The legal sector is facing a pivotal moment. Global investment in legal tech will exceed $35 billion by 2026. With so many regulations emerging all the time, the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 in Brussels proved to be timely. It provided experts a forum to discuss how to adapt to the EU AI Act & its implications on GDPR. It took in real-world solutions such as accelerating research and contract management. Follow along, and we’ll take you through the highlights. We’re also going to break down the best sessions and the sponsors that made it all happen.
Sessions at the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026
Experts shared insights on how technology reshapes the law. So, this section explores the key talks & themes from the event.
Step-by-step approach for complying with the EU AI Act and be successful on the EU market
Speaker: Fabien ROY, Partner, Arnold & Porter
Success in the European market now depends on a firm grasp of the AI Act. The speaker walked through the specific ways to qualify & classify AI systems correctly. This session highlighted the unique consequences the law has for medical devices & pharma products. So, attendees learned how to run a gap assessment to see where they stood at the time. The talk also shared a solid way to bridge those gaps & transition effectively. It was all about staying compliant while keeping a competitive edge in Europe’s new landscape.
Navigating AI in Regulated Industries: Lessons for Legal Teams from Financial Services
Speaker: Saskia MERMANS, Group General Counsel, KBC Group
Financial services are typically the first to encounter intense regulation. The speaker cited the finance industry as a use case for AI adoption. This session focused on the key legal/regulatory challenges that teams in these confined spaces encountered. The presenter described the way the legal team must enable innovation without sacrificing safety. Furthermore, the presentation addressed the “what,” the “how,” and the typical challenges. It provided a no-nonsense view of how legal professionals paved the way in tightly regulated industries.
AI as a business process in legal (Ensuring Repeatable Impact)
Speaker: Matteo PAGANI, CEO, Co-Flo
Scaling AI means moving beyond individual tools to a more enterprise-wide effect. The speaker made the case that “cycle time” is the true measure of AI success. It described how the use of structured data transformed AI into a scalable, repeatable business process. It tied everyday legal work directly to business priorities and bigger budgets. Attendees were shown how to demonstrate that their technology expenditures were worth it. It was a strategic view for building AI into the fabric of the legal workflow for sustainable growth.
Successfully exploiting AI for contract life cycle management and document analysis
Speaker: Dr. Sven KLAIBER, Head of Legal & Compliance, HELM AG
Contract management with AI requires a defined plan to realize outcomes. The speaker stressed the importance of being clear on value add, ROI, & KPIs from day one. Securing stakeholder buy-in was another key part of that process. This session recommended a risk-based method for maintaining operational security. The talk at the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 also addressed how to integrate AI tools into existing workflows while maintaining a “human in the loop.” Good governance ensured that these tools remained effective & did not become new liabilities.
Upskilling and building future-ready legal capabilities
Speaker: Cyrill BACHMANN, Group General Counsel, AMEOS Group
Team skills need to evolve as the legal industry evolves quickly. The speaker discussed ways to make upskilling relevant to broader business priorities such as efficiency and risk management. This was no ordinary session about software; it was a session on developing “future-ready” skills. Furthermore, the discussion was about how a firm could guarantee its teaching programs truly add value. Staying Ready is about getting your staff prepared to confidently address the convergence of law & tech.
Turning contracts into a strategic advantage — with generative and agentic AI
Speaker: Hal MARCUS, Principal, Product Marketing, Workday
Contracts have a wealth of data if you know where to look. The presenter demonstrated how to generate bespoke, structured data from masses of contracts. This presentation enabled the business to conduct its own contract analysis via self-service tools. The speaker also spoke about where we are on the “agentic AI” continuum for contracting. Integrating these data through enterprise applications converted legal agreements into a strategic asset. Additionally, the presentation wrapped with suggestions on monitoring return on investment and future-proofing AI investments.
Establishing effective AI governance and ethical frameworks
Speaker: Stacey VAN HOOVEN, VP & General Counsel-Consumer Goods EMEA, Essity GmbH
The responsible use of AI is rooted in adhering to ethical principles. The speaker described how to incorporate ethical values directly within the governance of an organization. This was working within a compliance regime controlling risks & controls quite well. It was based upon transparency & accountability. The speaker also underscored that training is key in creating a responsible corporate culture. This session also laid out a guide for ensuring that the application of AI remains safe, fair, and fully in line with corporate values.
How GenAI tools are helping the legal function to become more effective and efficient
Speakers: Winona CHATZIMPYRROU – Responsible AI implementation & engagement specialist, Randstad; Isabelle MATTHYS – International Legal Counsel (Tech & Procurement), Randstad
Generative AI presents a massive opportunity for speeding up legal work. The two-speaker panel considered real-life scenarios in which these tools have genuinely assisted the legal function. The speakers delved into common pitfalls & lessons learned from early implementations. Governance continued to be a theme to make sure the tools were used appropriately. Moreover, the session provided insights from Randstad on managing procurement & tech duties. So, it was a case of how to translate technology hype into real efficiency improvements in day-to-day operations.
