Tony McKenna, CIO at Lawfront, joins Jim Merrifield to discuss why AI is currently under-delivering in the legal sector and what needs to change. From email automation to billable hour evolution, Tony shares his perspective on how law firms can actually transform technology investments into revenue streams.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

- Why AI is under-delivering expectations in legal tech today

- How AI can transform email management and boost productivity

- The critical importance of integrating AI into existing workflows

- Why commoditized legal services will drive changes to billable hours

- Who remains accountable when AI generates incorrect legal advice

- How CIOs must evolve from IT managers to revenue strategists

- The rise of business translators in legal operations

CRITICAL INSIGHTS:

→ The buck stops with the lawyer, regardless of AI tool accuracy

→ AI adoption fails without proper workflow integration

→ CIOs must understand organizational strategy, not just technology

→ Administrative roles face the biggest disruption from AI

→ Resistance to change is the primary barrier to AI adoption

→ Understanding how to convert technology into revenue is essential

SOUND BITES:

- "AI can read your emails and respond"

- "The buck stops with the lawyer"

- "AI is still under-delivering"

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction to AI in Law

02:51 - AI's Impact on Productivity

05:44 - Challenges in AI Adoption

08:27 - The Future of Billable Hours

11:04 - Accountability in AI Usage

13:44 - Skills for Future CIOs

15:09 - Final Thoughts and Advice

Whether you're a law firm CIO, managing partner, or legal operations professional looking to maximize AI investments, this conversation provides honest insights on what's working, what's not, and what skills matter most in 2026.

Subscribe for more legal technology insights and CIO leadership perspectives.

#LegalTech #ArtificialIntelligence #LawFirms #CIOLeadership

Former law firm CIO Judy Flournoy joins Jim Merrifield to discuss the critical challenges facing legal AI adoption in 2026. With over 20 years leading technology in mid-sized law firms, Judy reveals who holds liability when AI hallucinates, why adoption fails, and what really matters for law firm CIOs today.KEY TOPICS COVERED:- Who is responsible when AI gives bad legal advice to clients- The real reason AI adoption fails in law firms (hint: it's not the data)- Why the billable hour model will survive alongside AI- How data analysis transforms legal pricing models- Why CIOs must understand the entire business, not just technology- The difference between probabilistic AI and deterministic machine learningCRITICAL INSIGHTS:→ The lawyer is always the last mile for verifying AI-generated work→ Understanding the problem before buying AI tools is crucial→ Successful AI adoption requires showing lawyers how it improves client service→ Generative AI was trained to give answers, not to be right→ CIOs need deep knowledge of accounting, business development, and operationsLIGHTNING ROUND ANSWERS:- Most underrated AI capability: It writes- Biggest blocker to AI adoption: Fear- Most exciting shift by 2026: Consolidation- Biggest AI risk for firms: BlindnessTIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction01:37 - Judy's Background in Legal Tech02:55 - AI Tasks CIOs Want to Automate03:50 - Real Blockers to AI Adoption06:14 - Will AI Disrupt the Billable Hour?08:40 - AI Liability: Who Holds the Bag?11:07 - Essential CIO Skills for 202614:05 - Lightning RoundMentioned in this episode: Stanford AI Strategy for Legal Leaders course, EU AI Act, Harvey AI, Lexis, WestlawWhether you're a law firm partner, CIO, legal operations professional, or attorney exploring AI tools, this conversation provides practical insights on navigating AI adoption responsibly.Subscribe for more legal technology insights and CIO leadership perspectives.#LegalTech #ArtificialIntelligence #LawFirms #AILiability

Welcome to InfoGov Hot Seat's 2025 Year in Review!Part 2 counts down episodes 5-1 that YOU made our most-viewed of the year. From AI governance secrets to legal tech innovations, these conversations defined 2025 in the information governance industry.What's Inside:Expert insights from Microsoft, Google, ARMA International leadersInfoCon 2025 and ILTACON 2025 coverageAI adoption strategies and risk managementData security and compliance game-changersSubscribe so you don't miss it → https://youtube.com/@InfoGovHotSeat💬 Comment your favorite moment below!🔗 More at: https://www.infogovhotseat.com#InfoGov #LegalTech #AI #InformationGovernanceChapters00:00 Intro00:40 Understanding Decentralized Storage and Data Privacy02:47 Opening the Agentic ‘Black Box’07:21 Generative AI 10:10 AI, Privacy & Cybersecurity14:17 AI and Information Governance

