deloitte working alongside her clients to solve their most complex business challenges, including go-to-market transformations, operational excellence, and large-scale technology and process change.

She has an MBA in Marketing from Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore, India) and a Masters in Computer Applications from Savitribai Phule University (Pune, India).

Kelly Harbour

Chief Business Development Officer – Goulston & Storrs

Kelly Harbour has more than 20 years of experience in professional services and is the Chief Business Development Officer at Goulston & Storrs PC, where she fuels relationships, strategy, and data-driven operations. Kelly is responsible for the firm’s business development, client service, marketing and communications, and practice group management efforts. A self-proclaimed data and technology enthusiast, she has led or participated in the implementation of more than a dozen technology solutions in her roles within business development and technology teams at professional services firms. In her spare time, Kelly acts as the pro bono Director of Member Engagement for the SALI Alliance, a not-for-profit organization comprised of legal industry professionals from legal operations, law firms, and solution providers developing open, practical industry standards for classifying legal work.

Dave Harvey

Principal, Harvey Global Consulting

As the founder of Harvey Global Consulting, Dave Harvey draws on more than 20 years of legal marketing experience with some of the world’s most innovative and prestigious law firms. His award-winning work taps into a passion for helping firms and individuals plan and execute on their marketing and business development priorities. 

A recognized thought leader in legal marketing, Dave has been at the forefront of how law firms develop and execute on strategies to position themselves in the marketplace, grow their business through client development and client service initiatives, and develop products and services that allow them to differentiate themselves. Dave developed one of the first client feedback and key client program for an AmLaw 20 firm, considered world-class and a model for other firms. He launched the first law firm iPhone app and has successfully developed new products and services, like IPO Ready, an assessment tool for companies on the way to going public. 

Dave has recently focused on how firms move from a practice-focused to a sector-focused effort. He has written on the challenges and opportunities for firms organizing by sector, including several articles and Harvard case studies with Dr. Heidi K. Gardner, Harvard Law School Distinguished Fellow, an internationally renowned expert and author on collaboration. Dave is certified to administer and advise on the Gardner & Co. Smart Collaboration Accelerator psychometric instrument. 

Dave believes in strategic planning and vision — and is passionate about where the rubber meets the road — execution. This shows up in his coaching of leading lawyers, as well as his advice on launching major programs within a firm. Keeping up with the constantly evolving industry requires benchmarking and bringing best practices to his engagements. Dave recently co-founded a Chief Marketing Officer roundtable that meets regularly to share best practices and discuss cutting-edge marketing, business development, and client service topics .The Mid-Atlantic Legal Marketing Association named him “Member of the Year” in 2021.

Aja Hendrix

Marketing Technology Manager, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

As the Marketing Technology Manager at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Aja Hendrix supports and manages the Marketing and Business Development Technology platforms. She began her Legal Marketing career in 2007 as a Business Development Assistant at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP (now Holland & Knight). A long-serving member of the Legal Marketing Association, she previously held a leadership role as the Nashville City Group Chair in 2014. Aja has a Master of Professionals Studies in Law Firm Management from The George Washington University and a B.A. in Mass Communications and Marketing from Western Kentucky University. She is a native of Nashville, TN.

Elise Holtzman, JD, PCC

President and Founder, The Lawyer’s Edge

Elise Holtzman is a former practicing lawyer, executive coach and consultant, and the CEO of The Lawyer’s EdgeÒ, where for the past 14 years she and her team have worked with law firms to grow thriving businesses by helping lawyers become better business developers and leaders.

She is the creator of the Lawyers Making RainÔ program for law firms and the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator for women partners and counsel. Elise speaks frequently for law firms and bar associations and is the host of The Lawyer’s Edge podcast. She also writes articles for publications such as Law.com and Law360.

Elise earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and her JD from Columbia Law School where she was a senior editor of the Columbia Law Review and is now a Vice President of the Columbia Law School Association. Prior to founding The Lawyer’s Edge, Elise practiced law in New York City with Fried Frank and Morgan Lewis. She is passionate about helping lawyers grow and thrive, both personally and professionally.

Victoria Hudgins

Reporter, Global Data Review

Victoria Hudgins is a reporter at Global Data Review where she covers U.S. data privacy and cybersecurity litigation, regulations and trends. Prior to working at Global Data Review, Philadelphia-based Hudgins covered technology’s impact on the practice and business of law at ALM.

