The High Tide Conference 2026

4 October 2026Copenhagen

Presented by the MBD Sub-Committee of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee

Sunday 4 October, 2026
8:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m.

Gorrissen Federspiel offices
Axel Towers, Axeltorv 2, 1609 Copenhagen V, Denmark

Early Bird Price: 1300 DKK (approx. €175 / £150) – Deadline: July 31, 2026

Standard Price: 1800 DKK (approx. €240 / £200)

Registration is limited to two participants per firm initially to allow for a breadth of firm types and experiences. Registration for The High Tide does not grant access to the full IBA program or other associated events.

No registration will be available onsite.

AI in Practice: Delivering Results in Legal Marketing & Business Development

The High Tide provides a forum for advanced education and an opportunity to foster meaningful connections with colleagues from the global legal business development and marketing community. We endeavour to provide participants with a view to what is coming down the pipe and, for 2026 and beyond, how the application of AI (Artificial Intelligence) will fundamentally change our roles and focus.

Why is AI relevant to Legal Marketing & Business Development professionals?

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration for law firms, it is rapidly becoming a fundamental business tool that is reshaping how firms compete, communicate and grow.

For MBD professionals, understanding AI is essential not only to improve efficiency and productivity, but also to identify new opportunities for client engagement, market intelligence, content creation, relationship management and strategic decision-making. As clients increasingly adopt AI within their own organisations, they expect their legal advisers and business partners to demonstrate a similar level of innovation and sophistication.

The most successful legal marketers and BD professionals will be those who can harness AI to deliver more targeted campaigns, uncover actionable insights from data, streamline processes, personalise client experiences and support lawyers in developing stronger client relationships.

We will move beyond theory to explore how AI is being used in practice across the legal sector. Through practical examples, case studies and expert insights, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI can enhance marketing and business development activities, create competitive advantage and drive measurable results for their firms.

Whether you are just beginning your AI journey or looking to build on existing initiatives, this conference will provide valuable perspectives and practical takeaways to help you navigate the rapidly evolving legal landscape.

An MBD team with an understanding of AI is critical to a firm’s success because it:

Enhances strategic decision-making by turning large volumes of client, market and competitor data into actionable insights.
Improves client targeting and business development efforts through better identification of opportunities, industry trends and prospective clients.
Delivers greater efficiency and productivity, enabling teams to automate routine tasks and focus on higher-value strategic activities.
Strengthens client relationships by supporting more personalised, timely and relevant communications and engagement.
Enables more effective thought leadership and content creation, helping firms respond quickly to market developments while maintaining quality and consistency.
Supports cross-selling and relationship expansion by uncovering connections, opportunities and client needs that may otherwise be overlooked.
Improves measurement and ROI tracking, allowing firms to better understand the impact of marketing and BD activities and allocate resources more effectively.
Helps future-proof the firm by ensuring MBD teams can adapt to evolving technologies, client expectations and market dynamics.
Acts as a bridge between lawyers, clients and technology, helping the firm translate AI capabilities into tangible commercial outcomes.
Frees up time for more strategic work, allowing MBD professionals to focus on relationship building, opportunity development and revenue growth rather than administrative tasks.
Ensures responsible and effective AI adoption, helping the firm balance innovation with governance, risk management and brand reputation

Why you should attend The High Tide:

Network with over 100 business development and marketing professionals from leading firms around the world to exchange ideas, discuss AI adoption and innovation, explore opportunities for collaboration and referrals and discover how firms are leveraging AI to enhance visibility, strengthen client engagement and build competitive advantage.
Pose questions to our panel featuring a CMO perspective alongside external advisers who bring deep, hands-on expertise from across the legal AI landscape about how AI is being integrated into MBD strategies, how teams are being brought along on the journey and what the biggest opportunities and challenges look like from different vantage points. Gain insight into how AI is reshaping team structures, workflows, skills requirements, and the future role of MBD professionals in firm success.
Hear directly from GCs at leading companies as they discuss how AI is shaping their expectations of external counsel, what they are looking for in a modern law firm, how technology influences panel selection decisions and what firms can do to strengthen and retain client relationships in an increasingly AI-enabled business environment.
Gain practical insights into how firms are communicating AI-driven value to clients, managing pricing transparency and developing strategies that align innovation with sustainable business growth.
Join interactive discussions with experienced MBD professionals to explore how AI is transforming the profession, exchange insights on implementation challenges and opportunities and tap into the collective expertise of your peers.
Take practical strategies, proven use cases and fresh ideas back to your firm—because when knowledge, innovation and technology come together, the whole industry rises together on The High Tide.

Participation is restricted to business development and marketing professionals employed in a law firm and is not open to practising lawyers.

Registration

Read here to learn more about registration eligibility for The High Tide.