ILTA Awards

B L O G O F T H E Y E A R / 2026 KASSI BURNS Legal Protection: The Reintroduced NO FAKES Act FINALISTS READ ONLINE https://www.iltanet.org/blogs/kassi-burns/2025/04/23/legal-protec- tion-the-reintroduced-no-fakes-act I n her April 2025 blog post, "Legal Protection: The Reintroduced NO FAKES Act ", Kassi Burns delivers timely analysis on one of the legal industry's most urgent emerging issues: regulating AI-generated deepfakes and digital replicas. Published only two weeks after Congress reintroduced the NO FAKES Act, the article reflects ILTA's commitment to providing relevant, just-in-time content for legal technology professionals navigating rapid technological change. Drawing on her background in intellectual property law and emerging AI technologies, Kassi translates dense legislative language into practical guidance for attorneys, ediscovery specialists, knowledge management professionals, and legal operations teams. Rather than focusing solely on theory, she identifies actionable implications for the legal technology community, including compliance obligations surrounding takedown notices, evolving ediscovery considerations, and the growing need for AI-detection solutions. Kassi also demonstrates forward-looking leadership by anticipating how the legislation may shape future practice areas and technology demands before they are fully realized. Her ability to combine analytical insight with practical application helps legal professionals proactively prepare for regulatory and operational changes affecting their organizations and clients. The post reflects ILTA's core values by fostering professional development, encouraging knowledge sharing, and promoting accessibility within the legal technology community. Through her volunteer thought leadership contributions, Kassi supports ILTA's mission of building a trusted resource network that equips members with accurate, timely, and actionable information in an increasingly AI-driven legal landscape. INGRID VAN DE POL-MENSING What is Defensible AI in Legal Practice? READ ONLINE https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7d5f2700-7b72- 427d-b001-f1e731533bbe I n her January 2026 ILTA blog, "What Is Defensible AI in Legal Practice?", Ingrid Van de Pol-Mensing addresses one of the legal industry's most urgent challenges: ensuring that AI systems used in legal practice are transparent, accountable, and trustworthy. Rather than presenting AI as simply a productivity tool, Ingrid reframes the conversation around defensibility, emphasizing the importance of explainability, auditability, and human oversight in AI- assisted legal work. Her insights speak directly to lawyers, legal operations leaders, litigation support professionals, and legal technologists navigating the rapid adoption of generative AI across the profession. Drawing on her background as both a former tax and litigation lawyer and a legal technology founder, Ingrid combines firsthand legal experience with deep technical understanding. After recognizing inefficiencies in litigation workflows, she developed an AI-driven litigation case management platform, now integrated within Opus 2, that automates time-intensive tasks such as document analysis, timeline creation, and case summarization. Her work demonstrates a commitment to modernizing legal practice while maintaining the ethical and professional standards lawyers must uphold. B eyo n d p r o d u c t i n n ov a t i o n , I n g r i d c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e legal technology community through thought leadership, collaboration, and education. Through industry writing and engagement with peers across law and technology, she consistently promotes responsible AI adoption, professional development, and a more informed, trusted legal technology ecosystem. ILTA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2026 2 4

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