Jill Huse

Partner, Society 54

Andrew Hutchinson

CEO, Databall

Andrew is a seasoned veteran of the legal technology community with over two decades spent working with firms across the globe to effect change underpinned by technology. During his time Andrew has developed a deep understanding of marketing and business development and the challenges that are faced by the community at large. Andrew is a firm believer in the power of data and is passionate about helping marketing and business development teams leverage data to drive better outcomes for the firm and their clients. He is well-regarded in the industry for his innovative approach to problem-solving and the odd discussion about unicorns and rainbows.

Kevin Iredell

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Lowenstein, LLP

President-Elect, LMA International Board of Directors

Kevin Iredell is the Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Lowenstein Sandler.  Hebrings to the CMO role a strong background in and hands-on knowledge of marketing, communications, branding, business development, operations, and public relations–all with a specific focus on demonstrating ROI. At Lowenstein, he drives growth across business units by creating and executing firm-wide and practice-group strategic plans and leading the marketing and business development team through strategic resource allocation, creative campaigns, and marketing technology platform optimization.

Kevin’s broad perspective is derived from his experience in leadership roles inside and outside of the legal industry. He has led marketing and business development at two other Am Law 200 firms; he also developed and led the marketing research and measurement group of Greentarget, a national public relations firm. Earlier, Kevin served as Vice President of Legal Intelligence & Marketing at ALM Media, where he was responsible for marketing, social media, communications, and market intelligence programs across all of ALM’s publications and web sites, including The American Lawyer and Law.com. 

Kevin is an active speaker on marketing and business-of-law topics, and is also currently the President-Elect on the International Board of Directors of the Legal Marketing Association, where he has served as an Executive Board Member for the past several years. Most recently, Kevin has been elected to the College of Law Practice Management’s Class of 2023 Fellows-Elect. He holds a B.A. in economics from Villanova University.

Jason Kennedy

Operational Excellence Consultant, Calibrate

Jason Kennedy is a marketing operations consultant with a unique combination of in-house, consulting, and corporate B2B marketing expertise. A career marketer, Jason has worked in multiple industries, gradually making the transition from traditional Marketing Communications to Marketing Operations and Analytics. Jason has an MBA and Master’s in Marketing Analytics from the University of Alabama. He is based in Nashville.

Douglas Ladendorf

Marketing Database & CRM Manager, Mayer Brown

With two decades of experience in legal marketing technology, Doug Ladendorf is responsible for strategy and oversight of technology initiatives supporting global Business Development & Marketing objectives at Mayer Brown. These include development and user adoption of InterAction CRM, e-marketing systems, blogging, data integration and analysis, and other technology platforms.

Andrew Laver

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

Andrew Laver is the Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., and is responsible for Porzio’s firmwide marketing and business development initiatives. In this role, he relies on his strong background in and knowledge of marketing, business development, client service and sales, branding, product and project management, coaching, and communication. He has more than 25 years of experience in the legal industry and has served in management roles at AmLaw100 and AmLaw200 firms, establishing a proven track record of identifying, evaluating, and directing new business initiatives that support firm practices and targeted industry business plans.

Active in the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) since 2009, Andrew was the President of the Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter in 2014 and joined the LMA’s Governance Committee in 2015 where he served as Co-Chair from 2017-2018. He served as Co-Chair of the 2nd Annual Philadelphia Education Conference in 2016, served as a member of the 2017 LMA Annual Conference Advisory Committee in Las Vegas, NV and served as the Co-Chair of the 2019 LMA Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA. Andrew served as a Member-At-Large to the LMA Board of Directors from 2019-2021, served as Treasurer Elect to the LMA Board in 2022 and is currently serving as Treasurer to the LMA Board in 2023. He is also an active speaker on a variety of business development and professional development topics.

Trish Lilley

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Thompson Coburn LLP

Trish is an innovative, award-winning chief marketing officer who leads Firmwide marketing and business development programs for Thompson Coburn practice areas and attorneys.

A veteran legal marketing executive with 20+ years of industry experience, Trish is known nationally for her creative, highly effective approach to in client development, digital innovation, content-driven branding, market-entry strategies, and marketing operations.

