Practical AI for Lawyers: The Tools and the Rules 2026

Mr. Akers is recently retired from his position as Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC). His responsibilities included managing business and technology aspects of OGC and its nearly 500 attorneys who serve over 30 executive branch Commonwealth agencies. Among his duties, he supervised OGC’s hiring, lawyer education and legal technology initiatives, and was responsible for oversight of outside counsel who perform legal services for OGC agency offices. He also served as Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and a number of boards and commissions. Mr. Akers’ principal areas of practice expertise are in contracts, information technology, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance. He has extensive experience with e-commerce, information privacy, and cybersecurity issues as well as with copyright and trademark law. Mr. Akers has represented private and public sector clients before regulatory bodies, and negotiated a variety of complex contracts, licenses and agreements. A member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Board of Governors, Mr. Akers serves as Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and recently accepted an additional adjunct position at Carlow University. He received his Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Virginia and is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

Schawnne K. Kilgus is a senior attorney at MidPenn Legal Services in the Blair County office, specializing in serving domestic violence survivors in protection from abuse cases as well as serving indigent clients in landlord/tenant, public housing including Section 8 termination, unemployment compensation, and public benefit matters. From July 2017 to October 2019, she served as the civil litigation resource attorney at Huntingdon House focusing on family law and landlord/tenant cases for domestic violence survivors. Prior to this, from 2014 to 2017, she worked in private practice. Schawnne was a member of the 2019-2020 Bar Leadership Institute and currently serves as the Treasurer of the Young Lawyers Division, having previously serving as a co-chair of Zone 8. She is a member of the House of Delegates for Zone 8. Schawnne is also a member of PBA’s Technology Committee and Commission on Women in the Profession.  Schawnne graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 with dual majors in English and Philosophy. She earned her JD from William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamlin School of Law) and in July 2019 Schawnne obtained a professional certificate in Trauma-Informed Advocacy in Legal Systems from Mitchell Hamlin School of Law.

Duncan J. Crim concentrates his practice in the areas of municipal law, land use, and general litigation in the firm’s Chambersburg Office. Duncan received a Bachelor of Arts in both Law and Religious Studies from American University in Washington, D.C. in 2020. At American, he joined the Board of 501c3 Kids Connection Haiti, helping hundreds of young adults and restaveks attain education and financial freedom in Haiti. He proceeded to receive his Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 2024. While in law school, Duncan worked as a legal intern with Liberty Justice Center where he went on to serve as their first Litigation Fellow after graduating. At Liberty Justice Center, he authored over ten Amicus Briefs to the Supreme Court and worked on First, Second, and Fourteenth Amendment cases. Duncan is a member of the American Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association. He is an author, husband, and enjoys splitting wood.

Attorney Michael E. Eisenberg has been serving the Philadelphia Metropolitan area since 1987. He has practiced in Federal Court, the county trial courts, commonly known as the Courts of Common Pleas, and Bankruptcy Court. He has practiced in the local magisterial District courts and he is therefore familiar with the practices and rules of the trial courts and local magistrates. Attorney Eisenberg has practiced before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and is familiar with the need to appeal a final order to a higher court for review of the trial court’s decision, should that decision not be based upon law or fact. Attorney Michael E. Eisenberg’s practice philosophy is based upon responsiveness to client needs, client goals and navigating the often complex legal system. In order to offer full service, Attorney Eisenberg will obtain the important facts from the initial interview and explore the facts and circumstances during the representation. Attorney Eisenberg believes that there is a balance to be struck between an aggressive approach to representation as well as the need to balance that with reasonable use of billed time and expenses. Attorney Michael Eisenberg’s staffs are experienced professionals who are devoted to the same practice philosophy as Attorney Eisenberg. They are knowledgeable, responsive and accessible. Dianne Sebald has over 30 years of experience in the areas of personal injury, family law, estate administration and general legal practice. Lynn Killen, who is a degreed paralegal with over 20 years of experience.

