As the ILTACON 2025 conference wrapped up, attendees could not help but draw parallels between the event and the 56th anniversary of Woodstock. Grace Slick’s iconic declaration of a “new dawn” during Jefferson Airplane’s performance in 1969 found a modern echo in the Gaylord National Harbor halls, as legal professionals witnessed what many perceived to be the beginning of a transformative era in legal technology.
This year’s ILTACON has been noted for its record attendance, drawing roughly 4,600 participants from over 30 countries, filling every corner of the venue with unprecedented energy. The conference organizers, especially co-chairs Donna Frugoli and Brian Clark, deserve commendation for orchestrating such a dynamic gathering. Yet, it was not merely the scale that set this event apart; it was a palpable sense of innovation, magnified by the buzz around generative AI and its implications for legal technology.
Legal tech conferences had, in previous years, found themselves in a rut of predictable advancements. Innovations often felt incremental rather than revolutionary. However, this year represented a deviation from that pattern. Attendees could not ignore the shift as they toured the bustling exhibit halls. AI technologies are not only automating tasks but overhauling workflows and enhancing the delivery of legal services. Noteworthy among these advances were the springboard developments in agentic AI systems, which promise to streamline a range of legal, business, and administrative functions.
The exhibit floor at ILTACON featured significant product launches, including the introduction of Thomson Reuters’ CoCounsel Legal, LexisNexis’ extension of AI capabilities through its Protege General AI, and NetDocuments’ cutting-edge AI tools. Yet, perhaps even more captivating was the energy in the Startup Hub, where emerging companies like Querious were showcasing novel concepts poised to shape the future of legal practices.
Unfortunately, the reach of this “new dawn” is uneven. The majority of ILTACON attendees hailed from large law firms and prominent corporations, while those who could benefit most from accessible legal tech—such as solo practitioners and small firms—were notably absent. This disparity raises critical questions about the breadth of the AI-driven transformation. Failure to extend these advances beyond elite circles could exacerbate the existing justice gap, a concern discussed in previous commentary on the topic (The Justice Gap in Legal Tech: A Tale of Two Conferences and the Implications for A2J).
Licensing and pricing structures must evolve to support smaller legal entities, ensuring that the dawn of generative AI benefits all levels of the legal profession. This year’s ILTACON highlighted both the promise and responsibility facing the legal tech community as we venture into this new dawn, linking echoes from the legendary Woodstock with the potential to fundamentally elevate the access to and practice of law.
For a detailed account of the conference discussions and releases, you can read more about it on LawNext.