Trish has launched client feedback and key client programs, designed and implemented marketing and BD professional development programming, and conceptualized and executed national advertising and branding campaigns. Her industry leadership in the areas of digital marketing and legal marketing innovation have earned national recognition by the New York Law Journal and the Managing Partner Forum. In 2023, Trish began her term on the Legal Marketing Association’s International Board of Directors as Member-at-Large.

As Thompson Coburn’s chief client development strategist, Trish studies firmwide data, including client feedback and satisfaction, service trends, pricing and hours, to develop responsive strategies for client development and acquisition. Trish is passionate about collaborating with C-Suite executives on firmwide innovation and culture initiatives that spur engagement, connection and collaboration — qualities strongly tied to successful business development strategies and deeper, more meaningful client relationships.

Supported by a national team of award-winning marketing professionals and technologists, Trish helps attorneys capitalize on their strengths, break into new and existing markets and build lasting relationships with clients.

Jay Linder

Global Director of Communications
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

2023 President
LMA Northeast Region

Jay Linder has over 25 years of legal industry experience, with a focus on transforming strategic business objectives into effective, sustainable communications.

After starting his career as an alumni relations and major gifts fundraiser for Columbia Law School, Jay has served in senior positions at four leading law firms, including Cadwalader, Cleary Gottlieb, Skadden and Stroock. As the global head of communications for Cadwalader, Jay provides balanced direction related to brand reputation, client engagement, content marketing, creative services, and internal and external communication strategies. Throughout his career, Jay has focused on attracting, developing, retaining and empowering talent, giving them the best possible hands-on experience to grow their careers while working together to advance their firm’s goals. 

Outside of work, Jay is a proud volunteer for several causes. He is the 2023 president of the Legal Marketing Association’s Northeast Region, which is the organization’s largest with over 1,000 members, dedicated to advancing the profile and reputation of professional services marketing. Jay serves on the board of directors for Philoxenia, Inc., a New York nonprofit devoted to feeding and clothing the city’s homeless and those in need. He is also a past board member for Fordham University’s Kiwanis International chapter, where he co-founded an initiative for fathers and male caregivers to children with autism.

Jennifer Manton

Managing Director, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Kramer Levin

Jennifer Manton leads Kramer Levin’s marketing and business development initiatives. She works closely with the firm’s executive leadership, management team, and practice groups to develop and implement strategy to advance the firm’s business objectives, including efforts to expand and improve relationships with existing clients and to engage new clients. Jennifer also directs all aspects of the firm’s branding, marketing and communications strategy, including media relations, advertising, digital marketing and social media, as well as internal communications.

Jennifer has more than 25 years of legal marketing experience which includes, developing and executing numerous marketing, business development and client service initiatives at Am Law 100 and 200 firms. Jennifer began her career — and developed her passion for professional services marketing and business development — working with accounting firms in her hometown of Pittsburgh.

In 2017, the Legal Marketing Association inducted Jennifer into the LMA Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the LMA and the legal marketing industry and who exemplify the highest levels of experience and leadership in legal marketing. Jennifer founded the Pittsburgh Chapter of the LMA in 1998, and has been actively involved as a volunteer and leader in the association. She served as the President of the national LMA in 2009.

Stefanie Marrone

Fractional/Outsourced Marketing Director, Chief Strategy Officer & Social Media Strategist, Stefanie Marrone Consulting/The Social Media Butterfly

Stefanie Marrone advises law firms of all sizes, professional service firms, B2B companies, professional associations and individuals with brand building and revenue generating strategies and tactics in marketing, business development, social media and communications. She also serves as outsourced chief marketing officer/marketing department for law firms.

Stefanie provides the full range of law firm marketing and business development support, and has a particular focus on advising firms and their employees on how to effectively utilize social media platforms for relationship building, revenue generation and branding. She creates development and social media training programs and helps professionals of all levels build their brands and businesses.

Over her 20+-year legal marketing career, Stefanie has worked at and with a broad range of big law, mid-size and small firms, which has given her a valuable perspective of the legal industry. They include Sullivan & Cromwell, Paul, Weiss, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, Proskauer, McKee Nelson, Mayer Brown and Morrison & Foerster.

