Let’s Get In Tune! Register today for Ignite in Austin, TX, Sept. 7–10 for 3-days of insights, innovation, and connection.
Let’s Get In Tune! Register today for Ignite in Austin, TX, Sept. 7–10 for 3-days of insights, innovation, and connection.
An exclusive, working forum for managing partners focused on scaling faster, innovating smarter, and implementing strategies that drive firm-wide performance in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
Mid-sized law firms face extraordinary pressure to grow profitably, adapt to technology, meet rising client expectations, and retain next-generation talent.The SurePoint Managing Partner Lab brings together strategic leaders to tackle these challenges head-on.
This is not just another industry conference. It is a high-impact working session focused on real solutions and tangible outcomes. You will leave with practical strategies to future-proof your firm and a network of peers equally committed to accelerating growth.
Please note seats are limited and participation is by invitation only.
University of Texas at Austin
AT&T Hotel & Conference Center
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX 78705
September 7, 2025
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
September 8, 2025
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Get ready for two powerful days of hands-on, high-impact sessions built exclusively for managing partners—designed to spark innovation, fast-track growth, and deliver the strategies that drive real results across your firm.
Room: Interior Courtyard
(Offsite)
Room: Tejas Dining Room
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
Eric Thurston, CEO of SurePoint Technologies, welcomes you to SurePoint’s Ignite 2025 where our theme is “Let’s Get in Tune!” Network with peers, tune up your knowledge and skills, and set a new tone for the future.
Speaker: Eric Thurston
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
As the legal market grows increasingly competitive and cost-sensitive, midsize law firms are uniquely positioned to thrive — but only if they embrace bold, strategic change. This opening sets the tone for the day by framing the “growth mandate” as both a challenge and an opportunity. With rising client expectations, technological disruption, and talent dynamics reshaping the landscape, midsize firms must move beyond survival thinking to adopt a forward-looking mindset that aligns innovation, investment, and leadership for sustainable growth.
Speaker: Moderator TBD
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
The Ignite keynote speaker kicks off our journey into what’s next for our community—with insights, innovation, and a bold vision for the future of legal tech.
Speaker: Keynote TBD
Room: Interior Courtyard
(Offsite)
Room: Tejas Dining Room
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
Eric Thurston, CEO of SurePoint Technologies, welcomes you to SurePoint’s Ignite 2025 where our theme is “Let’s Get in Tune!” Network with peers, tune up your knowledge and skills, and set a new tone for the future.
Speaker: Eric Thurston
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
As the legal market grows increasingly competitive and cost-sensitive, midsize law firms are uniquely positioned to thrive — but only if they embrace bold, strategic change. This opening sets the tone for the day by framing the “growth mandate” as both a challenge and an opportunity. With rising client expectations, technological disruption, and talent dynamics reshaping the landscape, midsize firms must move beyond survival thinking to adopt a forward-looking mindset that aligns innovation, investment, and leadership for sustainable growth.
Speaker: Moderator TBD
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
The Ignite keynote speaker kicks off our journey into what’s next for our community—with insights, innovation, and a bold vision for the future of legal tech.
Speaker: Keynote TBD
Room: Zlotnik Ballroom
As the legal landscape becomes more data-driven, benchmarking insights are now critical to help midsize firms compete effectively. In this session, we explore how law firm leaders have used data to shape strategy and performance — from profitability per partner and attrition rates to DEI benchmarks and promotion rates. As technology has advanced and data has become more affordable and accessible, midsize firms can harness benchmarking not just to measure but to drive growth, control expenses, reduce inefficiencies and improve decision-making to enhance client outcomes.
For over 20 years, Laura Leopard has led Leopard Solutions, providing trusted data and insights that help law firms—both large and small—navigate the increasingly complex legal industry. Today, firms rely on Leopard Solutions through SurePoint Technologies to make informed, strategic decisions.
Speaker: Laura Leopard
Room: 301
Room: 301
To remain competitive, lawyers must go beyond legal expertise to act as strategic advisors who understand financial dynamics, firm performance, and client priorities. This session unpacks how lawyers can develop a business-minded approach — from interpreting profitability data to integrating marketing and business development into daily practice.
The goal is to build a new mindset: one that positions legal professionals not just as service providers but as indispensable business partners.
Tim Corcoran, a former CEO, advises law firm and legal department leaders on modernizing business models for profitability.
