In-person attendees may check in at the registration desk outside of 180 Chesterfield at any time during conference hours. Whether you arrive early, later in the day, or on Day 2, your badge and materials will be ready when you check in.

Welcome to the opening of the 13th Annual UF Law E-Discovery Conference! This year, we invite you to Own the Data. Earn the Seat.

Our kickoff session sets the tone for two days of insight, collaboration, and actionable learning designed to help you transform data into influence. As the lines between law, technology, and strategy continue to blur, e-discovery professionals stand at the center, analyzing information, connecting the dots, and shaping the direction of cases and organizations alike.

This welcome session introduces the conference theme and highlights what lies ahead: practical sessions, expert-led discussions, and innovative tools that help you master e-discovery, elevate your impact, and claim your voice at the table where strategy is set.

Join us as we begin this year's journey toward transforming evidence into insight, knowledge into influence, and data into leadership.

Dawson Horn is a seasoned legal professional. His resume includes managing "bet the company” litigation, leading transactions, having a seat at the table during the early stages of eDiscovery, becoming a respected information governance strategist, and now, leading a non-profit focused on strengthening the legal tech space through education, innovation, and diversity. Today, the profession is undergoing seismic shifts as new technologies develop at a rapid rate, as established legal principles and societal norms are being re-examined, and as business—including the business of law—is adjusting. Recognizing that these changes generate excitement as well as anxiety, we have asked Dawson, as our keynote speaker, to use his unique perspective to discuss how our community of judges, lawyers, paralegals, service providers and eDiscovery professionals are affected by these recent challenges. Dawson will discuss how approaches that led to past success—in the profession broadly as well as to individual careers—can be marshalled to overcome the uncertainties of the present.

Each year, this panel opens the conference panels by digging into the case law that’s actively reshaping how we handle discovery. From questions around hyperlinked files and mobile devices to recent sanctions decisions, these rulings aren’t just updates—they're shaping how we argue, advise clients, and build strategy. Case law has always driven the issues in ediscovery, and this year is no different. We’ll look at what’s new, what’s unsettled, and what’s coming next from the more than 5000 decisions in 2025.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in Legal Operations; helping teams work smarter, reduce risk, optimize costs, and deliver measurable business value to their organizations. This panel will explore how Legal Operations leaders and their outside counsel are embracing AI to enhance collaboration, drive efficiencies, and reshape the delivery of legal services.

While in-person attendees break for lunch, virtual participants are encouraged to explore the Virtual Expo and connect with the sponsors supporting this year’s conference. Visit exhibitor booths, access resources, and engage with our partners to learn more about the tools and innovations shaping the future of e-discovery.

Take a break and enjoy lunch with fellow attendees at the UF Law campus. This is a great time to network, share insights from the morning sessions, and connect with peers, speakers, and sponsors in person before the afternoon discussions begin.

Our Nuts & Bolts Essentials session is back, bringing you high-level, rapid-fire insights in 8 to 10-minute segments covering critical e-discovery topics you need to know for your career and projects. Designed as a quick overview rather than a deep dive, each talk is crafted to whet your appetite with valuable tips, emerging trends, and essential skills for success in e-discovery. With a fresh twist each year, this dynamic session ensures you leave with practical, must-know information to inspire your growth and support your professional journey.

As mobile devices become the primary hub for personal and professional communications, the challenges of preserving and collecting electronically stored information (ESI) from these sources have grown exponentially. This panel will explore the evolving landscape of mobile device discovery, focusing on practical strategies, legal standards, and emerging technologies for defensible ESI preservation and collection. Panelists will address the unique issues posed by mobile data—including ephemeral messaging, cloud storage, privacy concerns, and proportionality—while offering guidance for both plaintiff and defense counsel.

Why This Panel?
With the conference theme highlighting the power and responsibility of data stewards, this session will empower legal professionals to “own” the complexities of mobile ESI. Drawing from recent Sedona Conference guidance, real-world case studies, and hands-on experience, the panel will provide actionable insights for navigating preservation pitfalls, negotiating protocols, and leveraging new tools—all while maintaining defensibility and transparency.

Join us for a fast-paced mock sanctions hearing where our panelists will step into the roles of judge, counsel, and eDiscovery consultant to argue the high-stakes consequences of failing to preserve data. Using a lively hypothetical, the panel will explore sanctions issues from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives, highlighting how courts grapple with spoliation, intent, and proportional remedies.

This year’s hearing tackles timely scenarios impacting the profession including: the failure to preserve departing employee data, the loss of communications on encrypted platforms like Telegram, mishandling ephemeral messaging apps (think Slack/Teams auto-deletions), and inadequate preservation of third-party data (vendors, contractors). Attendees will walk away with practical strategies to mitigate risk, sharpen preservation protocols, and avoid becoming the cautionary tale in the next sanctions order.

Are the rules judges interpret adequate in an era of artificial intelligence where documents have morphed into data, and evidence is often not what it appears to be? With perspectives from state and federal courts, the Annual Judicial Panel for 2026 will examine the AI effect on the law and on how judges do their jobs. 

Do the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) need amending to deal with AI deepfakes? After over a decade, it is time for another major e-discovery overhaul of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP)? What about state courts? 