Stefanie is a frequent published author (Law360, the New York Law Journal, the Mid-Market Report, Law.com, JD Supra) and her blog the Social Media Butterfly. She also is an active public speaker (the New York City Bar, the Legal Marketing Association, Ark Group, Association of Legal Administrators, Perrin Conferences, Fordham University School of Law, Columbia University and American University Washington College of Law).

Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her latest writing on JD Supra as well as her blog The Social Media Butterfly.

Ari Melber

Anchor & Chief Legal Correspondent, MSNBC

Ari Melber is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, news anchor, writer and attorney. He anchors The Beat with Ari Melber on MSNBC, which draws the largest audience for any 6pm show in MSNBC’s history, and serves as the network’s Chief Legal Correspondent, reporting across all NBC platforms, including MSNBC, NBC News, The Today Show and NBC Nightly News. Melber received a 2016 Emmy Award for his reporting on the Supreme Court.

On The Beat, Melber reports on news, politics, law and culture, and interviews a deliberately wide range of guests. The show features in-depth interviews with people ranging from newsmakers, like Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, to Trump administration figures Jay Sekulow, Stephen Bannon and Joe Arpaio, to prominent legal experts, such as Eric Holder and Ken Starr, to cultural voices like Alice Walker, Dave Chappelle, Annie Lennox and 50 Cent.

New York Times contributor Peter Wehner credits Melber as “an outstanding interviewer, among the best on television,” while The Detroit Free Press named The Beat to its list of the “best” new TV shows, noting a focus on “untangling” the facts rather than the “partisan posturing of so many” shows. The Hollywood Reporter notes The Beat quickly established itself as a “success” since launching in 2017, adding “there are few cable news hosts more perfectly suited” to covering the legal and political challenges of the Trump era.

As a writer, Melber reported on politics as a national correspondent for The Nation and wrote columns for Reuters and Politico. His articles and essays have also been published by the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Baltimore Sun and The New York Daily News.

Melber previously practiced law in New York, and received a J.D. from Cornell Law School, where he was an editor of the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy

Kate Meltzer

Director of Knowledge Management Technology – Ropes & Gray, New York

With over three decades of experience in legal technology, Kate has been dedicated to providing technology solutions to law firms through her work with various companies such as Interface Software, LexisNexis, Intapp, Microsystems, NetDocuments, Foundation Software, and Litera. This extensive experience has given Kate a thorough understanding of firm systems, business processes, and organizational structures. Recently, in October 2022, Kate took on the role of Director of Knowledge Management

Technology at Ropes & Gray. In this capacity, she and her team are responsible for managing the firm’s intranet, extranet, experience management, enterprise search, collaboration systems, and survey applications.

Cynthia Migliaccio

Sr. Business Development Manager, Sidley Austin LLP

Cynthia Migliaccio is the senior business development and marketing manager at Sidley Austin LLP. An MBA with more than 15 years of experience in professional services marketing, Cindy oversees the New York regional marketing team and provides strategic support and guidance to office and firm leadership. Cindy also focusses on firmwide initiatives, including global marketing campaigns, signature programming and events, and brand positioning.

Chris Newman

Senior Director of Practice & Industry Business Development and Client Solutions, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

With a dynamic background leading complex client development and marketing initiatives for AmLaw 40 global law firms, including Cravath, Ropes & Gray, Cooley and McDermott, Chris Newman brings 16+ years of experience transforming firms’ brands and generating millions of dollars in revenue through industry leading growth initiatives. Chris is currently the Senior Director of Practice & Industry Business Development and Client Solutions at McDermott and operates as the second most senior leader in the firm’s MBD department that has been shortlisted for awards from The American Lawyer and Financial Times, as well as receiving the LSSO “Law Firm of the Year” award in 2023 for best business development department. Chris brings a significant amount of experience managing cross-office teams, building operational infrastructures, overseeing million-dollar budgets and delivering lucrative results in fast-paced work environments.  

Jason Noble

President, Co-Founder, iKaun

Jason Noble is co-founder Chief of Product Strategy at ikaun, a world class experience management platform, powered by AI.  Elegant, powerful and quick to deploy, ikaun helps law firms win more business than ever thought imaginable. 