Speaker: Tim Corcoran
Room: 301
Room: 301
Artificial intelligence is already transforming how legal work gets done — from research and drafting to client service and knowledge management. This session showcases real-world AI use cases within law firms and looks ahead to emerging opportunities. Speakers will explore how AI can enhance efficiency without sacrificing quality, and how midsize firms can adopt AI thoughtfully and strategically. SurePoint will also share its perspective on integrating AI in ways that deliver measurable client value.
Speakers: SurePoint + Olivia Mockel + Industry Guests (TBD)
Room: Interior Courtyard
(Offsite)
Eric Thurston, CEO of SurePoint Technologies, welcomes you to SurePoint’s Ignite 2025 where our theme is “Let’s Get in Tune!” Network with peers, tune up your knowledge and skills, and set a new tone for the future.
Speaker: Eric Thurston
As the legal market grows increasingly competitive and cost-sensitive, midsize law firms are uniquely positioned to thrive — but only if they embrace bold, strategic change. This opening sets the tone for the day by framing the “growth mandate” as both a challenge and an opportunity. With rising client expectations, technological disruption, and talent dynamics reshaping the landscape, midsize firms must move beyond survival thinking to adopt a forward-looking mindset that aligns innovation, investment, and leadership for sustainable growth.
Speaker: Moderator TBD
The Ignite keynote speaker kicks off our journey into what’s next for our community—with insights, innovation, and a bold vision for the future of legal tech.
Speaker: Keynote TBD
As the legal landscape becomes more data-driven, benchmarking insights are now critical to help midsize firms compete effectively. In this session, we explore how law firm leaders have used data to shape strategy and performance — from profitability per partner and attrition rates to DEI benchmarks and promotion rates. As technology has advanced and data has become more affordable and accessible, midsize firms can harness benchmarking not just to measure but to drive growth, control expenses, reduce inefficiencies and improve decision-making to enhance client outcomes.
For over 20 years, Laura Leopard has led Leopard Solutions, providing trusted data and insights that help law firms—both large and small—navigate the increasingly complex legal industry. Today, firms rely on Leopard Solutions through SurePoint Technologies to make informed, strategic decisions.
Speaker: Laura Leopard
To remain competitive, lawyers must go beyond legal expertise to act as strategic advisors who understand financial dynamics, firm performance, and client priorities. This session unpacks how lawyers can develop a business-minded approach — from interpreting profitability data to integrating marketing and business development into daily practice.
The goal is to build a new mindset: one that positions legal professionals not just as service providers but as indispensable business partners.
Tim Corcoran, a former CEO, advises law firm and legal department leaders on modernizing business models for profitability.
Speaker: Tim Corcoran
Artificial intelligence is already transforming how legal work gets done — from research and drafting to client service and knowledge management. This session showcases real-world AI use cases within law firms and looks ahead to emerging opportunities. Speakers will explore how AI can enhance efficiency without sacrificing quality, and how midsize firms can adopt AI thoughtfully and strategically. SurePoint will also share its perspective on integrating AI in ways that deliver measurable client value.
Speakers: SurePoint + Olivia Mockel + Industry Guests (TBD)
Corporate clients are increasingly demanding pricing predictability and measurable value — pushing firms away from hourly billing and toward alternative fee arrangements (AFAs). This session examines how AFAs can be a strategic advantage for midsize firms, supporting innovation, deepening client trust, and improving profitability. From fixed fees to success-based models, participants will learn how to implement new pricing strategies without compromising financial performance.
Gwen Griggs, co-founder of ADVOS Legal and ADVOS Pro, draws on Big Law and C-suite experience to reimagine legal services.
Speaker: Gwen Griggs
Join our sponsor for a presentation and working lunch on:
– Understanding what the new generation of lawyers want and need
– Practical strategies for managing associates who prioritize work-life balance
– Moving from micromanagement to autonomy-based leadership
– Bridging the generational divide in law firms
– Gen Z survey by Leopard Solutions
A former litigator, Cali now leads CLE content development at Lawline, connecting law firms with impactful learning solutions.
Speaker: Cali Franks-Field
What do your clients expect from their outside counsel in 2024 and beyond? In this must-attend session,Brad Blickstein, founder of the Annual Law Department Operations Survey, will unveil key insights from the newly released 2024 report—the most comprehensive look into how corporate legal departments operate, spend, and manage their outside firms. Brad will be joined by two senior legal operations leaders from major corporations who will share candid perspectives on what they need—and expect—from their law firm partners today. For managing partners of mid-sized firms, this is a rare opportunity to hear the unfiltered voice of the client, understand emerging trends, and uncover new opportunities to better serve, retain, and grow client relationships.
