04/24/2026
That’s a wrap on the ABA Litigation Summit in Boston. Sandline colleagues enjoyed networking sessions, dine arounds, and even a Red Sox game. ⚾
Several themes emerged over the past few days:
First, the focus around AI has shifted from adoption to responsible governance. Sessions on AI risk and governance, deepfakes, AI bias, and practical litigation use cases reinforced the growing emphasis on defensibility, transparency, and how these tools hold up in real-world disputes.
Second, proportionality and discovery remain front and center. There was a strong emphasis on controlling cost and burden, with a focus on narrowing scope, managing discovery disputes, and using technology to drive efficiency without compromising outcomes.
Additional sessions emphasized how courts help resolve high-stakes disputes fairly, with judges acting as a check on power, and why trust in legal institutions matters.
And finally, despite all the attention on emerging technology, fundamentals still matter. Storytelling at trial, expert preparation, and in-house legal-outside counsel collaboration were recurring reminders that effective lawyering is still built on judgment, preparation, and ex*****on.
💡The future of litigation is AI integrated into legal strategy, with defensibility and human judgment at the center.
Great conversations throughout the conference, and always valuable to connect with peers thinking through where litigation and discovery are headed next.