Join us for an always-lively discussion as leading jurists address the vital issues of the day in law and technology.

Join us as we wrap up an engaging first day of the 13th Annual UF Law E-Discovery Conference. We’ll reflect on key insights, highlight standout moments, and share a preview of what’s ahead on Day 2. This brief session brings everyone together—both in-person and virtual attendees—to close out the day with inspiration and momentum around our theme, Own the Data. Earn the Seat.

Close out Day 1 with a relaxed networking reception for in-person attendees. Enjoy light refreshments and conversation with fellow professionals, speakers, and sponsors. It’s the perfect opportunity to continue the day’s discussions, build new connections, and recharge for an exciting Day 2 of the UF Law E-Discovery Conference.

In-person attendees may check in at the registration desk outside of 180 Chesterfield at any time during conference hours. Whether you arrive early, later in the day, or on Day 2, your badge and materials will be ready when you check in.

Welcome back to Day 2 of the 13th Annual UF Law E-Discovery Conference! We’ll kick off the day with key highlights from Day 1 and a look at what’s ahead: dynamic sessions, expert discussions, and hands-on insights designed to help you turn data into influence. Whether you’re just starting out or leading strategy, this is your opportunity to deepen your expertise and continue learning how to Own the Data and Earn the Seat.

Managing AI-Generated Evidence and Hallucinations in Modern Litigation

Artificial intelligence now affects not only how evidence is created and managed, but also its authenticity and reliability, sometimes improving clarity, sometimes undermining it. In this focused one-hour program, retired U.S. District Judge Paul Grimm tackles the two issues that matter most right now: AI-generated or altered evidence and AI hallucinations in filings and opinions.

With questions from Judge Ralph Artigliere and Rose Hunter Jones, Judge Grimm will translate doctrine into practice: how to evaluate authenticity and reliability when data may be synthetic or edited, how to frame and decide admissibility challenges, and how to apply case management that sets clear expectations for disclosure, authentication, and preservation. He will then turn to the responsibilities of counsel and the court when generative tools are used in drafting, including verification of citations and facts, appropriate sanctions when things go wrong, and proportional guardrails for chambers and law offices.

You will leave with concrete takeaways you can implement on your next matter: practical language for protocols and orders, triage steps when AI is suspected, and ethical checkpoints for teams using AI. Designed for judges, litigators, and eDiscovery professionals.

Too often, practitioners focus on pushing buttons without fully understanding the “why” behind their work. We will explore the essential problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills that must come before the technical execution of eDiscovery tasks. The panelists will demonstrate how mastering these foundational skills leads to better decisions, stronger collaboration, and long-term professional growth.

Join us for a scenario-driven discussion that will ensure practitioners at every level bring real value beyond functional execution.

Generative and agentic AI are reshaping legal practice, but adoption requires more than enthusiasm, it demands strategy, governance, and trust. Legal professionals continue to wrestle with skepticism around accuracy, ethics, and workflow disruption, even as clients and competitors push ahead. This panel will examine how law firms and legal departments can move from hesitation to structured adoption by focusing on practice-aligned use cases, repeatable workflows, clear governance, and effective change management. Attendees will gain practical insights into balancing innovation with risk, building internal confidence, and ensuring AI enhances rather than undermines the lawyer’s role.

While in-person attendees break for lunch, virtual participants are encouraged to explore the Virtual Expo and connect with the sponsors supporting this year’s conference. Visit exhibitor booths, access resources, and engage with our partners to learn more about the tools and innovations shaping the future of e-discovery.

Take a break and enjoy lunch with fellow attendees at the UF Law campus. This is a great time to network, share insights from the morning sessions, and connect with peers, speakers, and sponsors in person before the afternoon discussions begin.

Our Nuts & Bolts Essentials session is back, bringing you high-level, rapid-fire insights in 8 to 10-minute segments covering critical e-discovery topics you need to know for your career and projects. Designed as a quick overview rather than a deep dive, each talk is crafted to whet your appetite with valuable tips, emerging trends, and essential skills for success in e-discovery. With a fresh twist each year, this dynamic session ensures you leave with practical, must-know information to inspire your growth and support your professional journey.

The use of generative AI to enhance document review is the most talked about advance in eDiscovery ever. Lots of discussion, however, doesn’t necessarily mean clarity.

Join us as we examine the state of GenAI for review, lay out the elements that rapidly are becoming table stakes, and discuss the capabilities emerging with the rapid development and growing adoption of GenAI for review. Our speakers will share their experiences, insights, and suggestions – providing you with valuable tools to help you assess options, chart paths, and perhaps begin using one of the growing number of options available today.

Are AI prompts discoverable? Do thy resemble search terms or review guides? Are we on the verge of repeating the TAR transparency debate, and can we get it right this time? Join us for an exciting mock oral argument featuring seasoned experts from both sides of the “v”. Afterwards, we will delve deeper into the strategies for safeguarding privilege, confidentiality, and privacy when leveraging AI.

Join us as we close the 13th Annual UF Law E-Discovery Conference with reflections on two days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. We’ll recap key insights, celebrate the community that makes this conference thrive, and look ahead to the future of e-discovery. Leave empowered to apply what you’ve learned, champion data-driven strategy, and continue to Own the Data and Earn the Seat.