As CEO of Blickstein Group, Brad focuses on helping legal service providers better understand and serve their clients while providing information about law departments and legal operations.
Speakers: Aaron Boersma
Founder and General Manager of SurePoint’s Leopard Solutions, Laura Leopard leads the largest and most accurate law firm data platform serving the legal industry, with actionable intelligence and insights on over 4,200 law firms worldwide and 7,000 U.S. corporate legal departments. Under Laura’s leadership, Leopard Solutions has become a trusted resource for law firms, attorneys, legal recruiters, corporations, and law schools.
Olivia Mockel von dem Bussche is a seasoned legal technology executive with a proven track record of driving innovation, transformation, and growth across the legal industry. As Chief Operating Officer of SurePoint Technologies, she leads strategic initiatives that help mid-sized law firms modernize operations, improve profitability, and deliver greater client value. Her career includes leadership roles across leading legal tech companies, including CEO of PCLaw | Time Matters, President of ZenCase, and Vice President at LEAP Legal Software. Known for aligning technology with the real-world needs of law firms, Olivia combines legal insight with operational expertise to support meaningful, lasting change.
Principal of Corcoran Consulting Group, Tim Corcoran guides law firm and law department leaders through the profitable disruption of outdated business models. He works with those who are ready to embrace and drive change. He is a regular keynote speaker, a Fellow and former Trustee of the College of Law Practice Management, a member of the Legal Marketing Association Hall of Fame and its past president, an American Lawyer Research Fellow, a past Teaching Fellow at the Australia College of Law, and an author and speaker on the business of law.
Gwen Griggs, co-founder of ADVOS legal and ADVOS Pro, has a background in Big Law and C-suite roles. In ADVOS legal, she and her partner built a new model, that – instead of hours - measures what matters to the client, team, and owner. (Click here for more about Gwen's legal experience.) With ADVOS Pro’s training and systems, they help other firms break up with the outdated billable hour model and begin measuring their worth in expertise and results. Gwen's superpowers are big-picture vision and client experience. At ADVOS Pro, she is leveraging her powers to transform the legal industry, so it delivers an incredible, fulfilling experience for lawyers and their clients.
A Program Attorney at Lawline, Cali Franks-Field is a Texas-licensed attorney who transitioned from practicing civil litigation and insurance defense to focusing on legal education. She creates engaging Continuing Legal Education (CLE) content and is an advocate for lifelong learning within the legal profession.
Brad Blickstein is a nationally recognized legal futurist and CEO of Blickstein Group. He helps legal service providers understand and serve their clients, focusing on law departments and legal operations. A pioneer in legal ops, Brad launched the Annual Law Department Operations Survey—still the most comprehensive of its kind—well before such departments were common. He also initiated the Annual Legal Spend Survey, the Legal AI Efficacy Report, and the Legal Pricing & Project Management Survey, all of which bring evidence-based insights to evolving legal topics. Brad has been a regular contributor to Above the Law and Legaltech News and is a frequent speaker. Early in his career, he co-founded Corporate Legal Times (now Corporate Counsel) and later led a management buyout of its parent company, becoming its CEO. He is a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago.
President and Founder of Adam Smith, Esq., Bruce MacEwen is a lawyer and consultant to law firms on strategic and economic issues. Since founding Adam Smith, Esq. in 2002, he has published nearly 2,000 articles on topics such as globalization, leadership, finance, mergers and acquisitions, and partnership structures. He is a sought-after speaker and has been featured in major publications including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Partner at Adam Smith, Esq., Janet Stanton is an accomplished business executive with experience in diverse industries and professional service organizations. She previously served as Director of the Client Relationship Program at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where she expanded a pilot initiative into a firm-wide priority. At Adam Smith, Esq., Janet provides consulting services to help law firms navigate the increasingly challenging business environment.
CEO and Founder of ZenCase, TJ Fraser is a business lawyer who has worked with clients on complex business transactions, litigation, and regulatory matters. He co-founded ZenCase, a law firm productivity platform that combines project management, knowledge management, automation, and artificial intelligence into a user-friendly solution. Under his leadership, ZenCase has been recognized for its innovative approach to legal technology.
Questions? 513.241.1375 / info@surepoint.com
Questions? info@surepoint.com
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