Jeffrey A. Franklin serves clients in ways that maximize their opportunity to achieve their goals. Jeff has more than 25 years of experience, primarily in business law including the areas of electric, gas, telecommunication, alternative energy, transportation and water regulation. He also has extensive experience in technology, Internet, computer law and cybersecurity issues. Jeff advises clients regarding compliance with regulatory requirements and the successful implementation of business strategies. Jeff has successfully conducted administrative adjudications, civil cases and appeals before various courts and administrative agencies. He has extensive experience in a variety of legal areas, including administrative law, electric power projects, Marcellus shale, eminent domain, computer law, gaming law and civil litigation. Jeff counsels clients and lawyers on how to protect confidential information and cybersecurity. He writes and publishes extensively regarding leveraging technology to efficiently and effectively achieve business goals. He is the principal technology consultant with BrightLine Tech Solutions, LLC. Prior to joining Prince Law Offices, P.C., Jeff was counsel with an Am Law 100 firm, and a partner and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a Central Pennsylvania-based law firm. Jeff’s practice areas include Prince Law Offices’ Energy, Utilities, and Communications, Cybersecurity & Privacy practice groups as well as its Business, Intellectual Property, Real Estate including Zoning, Land Use, and Condemnation, and Firearms consulting practice groups.

Richard B. Klein served as a trial and then appellate judge in Pennsylvania until he retired after 36 years on the bench. He was the youngest judge in the history of Pennsylvania when he first was appointed to Philadelphia’s common pleas court. He pioneered many new programs designed to improve the civil justice system, especially in the mass tort program and programs designed to improve the jury selection procedures. After 28 years on the trial bench, he was elected to Pennsylvania’s intermediate appellate court, the Superior Court, where he served for eight years. When running for election for the Superior Court, he received the highest rating from the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the endorsement of every paper that made endorsements. He received the highest vote count of the six candidates. Since retiring from the bench in 2010, he has served as a mediator, arbitrator, and appellate and trial consultant. He joined McElroy Deutsch in January 2023. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Amherst College and an honors graduate of Harvard Law School. He spent fifteen years teaching Legal Writing and Trial Advocacy at Temple University School of Law. He received certifications in mediation both from the National Judicial College in Nevada and the American Bar Association Mediation Training for Judges in Annapolis, Maryland. He received arbitration certification following and American Arbitration Association training in Boston. He was the co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for ten years until he stepped down at the end of 2022. He remains an active member of that committee and the Pennsylvania Bar Association ADR and Appellate Advocacy Committees. He served for six years on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Appellate Rules Committee. He was a long-time member of the Pennsylvania Bar House of Delegates. He continues to be active in many committees to improve the justice system. He is the founding chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Plain English Committee and again is serving as co-chair. He is the Chair of the Pennsylvania Futures Commission on Justice in the 21^st Century, a broad-based committee to make recommendations for long-range planning for the Pennsylvania justice system. He is a frequent author, educator and lecturer. He is co-author of the Thompson Reuters Book, Trial Communication Skills, written with Body Language author Julius Fast and international al lawyer Roberto Aron. The book is now in its second edition. He writes a monthly blog on all aspects of the justice system. He lectures frequently on a wide range of subjects, including topics such as representing a Client at Mediation, Effective Writing, Appellate Advocacy, Body Language in the Courtroom, and numerous ethical issues.
He has served as education leader for eighteen international legal-study tours. He is also known as the leader and drummer of the jazz groups, “the Reading Terminals” and “the Moonlighters.”

