What We Learned at ILTACON 2025: Part 1
Sulabh Upadhyaya, Kraft Kennedy Management Consultant | 5th time attending ILTACON
Area of Expertise: Business Application Consulting, Leadership, Project Management
After being a session organizer and speaker earlier this spring at ILTA Evolve, I attended ILTACON 2025 as a presenter this past August. Reflecting on what makes this conference significant, I’ve come to appreciate the consistent value of this forum as a dynamic crossroad for legal technology and innovation. The opportunity to come together annually with my technology peers provides a key component that you won’t find listed on the agenda…
The Conversations
When I look back for the standout themes, I think of the conversations I shared with attendees digesting what we learned over breakfast tables, during panel discussions, and unwinding at socials after a long day of learning. Prominent topics of discussion included the unsurprising drive for enhanced security and cloud adoption, but specifically, application modernization was a focus this year. More than a passing idea—firms are actively grappling with how best to transition legacy systems to the cloud in ways to ensure robust protection of sensitive data as well as scalability.
Panelist Insights: Emerging Cybersecurity Threats in Legal Tech
The discussion focused on security-related considerations. We emphasized the significance of maintaining application currency, highlighting not only the necessity of keeping software updated but also recognizing its broader impact on an organization’s overall security posture. Together with my co-presenters, we explored strategies firms can use to map out the flow of their data, monitor where it resides, and best deployment practices in the ever-evolving threat landscape. These conversations underscored that cybersecurity isn’t a static goal; it is a continuous process of adaptation.
AI Planning
Another topic that dominated sessions and buzzed through hallway discussions was the explosion of interest in artificial intelligence (AI). This year, the prominence of AI was significantly more pronounced, with countless sessions dedicated to uncovering its potential within the legal industry. The question on many minds was whether we’re simply discussing AI or actually implementing it to solve real problems. I noticed a shift: rather than viewing AI as a distant possibility, many firms are now actively seeking ways to integrate AI into their core applications—whether through direct integration, via tools like Copilot, or by leveraging AI-powered analytics to streamline workflows and enhance productivity.
What struck me most was the level of excitement around these emerging technologies, tempered by thoughtful consideration about their practical impact. Firms are beginning to move beyond speculation, putting processes into action, and experimenting with real use cases. Yet, there remains a healthy skepticism about separating hype from tangible progress. It’s an exciting, transitional period where the industry is learning to balance ambition with pragmatism.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, I am genuinely curious and optimistic about where these developments will take us over the next one to three years. Will AI fundamentally reshape how legal professionals work? Will cloud-based platforms become the norm rather than the exception? And how will firms continue to adapt their security strategies to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated threats? ILTACON provided a snapshot of these ongoing transformations, and I left the conference with a renewed appreciation for the power of collaboration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of better solutions across the legal technology landscape.
Catch Sulabh next at SurePoint Ignite where we’ll cover Data Security in a Cloud Based World.