2026 conference schedule
Monday, March 30
9:30 - 10 a.m.
Check-in
10 - 10:20 a.m.
Welcome and introductory remarks
Speaker: Michael Arkfeld
10:20 - 11:15 a.m.
Keynote | Role of AI in the Courts with Judges
Speaker: Judge Schlegel
Recent advances in editing software and generative AI have made it simpler than ever to produce highly convincing fake images, videos, and audio. Unfortunately, these same technologies can be exploited by malicious actors to fabricate multimedia evidence, steal identities, commit fraud, and spread disinformation. In this talk, I will survey these emerging threats and highlight ongoing research in multimedia forensics aimed at developing AI-driven systems to detect manipulated and AI-generated media. I will also present several of my lab’s forensic systems designed to identify edited images, uncover AI-synthesized content, and expose deepfakes, ultimately helping to safeguard the integrity of digital information.
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
General Overview of AI: Evolution and Future
Moderator: Judge Rodriguez
Speakers: Gary Marchant, Matt Stamm, Judge Gates, Laura Cassini
As deepfake technology advances, the legal world faces unprecedented challenges in managing the authenticity and admissibility of digital evidence. This session will delve into the growing use of deepfakes and other synthetic media, focusing on the tools behind their creation and the emerging techniques for detecting manipulated content.
Central to the discussion will be the ethical responsibilities of attorneys in the age of deepfakes. Should lawyers be required to verify the authenticity of evidence before presenting it to the court? We’ll explore the evolving ethical framework, including proposals like Arizona Rule 3.3, which seeks to require attorneys to investigate evidence if they believe it has been altered or generated to deceive the court.
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
AI Use Cases Beyond Document Review: Depositions, Drafting, Legal Research, Analyzing Incoming Productions, Internal Investigations
Moderator: Brian Morrison
Speakers: Paul McVoy, Brian Morrison, Tessa Jacobs, Jacksy Bilsborow
This panel will focus on the identification, preservation, collection and production of modern data sources such as hyperlinked files, collaboration tools and multimedia files. This panel will discuss the issues coming up on both sides of the ‘v,’ including any relevant challenges and pitfalls. Expect to hear about the evolving case law and best practices for your litigation matters
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Custodial Interviews in the Age of Collaboration
Moderator: Amy Sellars
Speakers: Michael Blank, Tom Morrissey, Shawn Cheadle
Information governance is a critical foundation for effective eDiscovery, compliance and risk management. Yet, many in-house counsels face significant resistance from business units that view information governance as a time-consuming burden with little perceived value. This session brings together a panel of experienced in-house lawyers to explore strategies for addressing this challenge head-on.
Our panelists will share their insights on:
3:30 - 4 p.m.
Networking break
4 - 5 p.m.
eDiscovery Tools - GenAI vs TAR vs search terms vs combos
Moderator: Andrea D’Ambra
Speakers: Steve Davis, Maria Salacuse, Alex Goth
As mobile apps and social media platforms rapidly evolve, eDiscovery teams must navigate complex challenges in preservation, collection, processing, review, and production while balancing privacy concerns and legal defensibility. From ensuring full data capture—including cloud-synced content and ephemeral messaging—to dealing with partial exports from apps like Discord and Signal, defensibility is key. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying what to collect, addressing privacy implications, disabling auto-deletion, authenticating social media evidence, and developing effective workflows for review and production. With courts increasingly scrutinizing mobile and social media discovery, this session will provide practical strategies for staying ahead in this dynamic digital landscape.
5 - 6:30 p.m.
Conference reception
Reception sponsored by Nextpoint and hosted at The Vig,
located at 606 N 4th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003.
Tuesday, March 31
8 - 8:30 a.m.
Check-in
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Judicial panel
Moderator: Mark Sidoti
Speakers: Judge Rodriguez, Judge Goddard, Judge Gates, Judge Memmott
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Privacy – What is Privacy and How Do We Protect It (focus on corporate surveillance)
Moderator: Cristin Traylor
Speakers: Alex Khoury, Chad Roberts, Dan Stromberg, Jeff Johnson
Are you tired of hearing about generative AI in theory without seeing how it’s being used in practice? This session is for you. Join us for a dynamic discussion with professionals who are actively using generative AI in their e-discovery processes. Our panelists will share firsthand experiences of implementing generative tools on live projects, including how they navigated challenges like securing internal and external buy-in, tailoring solutions to specific case types, and measuring ROI. They will also delve into innovative AI use cases in e-discovery, such as automating document and privilege review, identifying key patterns in vast datasets, accelerating the creation of case strategy, and streamlining investigation workflows. Whether you are considering adopting generative AI or looking to optimize your current approach, this session will provide actionable insights and lessons learned from real-world implementations.
10:30 - 11 a.m.
Networking break
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Deep Fakes, Fabricated Evidence, Detection of AI
Moderator: Joy Woller
Speakers: Whitney Stefko, Judge Goddard, Joseph Tiano, Andrea D’Ambra
Generative AI (“GAI”) is everywhere, integrated into nearly every tool we use. Many courts mandate disclosure of GAI use and outside counsel guidelines often prohibit its use for legal work. At the same time, lawyers and law firms are cautioned against the risk of obsolescence if they fail to adopt it. What role will GAI play in the legal profession in 2025? This panel will explore the types of GAI available to lawyers and discuss the ethical and practical considerations associated with its use.
12 - 1 p.m.
AI Ethics: Sanctions and Responsibility
Moderator: Rob Singleton
Speakers: Lea Bays
Test your knowledge, sharpen your skills and earn ethics credit in this interactive and entertaining Jeopardy-style session! A beloved ASU-Arkfeld tradition, this session dives into the ethical challenges and considerations surrounding eDiscovery. Join us for a lively and engaging exploration of real-world scenarios, landmark cases and key professional responsibilities. Whether you’re new to eDiscovery or a seasoned pro, you’ll leave better equipped to navigate the ethical complexities of our digital age.