Welcome to InfoGov Hot Seat's 2025 Year in Review!Part 1 counts down episodes 10-6 that YOU made our most-viewed of the year. From AI governance secrets to legal tech innovations, these conversations defined 2025 in the information governance industry.What's Inside:Expert insights from Microsoft, Google, ARMA International leadersInfoCon 2025 and ILTACON 2025 coverageAI adoption strategies and risk managementData security and compliance game-changersPart 2 with our TOP 5 episodes drops next!Subscribe so you don't miss it → https://youtube.com/@InfoGovHotSeat💬 Comment your favorite moment below!🔗 More at: https://www.infogovhotseat.comChapters:00:00 Intro01:38 Enhancing Legal Tech Solutions with Gimel05:29 Introduction to Information Governance Challenges05:43 Shifting from Mandates to Mindsets09:06 The Human Element in Governance12:04 Change Management and Governance Alignment12:49 Advice for CIOs on AI Adoption15:12 Creating a Governance Framework for AI18:03 The Role of CIOs in the Future Workforce19:22 Future Trends in Records Management#InfoGov #LegalTech #AI #InformationGovernance

In this episode of InfoGovHotsie, host Jim Merrifield engages with Kathryn Rattigan and Albert Shiu from Robinson and Cole to discuss key insights from Infocon 2025. They explore the importance of data quality in AI initiatives, emerging risks in information governance, and actionable takeaways for organizations. The conversation also includes a rapid-fire round addressing myths and superlatives in the information governance field.

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield speaks with Richard Freeman from Ricoh about the key takeaways from Infocon 2025. They discuss the evolving landscape of information governance, the challenges posed by AI, and the importance of proactive governance strategies. Richard emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt their policies and procedures to effectively integrate AI while maintaining data integrity and security.Chapters00:00 Introduction to InfoCon 2025 Recap02:52 The Role of Ricoh in Information Governance05:59 Challenges in Information Governance Post-Infocon08:44 Proactive Governance in the Age of AI

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield sits down with Arman Afkhami of TitanFile to break down the biggest insights from InfoCon 2025. They explore why information governance is more urgent than ever, especially as organizations struggle with expanding data sprawl, fragmented systems, and increasing regulatory pressure.Arman shares real-world lessons from working closely with law firms—highlighting the growing demand for secure collaboration, trusted data sources, and technology that actually aligns with how legal teams work. The conversation also examines the rapid rise of AI in data management, the risks of unmanaged content, and why organizations must build a single source of truth to stay compliant and competitive.Whether you're in legal, IT, or governance leadership, this episode offers practical guidance on navigating an environment where security, usability, and governance must evolve together.00:00 Introduction to InfoCon 2025 Recap02:50 The Importance of Partnering with the IG Community06:04 Challenges Faced by Clients Post-InfoCon11:06 Key Takeaways for Law Firms and Corporations

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat, host Jim Merrifield welcomes Anne Cornish and Nathan Hughes to discuss the Global Information Consortium (GIC). They share insights into the origins of the GIC, its vision for the future, and the importance of collaboration in the field of information management. The conversation highlights the challenges and successes of building a global organization, the evolving landscape of information governance, and the diverse membership that the GIC aims to cultivate.

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat Podcast, Jim Merrifield and Kim Tran discuss the critical role of people and change management in governance and compliance. They emphasize that governance is not merely a policy issue but fundamentally a challenge of human behavior and organizational culture. Through real-world examples, they illustrate the consequences of misalignment between governance and change management, and provide actionable advice for organizations to bridge this gap. The conversation highlights the importance of engagement, communication, and understanding in fostering a successful governance framework.

In this episode of the InfoGov Hot Seat Podcast, Jim Merrifield and Kim Tran discuss the critical shift from mandate-driven compliance policies to a mindset-driven approach. They explore the challenges organizations face in implementing these changes, share real-life examples of successful policy rollouts, and provide actionable steps for organizations to foster a culture of compliance that resonates with employees. The conversation emphasizes the importance of communication, training, and engagement at all levels to ensure that compliance policies are not just theoretical but are embraced and lived by all employees.