Speakers

AI & Tech-Ready Lawyers - Upskilling Legal Teams for a Digital-First Future

As technology reshapes every corner of the legal landscape, firms and in-house teams must build the skills and confidence to navigate an increasingly digital practice. This session explores what “tech competency” really means for modern legal professionals. Attendees will gain practical insights into how legal teams can structure sustainable upskilling programs and empower lawyers to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.

Panel | Technology & Innovation Leaders 2026 Strategic Outlook

This panel discussion brings together seasoned tech leaders from leading law firms to explore their current priorities in navigating the digital landscape, and to discuss successful technology rollouts. From managing cybersecurity risks to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in legal processes, the panelists will share insights, strategies, and best practices for leveraging technology to enhance client service, streamline operations, and stay ahead in a competitive legal market.

Closing Debate | Tech Competency will Trump Legal Skills in Tomorrow’s Lawyer

As technology reshapes the legal practice, a debate emerges: will technological competency overshadow traditional legal skills in defining the lawyer of the future? This debate examines the competing forces of automation, artificial intelligence, data-driven decision-making and digital client services, and whether these will become the dominant measure of professional capability. One side argues that mastering legal technology will be the decisive differentiator—enabling greater efficiency, accuracy, access to justice, and competitive advantage.

The opposing view contends that core legal reasoning, advocacy, ethics, negotiation and human judgment remain irreplaceable, and that technology is merely a tool to enhance, not replace, legal expertise. Through contrasting perspectives, this session challenges participants to consider where the real value of tomorrow’s lawyer will lie: in coding and computational fluency, or in timeless human skills that technology cannot replicate.

About Brian

BRIAN W TANG is founding executive director of Law, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Lab, the award-winning interdisciplinary and experiential programme at University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Law (LITE Lab@HKU), and is part of the vanguard of educators incorporating generative AI into teaching future talent and upskilling working professionals.

A frequently invited speaker and author, Brian is currently co-chair of the Asia Pacific Legal Innovation and Technology Association (ALITA), APAC Regional board member of Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL), and AI advisory council member of the Fintech Association of Hong Kong.

Brian is appointed to the Hong Kong Department of Justice’s Consultation Group on Lawtech Development and keynote speaker for its inaugural LexGoTech roundtable series. He is also the Chief Editor of the ALITA State of Legal Innovation in Asia-Pacific Report 2025, which launched at TechLaw.Fest 2025 in Singapore. Brian previously spent nearly 20 years at global investment bank Credit Suisse in Hong Kong, and at law firms Sullivan & Cromwell in New York and California and Mallesons in Perth, Australia.