Ariel Williams is an AI developer, technology writer, and educator who helps professionals navigate the practical, privacy-conscious applications of artificial intelligence. A six-time Quora Top Writer with work featured in Forbes, Slate, and the BBC, she specializes in translating complex technology into tangible business solutions. Ariel focuses on rapid workflow automation, secure software development, and the responsible implementation of AI. Known for her engaging, real-world demonstrations, she regularly consults with organizations and individuals to help them confidently leverage tomorrow’s technology to solve today’s operational challenges without compromising data integrity.  https://www.arielwilliams.com/

Mr. Goldner is a principal at Friedman Schuman, a business law firm in Fort Washington, Montgomery County, PA. He represents both employers and employees in contract, employment discrimination, noncompete, non-disclosure and trade secret disputes from before the filing of claims through and including trial, verdict and appeal. He prepares employment contracts, human resources policies and procedures for employers as well as offering training to employers and even fellow lawyers on employment claim avoidance. He has prepared and interpreted restrictive covenants and other professional contracts both on behalf of those businesses seeking to secure their assets and for employees looking to make career changes and enforces and defends these contracts in state and Federal courts. Mr. Goldner has been President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association. He is a Past Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and current Co-Chair of the Employment & Labor Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association. He is a past Director of the Montgomery Bar Association and has also served on that association’s Executive Committee. He has been Chair of the Solo & Small Firm and the Labor & Employment Law Sections of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and continues to serve on the governing council of each. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company and serves on its Executive, Investment, and Governance Committees. He is the immediate past Chair of the Human Relations Commission of Lower Merion Township the enabling ordinance and regulations for which he helped to draft, and he also serves on the Montgomery County Advisory Council to the PHRC, and is the facilitator for the Tri-State Human Relations Coalition, an organization of local and state HRC’s from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Mr. Goldner also has written professional and technology pieces which have been published in national and regional publications and he has appeared for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, American Bar Association, NBI, and many county bar and other trade and professional associations speaking on employment, electronic discovery, litigation and other technology topics. He holds an LL.M in Trial Advocacy from Temple University School of Law, a J.D. from Boston University and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. When not practicing law, Mr. Goldner plays oboe with the Lansdowne Symphony and Roxborough Orchestras, or goes stargazing with the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers, of which organization he is a past president. He also occasionally blogs on employment law matters at http://www.humanracehorses.com.

The Honorable Lisa M. Grayson is currently the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.  She recently retired after serving in the United States Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Prior to taking office in 2014, Ms. Grayson was a staff attorney for the United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, concentrating on death penalty and pro se cases. Prior to working for the Court, Ms. Grayson was in private practice, handling diverse matters in civil, criminal, and orphans’ court matters focusing on wills & probate, real estate, family, dependency, municipal, and mental health law.  Ms. Grayson is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, currently the co-chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs committee and Cumberland County Bar Association, currently serving as a director of the board.  Ms. Grayson is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law and Pennsylvania State University. 

Amy Coco is a shareholder at the Pittsburgh law firm of DiBella Weinheimer, where she has focused her practice on Professional Responsibility for more than 30 years. She represents lawyers, judges, and law students in matters involving ethics, licensure, professional responsibility, risk management, and law practice management counseling. Amy is the current President of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) and previously served six years on its Board of Governors. Within the ACBA, she has chaired the Nominating Committee and By-Laws Committee, the Professional Ethics Committee (where she continues to serve as a Duty Officer), and the Lawyers Insurance Committee. She has also served on the Council of the Solo and Small Firm Section and chaired subcommittees within the Women in the Law Division. At the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), Amy is Co-Chair of the Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee. She served as the PBA’s Woman At Large Governor (2021–2024) and chaired its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team from 2022 to 2024. She is also the Director of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law’s Incubator Program, mentoring lawyers as they establish solo practices. In addition, she is a member of the Washington County, Philadelphia County Bar Associations, as well as the American Bar Association and its Center for Professional Responsibility and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL). A frequent lecturer and writer on professional liability, diversity and inclusion, and ethics issues, Amy has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law since 2024 and has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer annually since 2018. In 2022, she was recognized as one of Pittsburgh’s Top 50 Lawyers. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1994, and her B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University Bloomington in 1989.

Rebecca Braglio is a data privacy attorney whose practice focuses on operational privacy, compliance, and risk management in technology-driven environments. She currently advises a media publishing organization on privacy and consumer protection matters involving consumer health information, advertising, tracking and measurement technologies, vendor risk, and evolving state privacy laws. Her work includes privacy impact assessments, development of governance frameworks, and cross-functional support for responsible technology adoption, including AI-enabled tools.
Prior to her work in privacy, Rebecca practiced criminal defense at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, including representation of clients with serious mental health needs and appellate advocacy.

