US Tech Leaders at ILTACON 2026 Expect Fiduciary-Grade AI to Revolutionize Law Firms

• Lawyers are shifting from asking 'can AI do this?' to 'can I trust it?'.
• Fiduciary-Grade AI with reasoning you can see, sources you can check, and work you can stand behind is the new standard.
• Connected systems and human expertise are key to maximizing ROI in 2026.
• Law firms need to prioritize change management and upskilling to effectively integrate emerging technologies into their workflows.
• A human-in-the-loop approach is essential for driving smarter, client-centered delivery.

Our customers don't want another tool that sounds confident. They want something grounded in real authority they can verify and defend.

As the legal industry continues to evolve, law firms are under pressure to stay ahead of the curve. With technology driving massive disruption, anticipation for ILTACON 2026 is higher than ever. The conference, set for August 23 in Nashville, promises to showcase the latest innovations and trends shaping the legal tech landscape.

But what do the experts expect to see? According to Rawia Ashraf, Head of Product at CoCounsel Transactional & GCO, Thomson Reuters, the focus will be on Fiduciary-Grade AI that can be trusted. 'Our customers don't want another tool that sounds confident,' she notes. 'They want something grounded in real authority they can verify and defend.'

This shift towards trust and transparency is a significant change from just last year, when lawyers were still asking if AI could do certain tasks. Now, the bar has been raised, and law firms need to demonstrate that their technology is not only efficient but also reliable.

But what does this mean for law firms? In short, it means they need to prioritize change management and upskilling to effectively integrate emerging technologies into their workflows. This requires a human-in-the-loop approach, where lawyers can critically evaluate AI outputs and integrate tech into everyday work.

One of the key takeaways from this year's ILTACON preview is that law firms need technology that works together. Aisling Fenelon, Chief Revenue Officer at Aderant, emphasizes the importance of a connected ecosystem. 'When firms have that kind of connectivity,' she explains, 'they can get paid faster, make better financial decisions, reduce risk, and ultimately spend more time delivering exceptional service to their clients.'

This vision of a seamless, integrated system is not just about technology; it's also about people. As Laura Saklad, Vice President at Intapp, notes, the distinction between practice AI and firm AI matters now. 'Firm AI makes the whole enterprise more efficient,' she says, 'risk, compliance, time, business development, institutional knowledge.'

But what does this mean for law firms? In short, it means they need to prioritize human expertise alongside technological advancements. This requires a deep understanding of workflows and the ability to choose the right technology to support them.

As the legal industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: technology is only as powerful as the people using it. Ahmed Shaaban, Founding Member at Fulcrum Global Technologies, emphasizes the importance of change management, upskilling, and a human-in-the-loop approach. 'Rather than fearing automation,' he notes, 'legal professionals need training to critically evaluate AI outputs and integrate tech into everyday workflows.'

This requires a commitment to continuous education and bridging the gap between sophisticated tools and human expertise. As Preethy Prakash, Vice President at eBrevia, notes, success comes from understanding your workflows first, then choosing the right technology to support them.

In short, law firms need to prioritize change management and upskilling to effectively integrate emerging technologies into their workflows. This requires a human-in-the-loop approach, where lawyers can critically evaluate AI outputs and integrate tech into everyday work.

Lawyers should prioritize change management and upskilling to effectively integrate emerging technologies into their workflows, ensuring a human-in-the-loop approach to maximize ROI.

Source: Original reporting via ILTACON Preview