As law firms head into 2026, data has become one of the most powerful—and misunderstood—drivers of growth, differentiation, and client trust. In this episode of Legal Soundings, host Bobbi Basile is joined by Zena Applebaum and Rachel Shields Williams, Director of Client Intelligence at Sidley Austin LLP for a deep, practical conversation on the top five data trends shaping law firms in 2026.
In this episode:
- Fragmented Data Prevents a Complete View of Clients: Firms continue to manage client information across disconnected systems, which undermines their ability to understand relationships, preferences, and engagement history — key factors for strategic growth.
- Poor Data Quality Undermines Trust and Analytics: Incomplete or inconsistent records can erode confidence in analytics and AI initiatives. The panel discusses why data quality isn’t just a technical problem — it’s a business risk.
- Turning Data Into Revenue-Driving Insights: It’s not enough to collect data. Firms must figure out how to turn it into actionable insights that improve business development outcomes and support strategic decision-making.
- Data Governance, Privacy, and AI Ethics Are Core Imperatives: Data governance is no longer optional — it’s central to building client trust and responsibly scaling AI across the firm. The conversation ties privacy and ethical frameworks directly to business value.
- Culture and Change Management Matter Most: Even with the best tools and technology, firms won’t succeed without change management and a culture that embraces data-driven decision-making. People and processes must align with technology to unlock true value.
Throughout the discussion, the guests emphasize a recurring theme: technology alone isn’t the answer. Success in 2026 will depend on aligning people, processes, and platforms—while keeping a human in the loop—to ensure data supports smarter decisions, deeper relationships, and sustainable growth.
Whether you’re a law firm leader, business development professional, technologist, or legal operations executive, this episode offers a clear roadmap for navigating the data challenges and opportunities ahead.
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