Jason has served as a trusted advisor to blue chip enterprises on the topic of AI including Microsoft, the World Bank, Orrick, Kirkland & Ellis, Reed Smith, KPMG, and the US Navy, and is a frequent and highly regarded speaker on the topic of AI, maximizing information for law firms, and how to utilize emerging technologies to drive business success, efficiency, and profitability. 

At ikaun, Jason drives the daily innovation pipeline that fuels client solutions and successes.  Most recently, ikaun released ika:  ikaun’s revolutionary, truth-based generative AI that, among other things, radically reduces RFP response time by 90%.  Deployed in firms’ proprietary experience data, Ika is able to help firms discover novel truths that deliver competitive advantage and invaluable outcomes at unmatchable, astonishing rates, completely transforming the labor of RFP responses and radically reducing time spent by 90%.

Erin Normile-Elzinga

Director, Sectors & Clients, Foley & Lardner

Erin Normile-Elzinga is the Director of Sectors and Clients at Foley & Lardner LLP where she is responsible for leading the firm’s go-to market sector strategy and key client program. With 15+ years of professional services marketing experience, Erin is adept at connecting dots across business functions and sectors to institutionalize clients, build global brands, and generate revenue. Prior to joining Foley, she led global marketing and business development teams for several industries and practices at a Top 10 global law firm.

Allison Nussbaum

Vice President, Client Value, Pitchly

Allison’s career has been spent at the intersection of law, technology, and client growth. She has spent over 25 years in the legal industry and has held leadership roles in sales, law firm business development, and client success. She has been an innovator in client success at three different legal technology companies, having built successful teams at each one. Her professional passion is to promote client-centricity and to help her clients succeed — not just with the solutions her company may have sold them — but across the board.

In her real life, she is a traveler, a wine lover, a gardener, a mom to two Labrador Retrievers and one human daughter, and a bit of a political junkie.

Chris Opfer

Team Lead, Business of Law News, Bloomberg Industry Group

Chris Opfer is a Deputy Team Lead at Bloomberg Law, covering the policy, politics and court battles that shape the way people work. Among other topics, he’s written about efforts to organize gig workers, how smartphones challenge the meaning of overtime work and what happens when robots take over factory floors and fast food cashier stations. He’s also delved into the money behind politics with looks at lobbying efforts and campaign funding contributions by key players in the labor and employment field.

A licensed attorney and member of the New York Bar, Opfer has been reporting for Bloomberg BNA since 2012. He started at Bloomberg BNA as a Labor Economics Reporter, tracking various employment-related economic indicators, and later reported on Congress and the courts before taking his current position.

Before joining Bloomberg Law, Opfer was a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He helped lead fair housing investigations and defended lawsuits against the department alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and U.S. Constitution.

Opfer is regularly interviewed by outlets including Sirius XM, Bloomberg TV, and Bloomberg Radio.

Opfer was awarded a National Press Foundation Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship in 2013. He earned a B.B.A. in Business Management from James Madison University, a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and a professional certificate in journalism from New York University.

Joe Patrice

Senior Editor at Above the Law and Managing Director at RPN Executive Search LLP

Joe Patrice joined Above the Law in 2013. Joe received a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Oregon and a J.D. from the NYU School of Law. From 2001, he worked as a litigator for both Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton and Lankler Siffert & Wohl, representing a variety of individuals, institutions, and foreign sovereigns in criminal and civil matters. Joe left legal practice in 2012 to pursue writing, contributing to numerous publications, including ATL, before joining the full-time staff.

Lee Peretz

Director of Marketing & Business Development, Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Lee Peretz is the Director of Marketing and Business Development at Farrell Fritz, P.C., a full-service law firm with five offices across New York, and serves as Membership Chair on the LMA-NY Local Steering Committee. With nearly two decades of professional services marketing and business development experience, Lee has worked tirelessly alongside lawyers and other professionals empowering them to communicate more effectively and meaningfully with clients. Lee has focused on developing efficient and effective organizational strategy and high performing teams. Often referred to as a dot-connector and passionate “Go-Giver,” Lee focuses on helping others. He is an active member in LMA, as well as a board member of Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp (a sleepaway camp in the Berkshires) and a member of the Long Island Advisory Board for Junior Achievement of New York. Lee was a member of the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40 – Class of 2021. 



