As the industry faces cost pressures and business interjections from outside - from the C-suite, from new technology and new legal service providers, from data and automation - we may yet see a new and greater symbiosis between these communities around what unites us, not what divides us. In my various conversations with leaders, I see a shared passion for "better" - not just for cost reduction though that is a consideration for every business. I see a genuine "fire" in the eyes for advancement in how we do things, the purpose it serves and the value it creates or adds to our clients. The future will come soon enough, as they say, and it will bring mighty change. Of that there can be no mistake. But on both sides of this discussion - and looking further afield into the growing array of participants - I see encouraging evidence of great innovative and forward-thinking individuals that will carry the torch and take the opportunity to champion "better".

As the industry faces cost pressures and business interjections from outside - from the C-suite, from new technology and new legal service providers, from data and automation - we may yet see a new and greater symbiosis between these communities around what unites us, not what divides us. In my various conversations with leaders, I see a shared passion for "better" - not just for cost reduction though that is a consideration for every business. I see a genuine "fire" in the eyes for advancement in how we do things, the purpose it serves and the value it creates or adds to our clients. The future will come soon enough, as they say, and it will bring mighty change. Of that there can be no mistake. But on both sides of this discussion - and looking further afield into the growing array of participants - I see encouraging evidence of great innovative and forward-thinking individuals that will carry the torch and take the opportunity to champion "better".