🎙️ 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

At LawFest 2026, David sat down with Manraj from LawCyborg to explore how AI is reshaping legal and tax research — helping professionals get to answers faster, serve clients better, and build deeper niche expertise.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

↳ AI allows practitioners to spend less time researching — and more time advising
↳ Faster access to information means better responsiveness for clients
↳ Niche expertise is becoming even more valuable in the AI era
↳ Small, focused teams can build highly effective legal AI solutions
↳ The future isn’t about replacing professionals — it’s about enhancing them

One insight that stood out:

“AI makes research enjoyable again.”

As legal and tax professionals face growing complexity, the firms that embrace AI strategically may gain a real competitive edge.

Not by knowing less.
But by getting to the right answers faster.

#PeopleInLegal #LawFest2026 #LegalTech #AIinLaw #TaxTech #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #ProfessionalServices #LawCyborg

🎙️ “Getting it perfect is required.”

At #RelFest26 Sydney by Relativity, our host Jonathan Seifman sat down with Phil Saunders, CEO of Relativity, to unpack how AI is reshaping high-consequence legal workflows around the world.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

↳ Legal isn’t a “late adopter” industry — the complexity simply demands higher standards
↳ AI in legal is about more than productivity — it’s about accuracy, trust, and outcomes
↳ Different regions have very different legal workflows and use cases
↳ Customer collaboration is critical when building legal AI products
↳ The future isn’t just automation — it’s reimagining how legal work gets done

One insight that stood out:

“If we don’t reimagine how work gets done… we won’t keep pace.”

From litigation to investigations, data breaches to AI-generated evidence, the volume and complexity of legal data is only accelerating.

And in legal tech:

👉 “Good enough” isn’t good enough.

#PeopleInLegal #Relativity #RelFest26 #LegalTech #AIinLaw #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #eDiscovery #LegalIndustry

🎙️ The best AI tool is useless if nobody knows how to use it.

At Legal Innovation & Tech Fest, David sat down with Ziggy from Thomson Reuters to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing the legal industry right now:

👉 AI adoption.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

↳ AI training isn’t one-and-done — continuous learning is critical
↳ Even great AI tools fail without proper adoption and support
↳ Information security and data sovereignty remain major concerns for firms
↳ New legal careers are emerging around AI, legal operations, and innovation
↳ Lawyers who combine legal skills with tech curiosity will stand out

One insight that stood out:

“What you learn today about AI could be different next week.”

As AI evolves at breakneck speed, firms aren’t just competing on tools anymore.

They’re competing on:
→ education
→ adaptability
→ and the ability to keep learning

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #ThomsonReuters #LegalAI #Lawyers #LegalIndustry

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) obligations are here for Australian law firms, but the reality is far less chaotic than many expect.

In this episode of Law and Beyond, host Chantal McNaught is joined by Russell Smith and Toby Taylor from APLYiD to break down what AML actually means for small and mid-tier firms, what happens when firms get it wrong, and why this moment presents a genuine opportunity to improve client experience and business performance.

We begin with a real case. A New Zealand law firm was fined $60,000 for serious AML breaches after failing to implement basic compliance systems and obstructing regulators. It is a clear signal that ignoring AML is no longer viable.

But beyond the headlines, this conversation cuts through the noise. The message is simple. Do not panic. Do not delay. Start.

🎁 In this episode

• What AML compliance actually requires from law firms
• Why the fear around AML is often overblown
• What led to a $60,000 fine and what firms can learn from it
• The key differences between Australia, New Zealand and the UK
• How poor onboarding processes quietly cost firms time and revenue
• Why AML can become a competitive advantage, not just a compliance task

The key takeaway: AML is not just about regulation, it's part of your client experience. Firms that treat onboarding as a friction point will feel the cost. Firms that treat it as a seamless experience will build trust, efficiency and stronger client relationships.

