ILTA Awards
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1545624
INGRID VAN DE POL–MENSING LINKEDIN /ngrid-van-de-pol- mensing-35155396/ I n her ILTA publication article, "Governance in the AI Era Starts with People", Ingrid Van de Pol–Mensing examines one of the legal industry's most urgent challenges: building responsible, sustainable governance frameworks for enterprise AI adoption. Published at a time when firms and legal departments are rapidly integrating AI into daily workflows, the article offers timely guidance for legal technologists, innovation leaders, and operations professionals navigating evolving regulatory expectations and organizational change. Rather than presenting governance as a purely compliance- driven exercise, Ingrid reframes it as a human-centered, adaptive strategy rooted in culture, collaboration, and trust. Drawing on her experience as both a practicing lawyer and legal technology founder, she provides practical recommendations that organizations can implement immediately, including role- specific AI training, governance councils, communication feedback loops, and cross-functional accountability structures. Business Partner / A R T I C L E O F T H E Y E A R Her perspective is informed by firsthand experience identifying inefficiencies in legal practice and developing AI-powered litigation management solutions that automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. By combining legal expertise with technological innovation, she helps legal professionals better understand how AI can support responsible, high-quality legal work rather than disrupt it. The article also reflects ILTA's core values through its focus on education, ethical innovation, and professional development. By demystifying AI governance and emphasizing the importance of investing in people alongside technology, Ingrid provides the legal technology community with practical, forward- looking guidance for navigating rapid industry transformation responsibly and collaboratively. FINALIST READ ONLINE https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1542659-win- ter25/0? ILTA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2026 1 9