We’re on a TECHSHOW countdown and with just a few days to go, we’re hearing from past chairs and taking a look at What Was at TECHSHOW!
Dan Pinnington – ABA TECHSHOW Chair 2009
Twitter: @ DanPinnington
Website: www.practicepro.ca
What were you doing (real life job) when you were the ABA Tech show chair in YEAR? Are you still doing that same thing? If not tell us a little bit about your journey.
I was the Chair way back in 2007. Back then I was the Director of practicePRO, at the Lawyers’ Professional Indemnity Company, the malpractice carrier for 25,600 Ontario lawyers. My main responsibility was running practicePRO, an innovative initiative that provides risk management, claims prevention and law practice management information to Ontario lawyers. A lot of practicePRO’s efforts are directed at helping lawyers make greater use of technology, and how to use it safely. I am still at LAWPRO, but am now VP of Claims Prevention and Stakeholder Relations. In addition to claims prevention, I now also oversee communications as well as government and stakeholder relations.
What was / were the notable topics/tracks of your year?
We had a track dedicated to e-discovery as it was a very hot topic for litigators in 2007. There was also a big focus on giving lawyers helpful information and practical skills to help them do more with technology. We put a lot of effort into two Solo/Small firm tracks and a “Show Me” track. Lots of people were interested in going paperless and we had a track dedicated to helping people through that process. The potential of the internet was coming to the fore and communicating, collaborating and going mobile were other themes that came up in several sessions.
What was the hot technology or must have service, gadget or tool or idea?
The iPhone was released January 2007, just a few months before TECHSHOW. While there were some iPhones around TECHSHOW that year, Blackberry totally owned the smartphone market in legal. Boy have times changed!
If you had a keynote speaker who was it and what was their topic?
As noted above, eDiscovery was a hot topic in 2007. I was lucky to have Judge Shira Scheindlin as my keynote. Her decisions in Zubulake v. UBS Warburg were big news in the eDiscovery world, and parts of here rulings were subsequently absorbed in civil procedure rules and practices across the US and elsewhere.
Do you have any great stories or meaningful show moments to share with us?
In 2007 we revamped the traditional dinner bashes that had occurred at the show for many years. They became the “Taste of Techshow” dinners. 2007 was also first year we had the Concierge Booth. Both these things highlight the efforts we make to give attendees an amazing experience.
Any final thoughts about your TECHSHOW experience?
Participating in TECHSHOW has been one of the highlights of my career. First in 2001 as an attendee, then as a speaker in 2002, then getting onto the board in 2003 and finally being Chair in 2007. The incoming Chair invited me to the post show speakers’ pizza party in 2001. I remember that event like it was yesterday. It was amazing to meet a whole bunch of other people who were really passionate about legal technology. TECHSHOW was fantastic for building a network of technology and law practice management experts who I have relied on many times over the years. Many of the people I met in the start have become good friends as well.