Merrilyn is the author of “Getting Clients: For Lawyers Starting Out or Starting Over.” She has been helping lawyers and law firms think differently about the business of practicing law since 1984. She is a founding member of the Legal Marketing Association, an LMA Hall of Fame inductee, and a past President of the College of Law Practice Management. Merrilyn was a founding partner of Attorney at Work. 

Julia Jimenez is a Client Success Manager at Opus 2, a leading legal software and services provider. Before joining Opus 2 in 2024, she practiced as a litigation attorney for nearly a decade.

Walter D. McCorkle is a Business Development and Marketing Technology Manager at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (@BradleyLegal). He helps build brand awareness, reputation, and strength through the use of content and social media for the 500-attorney firm.

Kathryn Lye is a B2B marketing leader who writes about modern legal workflows and practical ways attorneys can deliver more value with less stress. She focuses on approachable, tool-agnostic guidance for busy practitioners. She is director of marketing at Definely, an AI-powered legal tech company that enables lawyers to efficiently and accurately review complex contracts.

Expert contributor.

Expert contributor.

Jill Schornack is a product strategy and portfolio management professional experienced in full product lifecycle management, new product ideation and development, and leading teams to protect core businesses and accelerate growth platforms. She is a 2025 Fastcase 50 honoree and the Vice President of Product at NetDocuments. With over 20 years of experience in legal tech, Jill has guided law firms and corporate legal departments through numerous waves of technological change and is a recognized thought leader in AI and automation innovation. She lives with her family in Minnesota, the “State of Hockey.”

Lorie Eber was as a workaholic corporate litigator for 23 years. In 2004, she made a career transition into health and wellness. Lorie Eber Wellness Coaching provides personalized weight loss and healthy living coaching and support. Lorie is a Certified Nutritionist and NASM Sports Medicine Fitness Nutrition Specialist,  a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach, a certified personal trainer and life coach. She is the author of  “Boomers: Aging Beats the Alternative and a Sense of Humor Helps,” “How to Stay Healthy in a World Designed to Make Us Fat and Lazy,” “40 Ways to Leave Your Lover, That Would be Junk Food,” and “How to Ditch Your Fat Clothes for Good.” Follow her @LorieEber.

Emily LaRusch is Founder and CEO of Back Office Betties, a leading provider of fractional administrative services for small to midsize law firms. With a passion for supporting entrepreneurs and fostering strong company cultures, Emily built her company to help lawyers free themselves from administrative burdens.

Erika N. L. Harold is Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. An advocate for civility, ethics, and inclusion, Erika leads the Commission’s extensive educational programming, which focuses on advancing professionalism among the state’s lawyers and judges to build confidence in the justice system. Previously, Erika was a litigator, representing clients at the trial and appellate levels in disputes regarding fiduciary and contractual obligations. A Harvard Law School graduate, she funded her legal education through scholarships and appearance fees earned as Miss America 2003. Follow Erika on LinkedIn.

Diego Rosette is an associate in Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial’s Miami office. He focuses his practice primarily on civil and commercial litigation matters, including business disputes, transportation claims, negligent security matters and catastrophic injuries.

David Lazzara is the CEO of DRai Solutions, an AI-powered platform redefining how legal, corporate and association teams manage intake, contracts, compliance and dispute resolution. A proven entrepreneur and strategist, David has founded and led four successful companies, partnering with Fortune 100 clients and building high-performance, mission-driven teams.

Smriti Sinha is General Counsel at Opus 2, a leading legal software and services provider. As part of the company’s executive leadership team, she leads global legal and compliance functions and the company’s ESG program. Before joining Opus 2 in 2022, Smriti spent over 10 years working with businesses globally across a broad range of industries, including technology, life sciences and marketing.

Jessica Aries is a digital marketing strategist and former IT & privacy lawyer. She helps law firms grow with AI, LinkedIn, and digital content that converts. To learn more about Jessica and follow her work, visit www.byaries.com or follow her on LinkedIn.

Laura Churchman is Marketing Communications Manager at ALPS Lawyers Malpractice and Law Firm Insurance,  and a seasoned copywriter and content marketer. ALPS is the nation’s largest direct writer of lawyers’ malpractice insurance. Follow Laura on LinkedIn.