MAICON brings together top visionaries and experts in the field of AI during a three-day conference packed with actionable sessions and networking events—all to position you as the change agent your organization (and career) needs. In this ongoing speaker series, we’re featuring these extraordinary leaders, with forward-looking predictions, actionable tips you can use today, and a preview of their MAICON 2025 sessions.
Bridget McCormack is the President and CEO of the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (AAA-ICDR®), the world’s leading provider of alternative dispute resolution services.
Her career began in law and public service, spanning more than 12 years on the Michigan Supreme Court, first as a Justice and then as Chief Justice. Throughout her tenure, she embraced innovation as a “tool for justice, whether through building problem-solving courts, modernizing indigent defense, or pioneering remote court systems well before the pandemic forced the issue.”
In 2023, Bridget took on a new challenge as the CEO at the AAA: leading its technological transformation. She adopted an “all-in approach to AI,” encouraging everyone within the organization to experiment with emerging tools. That mindset has since fueled the creation of next-generation dispute resolution services, using AI to dramatically expand access to fair, transparent, and effective conflict resolution.
As she explains, “My role as a thought leader in AI doesn’t come from a technical background. It comes from leading with purpose, from asking how this technology can serve justice, and from helping others, especially in fields such as law and nonprofit leadership, engage with AI in courageous, ethical, and transformative ways. For me, AI allows us to reimagine what’s possible when we lead with vision.”
At MAICON, Bridget will share how organizations can protect their creative assets in today’s complex intellectual property landscape.
Bridget will be joined by Jen Leonard, Founder & Principal of Creative Lawyers, for a dynamic fireside chat on the fast-changing legal landscape of AI. Together, they’ll explore the evolving frameworks around intellectual property in the era of generative AI.
“The law is slow-moving, risk-averse, and often a blunt instrument," Bridget said. "AI, on the other hand, is a creativity magnifier.
"How can people and businesses building a future with AI protect their creations, given the current IP landscape?”
Expect to leave the session with a clear understanding of today’s IP challenges and opportunities in relation to AI, along with a practical framework for setting guardrails that protect innovation without limiting it.
Too often, AI is viewed solely as a career threat or a shortcut for quick tasks. Bridget highlighted a more nuanced reality: “AI, when thoughtfully integrated, has the potential to radically improve access to justice, streamline complex processes, and allow professionals to focus on judgment, empathy, and creativity.”
She emphasized that AI’s greatest promise isn’t in automating work we already know how to do. Instead, its true value lies “in reshaping what we’re capable of doing together—with integrity, efficiency, and far greater reach.”
“AI is going to expose whether your leadership is performative or real,'' Bridget said.
She sees this moment as an opportunity for leaders to lean into the unknown—investing in learning, making decisions rooted in values, and resisting the temptation to chase speed or savings at all costs.
“The organizations that thrive won’t be the ones with the most AI tools, but rather the ones with the most courageous leaders,” she said.
“Leaders who understand that responsible AI isn’t about slowing down innovation, it’s about steering it. So if you’re waiting on the sidelines for someone else to figure it out, you’re already behind.
"This is the leadership moment of our time.”
AI and the Future of Law Podcast
AI and the Future of Law is your essential podcast for understanding how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal industry. Hosted by both Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, this show explores the intersection of AI and legal practice with some of the most innovative thinkers in the field.
Bonus: Bridget and Jen will be dropping episodes throughout the fall season that directly relate to their discussion at MAICON. Tune in to get a preview of their thinking and come to their session prepared with questions!
Building a Law Firm AI Strategy
Developed in collaboration with Jen’s company, Creative Lawyers, this program leverages the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA®) AI transformation journey as a real-world case study, offering participants the tools and insights needed to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, better serve clients, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Hosted by Brigdet and Legally Disrupted’s Zach Abramowitz, this podcast focuses on the ways AI is transforming law, legal operations, and dispute resolution. It features leaders in legal tech, futurists, and experts in dispute resolution. Tune in to hear bold talks on technology, law, and what’s next.
AI, IP, and Opportunity: Navigating Legal Change to Fuel Innovation
As generative AI rapidly transforms industries, the legal frameworks surrounding intellectual property are evolving just as quickly—introducing both new challenges and significant opportunities for organizations that rely on content, branding, and creative assets.
In this dynamic fireside chat, Bridget McCormack, President & CEO of the American Arbitration Association, joins legal innovation strategist Jen Leonard to explore how businesses can navigate the shifting intellectual property landscape while leveraging AI’s potential for innovation.
Jen and Bridget will unpack the latest legal and regulatory developments tied to generative AI and IP, including landmark court cases, legislative movements, and emerging best practices. Drawing on Bridget’s leadership at the AAA, they’ll examine how organizations can respond to these changes—not just to remain compliant, but to rethink operations and emerge stronger in an AI-driven world.
Marketing professionals, like their legal and business counterparts, must now grapple with complex questions:
This session offers actionable insights for turning legal ambiguity into strategic advantage—whether you're leading a brand, developing marketing campaigns, or building AI-powered solutions.
Curious about where AI is heading next and how it’s reshaping leadership, justice, and innovation? Keep up with Bridget’s work and insights:
Join Us at MAICON 2025
Marketing Artificial Intelligence Conference (MAICON) was created for marketing leaders and practitioners seeking to drive the next frontier of digital marketing transformation within their organizations.
We’re excited to host our 5th annual MAICON—Marketing AI Conference—at this pivotal point for our industry. Join us from October 14 to 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio, and use the special code SPEAKERSERIES100 at checkout to receive $100 off your registration!