The voices shaping legal tech, innovation, and the future of the practice of law.
The legal industry is entering one of its most transformative periods yet. As law firms rethink how they deliver services, manage data, and leverage technology, a new class of legal influencers is leading the conversation.
These are 10 legal industry leaders, technologists, innovators, and creators whose ideas, content, and influence are shaping the future of law.
1. Cat Casey
Cat Casey has become one of the most recognizable voices in e-discovery and legal AI, known for making even the most complex technical concepts accessible (and often entertaining) to legal practitioners. As a seasoned e-discovery leader working at the intersection of litigation, data science, and AI, Casey brings deep experience from both the corporate and vendor sides of the industry.
Her thought leadership demystifies emerging technologies, breaks down the realities of AI adoption, and highlights how legal teams can leverage automation responsibly. In 2026, her ability to translate technical nuance into practical, real-world guidance makes her a go-to expert for firms modernizing their litigation workflows.
2. Richard Tromans
Richard Tromans is the founder and editorial force behind Artificial Lawyer, one of the most influential publications covering the global legal tech ecosystem. His reporting blends sharp analysis with a futurist’s perspective, examining how automation, AI, and new business models are reshaping legal markets.
Tromans is known for challenging traditional thinking and pushing firms to confront the economic realities of modern service delivery. His voice carries particular weight in 2026 as the profession grapples with the impact of AI agents and new forms of competition. When Tromans writes about the next phase of legal transformation, the industry pays attention.
3. Shaun Jardine
Shaun Jardine is a leading thinker on legal pricing, revenue strategy, and law-firm modernization. As the founder of LegalGigz, he is reimagining the way firms manage business development, conference engagement, and professional visibility in the evolving legal marketplace.
A former law firm CEO, Jardine brings a rare combination of executive insight and entrepreneurial vision. His commentary on value-based pricing, the economics of legal practice, and the shifting expectations of clients is helping attorneys rethink how they package and communicate their services. In 2026, Jardine remains one of the most influential voices driving the commercial reinvention of law.
4. Stephanie Wilkins
As Director of Content at Legaltech Hub, Stephanie Wilkins has established herself as one of the most trusted journalists covering the rapidly evolving legal technology landscape. Her reporting is grounded, nuanced, and refreshingly clear, offering lawyers practical insights into AI tools, cybersecurity risks, vendor trends, and regulatory developments.
Wilkins has a talent for asking the right questions and cutting through hype to uncover how technologies truly impact legal work. With AI regulation accelerating globally, her leadership and editorial direction make Legaltech News an essential resource for legal professionals seeking reliable guidance in 2026.
5. Carolyn Elefant
Carolyn Elefant is widely regarded as the leading advocate for solo and small firm innovation. A practicing attorney, author of the groundbreaking blog MyShingle, and a longtime proponent of lawyer empowerment, Elefant combines practical experience with a forward-thinking mindset.
She helps solo practioners adopt the right technologies, build sustainable practices, and compete effectively in a modern marketplace. Elefant’s insights bridge the gap between traditional legal practice and new-age entrepreneurial lawyering. As the legal industry becomes more democratized through automation and accessible tools, her influence continues to grow in 2026.
6. Kristen Sonday
Kristen Sonday is an access to justice advocate and one of the most impactful innovators working to expand access to legal services. As the co-founder of Paladin, she built a platform that streamlines pro bono engagement across law firms, corporations, and nonprofits, creating measurable improvements in how legal help reaches underserved communities. Sonday’s leadership extends beyond technology: she is an advocate for justice reform, a respected policy voice, and a mentor to emerging legal founders. In an era where equity and technology increasingly intersect, Sonday’s vision is shaping the future of accessible legal service delivery.
7. David Wakeling
David Wakeling leads the Markets Innovation Group at A&O Shearman, one of the most advanced legal innovation teams in the world. Under his direction, the firm has pioneered transformative AI collaborations, including the high-profile partnership with Harvey, that have set new global standards for legal AI adoption.
Wakeling operates at the forefront of agentic AI, workflow automation, and legal data engineering, pushing the boundaries of what law firms can achieve with responsible, well-governed technology. His work is redefining how elite firms practice law in 2026, making him one of the most influential figures in the legal AI movement.
8. Jordan Furlong
Jordan Furlong is a globally recognized legal strategist known for his ability to anticipate and articulate the forces reshaping the profession. Through his writing, consulting, and speaking, Furlong helps firms understand evolving client expectations, market pressures, and the realities of modern legal service delivery.
His analyses of regulatory reform, alternative legal services, and AI-driven transformation provide clarity to attorneys navigating the next frontier of legal practice. In 2026, his futurist insights remain indispensable for firm leaders planning for long-term success.
9. Ari Kaplan
Ari Kaplan is one of the most respected researchers in the legal industry, known for conducting in-depth interviews and quantitative studies that reveal how corporate legal departments, law firms, and legal ops teams are actually operating.
His research provides rare visibility into real-world technology adoption, staffing trends, workflow challenges, and leadership priorities. Kaplan’s commentary is grounded in data and informed by conversations with hundreds of legal professionals each year. In 2026, his work will continue to shape how organizations benchmark themselves and make strategic decisions.
10. Erik Ruda
Erik Ruda is the founder of AllRize, one of the most forward-thinking AI-powered practice management platforms in the legal industry. With a background that blends law, technology, and operational strategy, Ruda has emerged as a leading voice in the movement to modernize how law firms work.
Under Ruda’s leadership, AllRize has pioneered the integration of generative and agentic AI into everyday law firm processes, and combined that with comprehensive GRC capabilities that provide essential guardrails for AI use cases. He is known for his practical approach to legal tech innovation, emphasizing not just automation for its own sake, but the importance of data-driven, ethically grounded, and operationally sound solutions that align with how attorneys actually practice.