🔗 Useful Links

• APLYiD website
• FREE AML Resources Hub
• Join the Webinar for Tranche 2 Australian law firms
• Book a demo with APLYiD
• Monster video
• Russell's conversation with AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas

Enjoyed the episode?

Follow us and share with a colleague who is still putting off AML.

🎙️ “𝟰𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.”At LEGAL INNOVATION & TECH FEST, our host Roni Millard, Founder and Health & Wellness Consultant at The Wellbeing Edge, sat down with Ryan Zahrai, CEO of Parachute, to unpack why so many SME law firms are still being overlooked in the AI conversation.After years in Big Law and running his own practice, Ryan saw the same problem over and over:👉 Small firms were drowning in admin👉 Existing legal AI tools weren’t built for them👉 And too much valuable time was disappearing into non-billable workThat’s what led to the creation of Parachute.💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:↳ Most legal AI products are designed for large firms — not SMEs↳ Efficiency isn’t just about speed, it’s about sustainability↳ SME firms need practical tools that solve real day-to-day pain points↳ Lived experience matters when building legal tech↳ Autonomy and flexibility are becoming increasingly important for modern lawyersOne insight that stood out:“You can’t manufacture lived experience.”This wasn’t just a conversation about AI.It was about understanding the realities of running a law firm — and building technology that actually helps.#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #SMELaw #LegalInnovation #LawFirmManagement #FutureOfLaw #LegalAI #Lawyers

🎙️ AI won’t replace lawyers.But it will reshape what they do.

At RelFest 26 Sydney, Jonathan sat down with Professor Michael Legg from UNSW to explore how legal education — and the profession itself — is evolving in the age of AI.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

↳ Law schools still need to teach core legal fundamentals — that doesn’t change
↳ But students now also need technical awareness and AI literacy
↳ The real differentiator? Human skills — judgment, empathy, communication
↳ AI may reduce some roles… but also create entirely new areas of legal work
↳ The future of law will demand continuous learning, not a one-time qualification

One insight that stood out:

Humans need to do the work that technology can’t.

As AI continues to evolve, the question isn’t:

👉 Will there be lawyers?👉 It’s what kind of lawyers will thrive.

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #FutureOfLaw #LegalEducation #LawStudents #LegalInnovation #UNSW #LegalIndustry

🎙️ The future of law isn’t just about AI.
It’s about people.

At the Family Law Education Network conference, David sat down with Lara Wentworth, Co-founder & Director of Coaching Advocates, former lawyer turned leadership coach, to unpack what’s really changing inside law firms.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

↳ The biggest challenges in law firms today aren’t technical — they’re human
↳ Mid-tier firms often struggle most — caught between resources and expectations
↳ Careers in law are no longer linear — people are exploring adjacent paths
↳ Leadership (or lack of it) directly impacts culture, retention, and revenue
↳ As AI grows, human skills become the real differentiator

One insight that stood out:

Clients don’t remember the firm.They remember the person they worked with.

As the industry evolves, one thing is clear:

👉 Technical skills might get you in the door👉 But it’s people skills that will define the future

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #Leadership #FutureOfLaw #AIinLaw #LegalInnovation #Lawyers #ProfessionalDevelopment #LegalIndustry

🎙️ You can’t choose the right tech if you don’t know where you’re going.

At the conference, David sat down with an advisor working closely with mid-market law firms navigating growth, margin pressure, and the shift toward new ways of working.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

↳ Many firms don’t actually know their current tech stack or capabilities
↳ Shadow AI use is already happening — often without governance or visibility
↳ Change isn’t the challenge — change management is
↳ Value-based billing requires clear visibility on profitability
↳ The real starting point? Define the problem before the solution

One insight that stood out: Start with the problem — not the technology.

Technology doesn’t fix direction. It amplifies it.

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #MidMarket #LawFirms #LegalInnovation #GoToMarket #ChangeManagement #FutureOfLaw #LegalIndustry