Nicole Petrie

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 

Joe Przybyla

Sr. Sales Director, North American Legal Lead, Introhive

Joe Przybyla is the Sr. Sales Director and North American Legal Lead for Introhive.  Joe has over 13 years of experience in professional services in various industries.  Prior to Introhive, He has developed innovative CRM implementation strategies as well as consulting with many AMLAW 100 firms.  

Joe resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Arlene and daughter Amani.  He holds a BA from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Washington, Seattle.

Sumathi Pundit

Founder and CEO, Kaitongo

Natalie Rodriguez

Assistant Managing Editor, Law360

Natalie Rodriguez is an assistant managing editor for Law360 Pulse. She edits the Modern Lawyer, Legal Tech and New York Pulse sections covering the business of law. Previously, she served as a long-form feature reporter covering the legal industry.

Jaron Rubenstein

Founder & CEO, RubyLaw

Jaron is the creator of RubyLaw, a legal-sector focused Content Lifecycle Management (CLM) platform that helps marketers manage, share, publish, and distribute mission-critical business content. In his role, he sets the strategic vision for the product, while serving as chief executive of RubensteinTech, an enterprise software company specializing in implementations and enhancements of RubyLaw, as well as RubyLaw Express, a CLM geared toward smaller, growth-minded law firms. Trained as an engineer, Jaron has a technical background but is also a highly effective communicator and an accomplished author, having contributed to several books on software and systems administration and writing for publications like HOW magazine, MarketingTech, and Law Technology Today.

Erin Ryan

Director of Partner Integration & Business Development Coaching, McGuireWoods

Over her 18-year career, Erin has been fortunate to provide business development and marketing services to three AmLaw 100 firms, with the last 13 years at McGuireWoods. Her role has encompassed many facets, including business development, coaching, client relations, and team management. In 2022, she became the firm’s first-ever director of partner integration and business development coaching. In that role, she has worked with key stakeholders and firm leadership to develop a robust integration program built from passion, vision, and strategy. The hard-wired framework of the program leverages technology, tools, processes and KPIs to ensure reliability and sustainability. The true substance of the program leverages human capital: 1-on-1 coaching, communication across teams and titles, and empowering people to positively impact each partners’ integration experience.

Erin frequently writes and speaks on business development, management, and professional growth. She has a passion for team management and organizational culture. She served as co-chair of the 2022 LMA Southeast Regional Conference themed “Culture 2022: Success from the Inside Out.” She also serves on the Junior Advisory Council for The Chiral Project, an organization working to help create sustainable and equitable leadership paths for women, and to bring balance to the boardroom, C-suite, and beyond.

Erin received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin, where she also received her B.A. in journalism and public relations.  In addition to being a proud wife, she loves experiencing life’s small wonders through the eyes of her two amazing children.

Sarah Ryan

Director of Marketing & Business Development, Stark & Stark

Tim Ryan

Managing Director, Growth Enablement, Williams Lea

Carolyn Sandano

Principal, The Legal Marketing Coach

Carolyn Sandano is a business development and marketing professional and certified master coach for professional service practitioners and firms. She was the first client development professional for four of AmLaw’s Top 100 and is proud to have participated in the international growth and expansion of legal marketing as a profession. Carolyn has worked across virtually all areas of practice in internationally and domestically focused firms, and managed teams of up to sixty professionals handling client teaming and feedback programs; pursuits of new business; large-scale and one on one coaching programs; and strategic client development processes.  

Today, she is the principal and founder of The Law Marketing Coach and Carolyn Sandano Coaching Services, LLC, and provides hands-on, business development support, inclusive of onsite and longer-term fractional assignments, to firms of all sizes on the East Coast. As a certified coach, Carolyn also develops tailored programs for lawyers, in groups or individually, as they seek new ways to acquire and competitively maintain significant client relationships. She also supports lawyers and business development professionals on career direction, strategy, success, and satisfaction in changing markets.

Carolyn is privileged to have participated in LMA as Past – President New York Metro, and three-time member of its Board of Directors; Secretary of the 2020-21 Northeast Regional Board; Co – Chairperson of the 2022 Northeast Regional Conference; and recipient of the Susan Benjamin Legacy Award. Carolyn was also recognized as the Sales and Service Executive of the Year by the Legal Service and Sales Organization (“LSSO”).