Co-creation in the Age of AI
Speaker: Frida TORKELSEN, Founding Engineer, Newcode.ai
Contemporary legal technology requires a new approach to vendor relations. The presenter discussed how co-creation contrasts with the traditional sales model. The session cited co-creation as the key to unleash full potential of AI. The talk related to practical lessons from the IRIS & Newcode.ai partnerships. As a result, participants at the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 walked away with a sense of the mindset changes required to get a legal team ready for this style. So, it was about developing tools in a joint effort rather than simply purchasing them for better results.
How to successfully implement Legal AI: A step-by-step guide
Speaker: Gilles DEBROCK, Legal AI Consultant, LEGALFLY
Adopting AI is intimidating, but the speaker gave a very straightforward guide. This session demonstrated what Legal AI is & why generic AI tools just wouldn’t cut it. The presentation addressed identifying the right use case & building the business case. The speaker discussed running a successful pilot prior to a full rollout. This session also provided tips for a smooth transition & to get started in the journey. As a result, it was a guide to getting Legal AI to work for the team.
AI in the Legal Workflow: Risk Assessment & Terms Review
Speaker: Maurits MEIJBOOM, Senior Legal Director, PVH
Incorporating AI into everyday workflows means managing risks correctly. The speaker defined the core tenets of AI for legal teams. This session focused exclusively on AI risk assessment for marketing & design. The speaker presented a light risk analysis that lawyers could run on their own. It included a review of AI terms to identify and avoid hidden traps. So, if you want to employ AI tools but are worried about your company being exposed to undue legal/reputational risk, this was a must-attend.
Panel Discussion – AI training and copyright: Navigating the global copyright crisis
Moderator: Thomas DUBUISSON – Senior Associate, CMS Belgium;
Panelists: Tom HEREMANS – Partner, CMS Belgium; Dr. Beatriz SAN MARTIN – Partner, Arnold & Porter
This panel addressed the heated controversy surrounding AI models training on copyrighted material. The panelists discussed whether AI models can train on books or art without permission. This session took a quick look at recent case law in Europe & beyond. The conversation illustrated how Europe, the UK, & the US were reaching different and sometimes opposite conclusions. So, it explained what all these legal developments mean for those building and using AI systems across global markets.
The GenAI journey in DHL Legal
Speaker: Adriano PEROTTA, General Counsel Europe, DHL Group
Massive enterprises had their own challenges when it came to rolling out the new technology. The speaker at the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 told the GenAI story at DHL Legal. This session addressed the mindset shift & need for “GenAI alphabetization” among staff. The discussion included their platform-thinking approach and why GenAI was the natural choice for lawyers. The presenter also gave a sneak peek of what’s next in their roadmap. This case study provided pointers for any leader seeking to drive digital transformation in a complex/large-scale organization.
Unlocking value from structured and unstructured legal data using AI
Speaker: Stefania D’AGNELLI, Head of Legal Innovation & AI, Italgas S.p.A.
Data is the fuel for AI, but legal data is usually messy. The speaker clarified what makes legal data so important. This session also illustrated how AI operates on structured and unstructured data to extract value. The presentation stressed a clear governance model for ensuring that the use of data is ethical and safe. In a step-by-step demonstration for an in-depth case study, the speaker illustrated how to extract value from unorganized records. It was a deep dive into turning raw info into solid business intelligence.
From GDPR to global digital governance in an international Setting
Speaker: Danielle FEITER, Chief Privacy Officer, Volvo Group
Eight years after GDPR, the speaker went through the specific lessons their team has gathered. Furthermore, the session conveyed navigating a decentralized organization like Volve Group with a scattered regulatory space. The speakers also argued that legal teams have to get over compliance bias to be actually effective. Instead, the speaker pointed out core values and principles to guide the strategy. It was a strategic view of managing privacy on a global scale on the basis of their direct experience.
AI Governance: Practical tips
Speaker: Kathrin HAHN, Head of Data Privacy, Digital and AI Compliance – Europe, Novartis
Governance is often theoretical, but the speaker kept it practical. This session provided concrete advice around AI governance at Novartis. The presentation showed how to address the biggest barriers legal teams are facing today. Practical examples were used to show how to successfully deal with AI compliance in Europe. Participants left with concrete advice on how to establish their own frameworks. If you have responsibility for overseeing AI use in a large, heavily regulated industry, it was a must-attend.