Samuel G. Encarnacion is the First Assistant Public Defender of Lancaster County. He has a long-standing career with the Lancaster County Public Defender’s Office, representing clients in criminal cases. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is originally from the Dominican Republic, grew up in Puerto Rico,and moved to Texas in 1980. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and obtained his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. He was also a partner with Spahn & Encarnacion and represented injured plaintiffs with Haggerty & Silverman. In addition to his legal practice, he has actively participated in various legal committees, including the Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Bar Committee. He served as an at-large minority governor on the PBA Board of Governors. Furthermore, Sam chaired the PBA Insurance Fund and Trust for and for its tenure as Chair received the PBA Special Achievement Award. He was also a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Committee on Rules of Evidence and served as its chair. Recently, he was appointed as co-vice chair of the newly formed Technology Committee.

Chair and Managing Member of CODISCOVR, Nicole Marie Gill works with attorneys and clients firmwide to develop efficient and effective discovery management strategies tailored to the case at hand. Leveraging advanced technologies and analytics, she manages complex and high-profile eDiscovery projects and routinely navigates data and privacy protection laws across many jurisdictions, both domestic and foreign.
Nicole Gill participates in 26(f) conferences; negotiates agreements and stipulations establishing parties’ obligations with respect to preserving, searching, and producing electronically stored information (ESI); directs use of artificial intelligence (AI) in discovery; and negotiates technology assisted review (TAR) and predictive coding protocols. She also advises on collection methodology, search and retrieval methodology, FRE 502(d) orders, and production specifications and develops internal and external discovery guidelines addressing each phase of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM). Additionally, Nicole is involved in discovery-related motion practice, including the drafting of affidavits in support of cost-shifting. She also implements quality control procedures to mitigate risk and counsels both clients and colleagues on issues related to eDiscovery, information governance, and data management.
Nicole has written the ABA’s book on eDiscovery – Best Practices for E-Discovery: A Practical Handbook – which has been featured in eDiscovery Today. She is also a regular columnist for Thomson Reuters, where she addresses and navigates novel eDiscovery issues. She is a member of the Sedona Conference and is currently part of the WG6 Drafting Committee focused on exploring data privacy issues related to the exportation of data from the People’s Republic of China. The leading think tank on eDiscovery law and practice, the Sedona Conference’s commentaries are regularly cited by judges and significantly influence the development of rules of evidence and civil procedure for federal and state courts. Nicole has written articles appearing in numerous legal publications, including The Legal Intelligencer, Bloomberg Law, andThe Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly. She has spoken on numerous eDiscovery-related panels at the country’s most reputable conferences, including Georgetown Law’s Advanced eDiscovery Institute, the International Legal Technology Association’s EVOLVE conference, the Construction Super Conference, the Sedona Conference, the Master’s Conference, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Annual Conference, and Law.com’s Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference. Nicole is also a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Women in eDiscovery and is on the firm’s Women’s Initiative Executive Committee.

Attorney Daniel J. Siegel is a nationally recognized authority on ethics, technology, data protection and business workflow management, and the principal of both the Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel, LLC and Integrated Technology Services, LLC. Dan provides techno-ethics counsel to solo, small and mid-sized law firms on cybersecurity, technology and other related issues. His practice includes representing of attorneys in disciplinary matters; providing professional responsibility guidance to attorneys and firms; serving as appellate counsel; and representing individuals in workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. Dan also consults with law firms and businesses on workflow management, implementation of paperless offices, and other productivity matters. Attorney Siegel is a prolific speaker and author, and serves as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and Past-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Professional Development Board Chair. The author of 15 books, Dan is a columnist and frequent lecturer on a wide range of topics, including ethics, technology, substantive law, appellate law, and professional responsibility matters. You can reach Dan at [email protected].