Carolyn maintains dual citizenship in the United States and Italy, and currently resides with her family in Westchester County, New York.

Lise Anne Schwartz

Director, Strategy & Content, Right Hat

Lise Anne Schwartz is the Director of Strategy and Content at Right Hat. In over 15 years in the legal marketing industry, she has created memorable brands and marketing collateral for more than 100 law and other professional services firms. Lise Anne regularly interviews lawyers, clients, laterals and students about law firm communications in order to bring the voices of key audiences into Right Hat’s work. She has written numerous blog posts and articles on legal marketing and is the lead author of Right Hat’s biannual Top of Mind Survey of legal buyers. In addition to legal marketing, Lise Anne has worked as a practicing lawyer, a journalist and a pastry chef.

Duncan Shaw

Chief Creative Officer, Living Group

As a co-founder of Living Group, Duncan has over 20 years’ brand and marketing experience for clients such as Akin, EY, Citi, Hogan Lovells, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Kasowitz, Orrick, State Street and White & Case. During this time, Duncan has gained great insight into many of the current brand and communication challenges within the financial, professional services and technology sectors.

Duncan is also the author of the Living Ratings of law firms – an annual market-leading research report that measures the brand and digital intelligence of the world’s leading law firms.

Dawn Sheiker

Director of Client Relations, Morris James LLP

Kelsey Eidbo

Vice-President, Infinite Global

Kelsey Eidbo advises professional services firms on strategic media initiatives that support their business development goals. As one of Infinite Global’s crisis communications professionals, Kelsey helps firms create proactive crisis communications plans to mitigate reputational risk and advises on communications strategies in response to crisis situations. 

Based in our San Francisco office, Kelsey leads several account teams across a number of professional services sectors including finance, consulting, legal, cybersecurity and investigations. She secures coverage for clients in key industry trade publications, as well as leading financial and business media including The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, The Financial Times, The New York Times and more. 

Kelsey also leads the intake and development process for Infinite Global’s crisis communications playbooks. She works with clients to develop the policies, processes and communications necessary for immediate response to a range of potential business interruption scenarios, from data breaches to leadership transitions to litigation, among many others. With Kelsey’s help, companies have a clear understanding of how to communicate with stakeholders in the event of a crisis. 

Kelsey received her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus on news editorial from California State University, Chico.

Patrick Smith

Senior Writer, The American Lawyer

Patrick Smith is the senior staff writer for The American Lawyer. He joined ALM from GOLF Magazine in 2019, previously covering business, sports and crime at NY1, The New York Daily News, NBCSports and The Bridge BK. He won an Emmy for his coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. 

He is a University of Illinois graduate with advanced degrees in international relations (Johns Hopkins University) and journalism (Columbia University). Prior to his time in media, Patrick worked in both tech and the arts. He resides in Brooklyn with his family.

Clay Steward

Vice President, Infinite Global

Drawing on nearly two decades’ experience in law, public relations and nonprofit management, Clay Steward is a strategic advisor to law firms, financial services companies and other complex organizations. He helps advance his clients’ core business objectives by building and executing targeted, high-impact communications plans that position them as experts and influencers in their respective industries. 

A media-savvy storyteller, Clay partners with his clients to hone their messaging, communicate their value and elevate their public profile. His knowledge of the law across a broad spectrum of practice areas enables Clay to anticipate industry trends and secure valuable media opportunities for his clients. 

Clay practiced law in Los Angeles for several years before launching his PR and marketing career advising nonprofit organizations, including St. Joseph Center and Inner-City Arts. He then served as an in-house communications manager and writer for a midsize national law firm and held a senior role at a professional services-focused PR agency. Clay earned a BA in Political Science and English from the University of California, Berkeley and received his JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Stuart Teicher

Teicher Professional Growth, LLC

Rachel Watson

Director of Business Development, Client Development and Campaigns, Akin

Rachel Watson is Director of Business Development, Client Development and Campaigns, currently responsible for Revenue Technology and Digital Marketing at Akin. She specializes in Intent and Behavioral modeling and marketing and has worked in Big Law, B2B Service Providers, Retail Ecommerce and SaaS. She is responsible for building the firm’s revenue technology stack and digital marketing program which actions data through programmatic campaigns to account based marketing.

Yasmin Zand

Client Success Consultant, Passle