Managing Cybersecurity, Risk, and Incident Reporting Across EU AI, Privacy, and Cyber Regimes
Speakers: Dr. Natallia KARNIYEVICH – Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte; João BARREIRO – Chief Privacy and Data Ethics Officer, BeOne Medicines
AI usage often triggers multiple reporting rules all at once. This session helped spot when AI use made way for dual regulatory exposure under the AI Act and NIS2. Furthermore, the speakers at the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 went through how to manage parallel incident reporting obligations. They made it clear how to turn regulatory overlap into a workable compliance strategy. By aligning cybersecurity, privacy, & AI risk frameworks, teams can avoid redundant work. It was a crucial guide to stay safe across complex European digital regimes.
Emerging approaches to generative AI safety in the EU and internationally
Speaker: William DUNNING, Managing Associate, Dispute Resolution, Simmons & Simmons LLP
The safety regulations for generative AI are growing globally. The speaker addressed the growing demands for transparency in the use of AI. Moreover, this session focused on managing conflicting rules and regulations between the EU & the rest of the world. The presentation provided pragmatic strategies for researching & running generative AI systems under a regulatory regime. The session also addressed developing international safety standards for “frontier” AI models. This was crucial for organisations adapting AI models today.
Responsible AI Governance: What you need to know in 15 questions and answers
Speaker: Elisabeth DEHARENG, Partner, Data, Cyber and AI, Baker McKenzie Brussels
This session provided a full overview of the global AI regulatory space. The speaker broke down the EU AI Act’s status, scope, & main obligations. She explained the crucial link between the AI Act & GDPR. The talk also covered why organizations had to act immediately with AI mapping & risk assessments. So, attendees learned the concrete next steps for building frameworks & training their team. It was a masterclass in embedding responsible AI principles that went beyond just checking legal boxes.
Sponsors: 4th AI Legal Summit 2026
The success of the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 was made possible through the support of our industry partners. So, this section introduces the sponsors and their contributions to the event.
iManage | Co-Flo – Gold Sponsor
iManage focuses on Making Knowledge Work™ through its cloud-native platform. With over 20 years of experience, it helps 4,000 organizations manage documents and secure vital information. Its partner, Co-Flo, extends this technology to provide visibility into legal workflows. Together, they help teams move away from messy spreadsheets and inconsistent processes. At the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026, they led a session on turning AI into a repeatable business process. Additionally, they discussed how structured data and cycle time metrics can link legal work directly to business priorities and budget growth.
Workday – Gold Sponsor
Workday is a massive enterprise platform used by over 11,000 organizations to manage people and money. In 2024, they expanded their reach by acquiring Evisort to bring AI-native document intelligence to their suite. Furthermore, their platform is trusted by more than 65% of the Fortune 500 across various industries. During the summit, they hosted a session on using generative and agentic AI to turn contracts into strategic advantages. Moreover, the talk covered creating structured data from agreements and helping business teams perform their own analysis to future-proof legal investments.
Legalfly – Bronze Sponsor
Legalfly acts as a secure AI associate that anonymizes sensitive data to protect privacy. Their workspace is built to speed up drafting and help teams validate compliance more quickly. Many of the largest law firms and financial institutions in Europe use Legalfly to stay competitive. They also allow non-legal teams to self-serve for basic questions. At the 4th AI Legal Summit 2026, they provided a step-by-step guide on implementing legal AI. They also explained how to choose the right use cases and run successful pilots to ensure AI delivers real value.
IRIS Nederland | Newcode.ai – Bronze Sponsor
IRIS Nederland and Newcode.ai partnered to offer secure and intelligent ways of managing information. Furthermore, IRIS is backed by Canon and specializes in automating information capture. Newcode.ai uses agentic AI to help firms transform their knowledge into secure, auditable workflows. Together, they aim to connect people and technology for smarter business operations. Their session at the summit explored the concept of co-creation. Furthermore, they explained why the traditional sales model is changing and how building tools together is the key to unlocking the full potential of AI.
Spotdraft – Exhibition Partner
Spotdraft is an AI-powered platform that redefines contract lifecycle management. Founded by a Harvard Law graduate and a Carnegie Mellon engineer, it bridges the gap between legal expertise and technology. They were recognized by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies in 2024. Over 400 global customers, including Panasonic and Mixpanel, trust them to transform static documents into strategic assets. While they participated as an exhibition partner, their focus remained on helping legal teams move faster and unlock measurable business value through unified integrations.
To Sum Up
The 4th AI Legal Summit 2026 proved that technology is no longer just an option for legal teams. It is now a core part of how they operate & stay competitive. Over two days, experts showed how the EU AI Act & GDPR are changing the rules of the game. From automating contract lifecycles to upskilling staff, the sessions offered a clear roadmap for the future. We saw that successful AI adoption requires more than just buying software; it takes strong governance, ethical frameworks, and a willingness to co-create with partners.
Events like this are the best way to cut through the noise & learn from people who are already making AI work. If you want to keep your firm ahead of the curve and navigate the complex global regulatory landscape, you shouldn’t miss out. Keep an eye out for the next edition and make sure to book your spot to be part of the conversation!