In a groundbreaking discussion, legal industry analyst Ari Kaplan led the inaugural Legal Tech GC/CLO Roundtable, bringing together distinguished general counsels and chief legal officers from leading legal technology companies to reflect on the current state of the industry and anticipate future trends. The roundtable featured participants from prominent companies such as Relativity, Cimplifi, Litera, iManage, Verbit, X1, Malbek, Agiloft, and Exterro.
Unique Role of Legal Tech GCs
Colin Levy, GC of Malbek, highlighted the unique challenges faced by general counsels in the legal tech sector, where legal considerations intersect with product development, governance, and data privacy. This complexity is heightened by the rapid pace of technological change, particularly with the increasing presence of artificial intelligence.
Dennis Garcia, VP and GC of Litera, emphasized the dual role of GCs in legal tech companies as legal experts and ambassadors for their organizations. He noted the importance of using their products internally to become power users and effectively engage in business development.
Product Ambassadors
Jason Barnwell, CLO at Agiloft, stressed the importance of demonstrating the value of their products to customers by showcasing their use within the company. He explained that aligning product development with customer needs creates a virtuous cycle of learning and improvement.
Marla Crawford from Cimplifi and Beth Kallet-Neuman from Relativity both noted the advantage of having deep insight into customer personas, which allows them to identify product gaps and potential use cases effectively.
AI and Industry Transformation
Clint Crosier, GC at iManage, reflected on the pivotal role of AI in 2025, marking a shift from skepticism to acceptance. He emphasized the need for adaptability in policies and frameworks to ensure responsible AI deployment.
Colin Levy and Marla Crawford echoed the sentiment, highlighting the growing acceptance of AI and its transformative impact on the legal ecosystem. They noted the shift in employee roles and the need for ongoing education for both legal tech companies and their customers.
Cloud Solutions and Security
The discussion also touched on the debate between on-premises and cloud solutions. John Patzakis of X1 advocated for on-prem capabilities to address security concerns, while Beth Kallet-Neuman argued for the advantages of scalable, secure cloud solutions.
Jason Barnwell and JP Son from Verbit agreed that while some clients may prefer on-prem solutions, the cloud offers better scalability and security. The conversation revealed the importance of understanding customer preferences and balancing them with technological advancements.
Preparing for 2026
As the roundtable concluded, participants looked ahead to 2026, discussing the evolving role of AI in the legal industry and the need for continued adaptation. Jenny Hamilton from Exterro emphasized the importance of training the next generation of lawyers to navigate a changing landscape where AI handles baseline tasks.
JP Son noted the rise of alternative legal service providers and the shifting definition of legal roles. He predicted that technology would continue to drive a bifurcation of duties between traditional law firms and ALSPs, transforming the legal education paradigm.
Overall, the Legal Tech GC/CLO Roundtable provided valuable insights into the current state and future direction of the legal tech industry. As companies navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, cloud solutions, and evolving customer needs, the role of general counsels in shaping the industry’s future remains crucial.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.abajournal.com/columns/article/ceo-roundtable-with-ari-kaplan-legal-tech-general-counsel-chief-legal-officers-reflect-on-2025-share-their-vision-for-2026. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.