LLI and DLEx, the world’s two leading legal transformation think tanks, are joining forces under the LLI name. Effective 1 April 2025, DLEx will operate within LLI as a curated legal executive forum, the Digital Leaders Exchange [at] Liquid Legal Institute (DLE [at] LLI), led by Chairman Bill Deckelman and Chairman Emeritus Mark A. Cohen.
This strategic union reflects LLI’s and DLEx’s common goals, methods, numerous corporate dual members, and past collaborations. Both focus on applied research, community building, and practical solutions. Each navigates challenges and seizes opportunities to enhance the legal function’s ability to drive business, end-user, and societal value. The decision recognizes the shared global challenges that LLI and DLEx address and the need for broader perspectives and member representation. Both leadership teams believe their objectives and members are best served by joining forces.
Member benefits will include expanded community, scholarship, and live and virtual events, drawing on each group’s world-class panel of experts. DLEx entity members can now engage more of their colleagues in a wide range of LLI transformation activities appropriate to their level and role. The combination has an incomparable substantive and geographic scope. The 1,500+ combined membership includes 140+ leading multi-national corporations, organizations, institutions, and agencies at an entity or individual level, representing all major economic sectors across 20+ countries. This deepens the partners’ research, initiatives, advocacy and publishing capabilities, boosts their convening power and creates a formidable content partner for conferences, symposia and corporate events.
DLE@LLI will continue to promote candid, robust exchanges on timely topics through DLEx’s signature Salons —invitation-only virtual events for GCs and senior innovation leaders. Michele DeStefano will continue as lead Faculty Advisor. Current DLEx members will automatically become LLI members through 2025. Entity members can participate in all LLI activities throughout their organizations. A dedicated DLE Executive Office, led by dual member Robert Dilworth, will ensure a smooth transition and support DLE activities.
LLI co-founder Dr. Dierk Schindler, on behalf of LLI’s Managing Board stated: “Welcoming the distinct DLEx community will strengthen LLI’s vision of serving as an international, diverse think tank focused on innovation and transformation in law, embracing all parts and all levels of the organization.”
DLEx co-founder and Chairman Bill Deckelman added: “The opportunity to formalize the close working relationship DLEx has had with LLI is very exciting and will create a powerful capability to collaboratively address the significant challenges facing corporate legal organizations in the AI era.
