NZ | NEXT LEVEL – Navigating What’s Next: The Trends Reshaping Legal Practice
Members and eligible non-members only
Christchurch, NZ
3 November 2026
12:30 pm - 4:00 pm NZDT
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, 188 Oxford Terrace,
Christchurch, NZ
3 hrs
Richard Eggleston
Melissa Gibbs
Rhys Kerrigan
Kane Smith
Mike Cook
Steve Knutson
| Topic | Leadership, Operational Management, Technology & Knowledge | |
| Type | Seminar | |
| CPD | 2 - Practice Management and Business Skills | |
| Pricing | Free |
| Full Member | Free |
| Online Member | Free |
| Affiliate | Free |
| Associate Member | Free |
Current Supporting Partners - Free (Contact us for assistance)
Non-members must be eligible for alpma membership to attend.
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Proudly Supported By
Presented by
Richard Eggleston, Actionstep
Melissa Gibbs, Clio
Rhys Kerrigan, Kinetics
Kane Smith, OneLaw
Mike Cook, APLYiD
Steve Knutson, Stratos Technology Partners
Navigating What's Next: The Trends Reshaping Legal Practice
Legal practice is changing fast — AI, evolving client expectations, talent pressures, and tighter compliance demands are reshaping how firms operate and compete. This event, focuses on giving practice leaders a practical, interactive session built around the issues that matter most right now.
Join us for a moderated panel discussion — followed by a facilitated roundtable round where attendees dig deeper into the topic that matters most to them. It's a format designed for real conversation, not just presentation: practical takeaways, direct access to industry experts, and a room full of peers navigating the same challenges.
More information and presenter details coming soon!
Time | Session
12:30 | Arrival & networking lunch
1:00 | Welcome
1:05 | Panel 1 — AI and the tech-enabled firm
1:50 | Panel 2 — Running the modern firm
2:45 | Break and move to roundtables
3:00 | Facilitated Discussion [AI, automation & technology; Clients, value & winning work; People, talent & culture; Strategy, growth & resilience; Compliance, data & operations]
3:45 | Plenary wrap — one takeaway per table
3:55 | Close and thanks
Presented by
Richard Eggleston
Senior Account Executive at Actionstep
Richard works as a Senior Account Executive for Actionstep. Focussed on the ANZ legal market, he enjoys partnering with customers as they transition from often outdated legacy technology to Actionstep’s modern native cloud practice management software. He is passionate about helping his clients achieve growth by ensuring they get the most out of their technology.
Prior to joining Actionstep Richard worked as a sales manager for a New Zealand-based AML technology company and London for over a decade in both legal recruitment and an alternate service legal market provider within both managed services and legal technology.
Melissa Gibbs
Senior Account Executive at Clio
Melissa Gibbs is a Senior Account Executive at Clio, the world’s leading cloud-based legal practice management platform. She holds a Juris Doctor from the Australian National University and brings over six years’ dedicated experience in legal technology, including hands-on work within law firms themselves. This dual perspective lets her bridge legal practice and software innovation with real credibility. Based in Sydney, Melissa helps firms navigate digital transformation — from cloud adoption to the emerging role of AI in legal workflows — translating complex technology trends into practical, adoptable solutions. She’s recognised for her hands-on approach to client onboarding and her sharp read on how legal practice is being reshaped by technology.
Rhys Kerrigan
Practice Lead IT Management and Digital Services at Kinetics
Rhys has over 30 years’ experience in the IT industry and during that time has worked in large and small New Zealand and global companies, working as an IT consultant, IT manager and in technical roles.
Rhys’ passion is delivering technology that provides real value to people and the organisations they work in. Rhys has worked for banks, hospitals, government research institutes, computer manufacturers, and IT service providers. Whilst at Kambium he has worked with legal, education, engineering, technology, and not for-profit organisations which has given him a broad base of experience and expertise.
Recently, Rhys has served as a fractional leader for both a nationwide not-for-profit and a fashion retail business. He has also modernised systems at a tertiary education institute and supported legal firms through significant systems change.
Kane Smith
Sales Executive at OneLaw
As a Sales Executive at OneLaw, Kane works closely with law firms to understand their needs and guide them through the platform. With a background in finance, accounting, and regulatory roles, including as a Senior Inspector with the New Zealand Law Society, he knows what firms are up against and how the right software makes a real difference.
Mike Cook
Global Head of Customer Success at APLYiD
Mike is the Global Head of Customer Success at APLYiD, an end-to-end AML compliance platform operating across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Working over five years at APLYiD, Mike leads the customer success function while serving as the company’s fraud expert, and keeping a close watch on compliance and regulatory developments across the markets APLYiD operates in. His background spans the finance and private security sectors, giving him a grounded, practical lens on the identity verification challenges facing regulated industries. Mike works closely with businesses navigating AML/CFT obligations, and brings up-to-date insight into both the recent changes and what’s on the horizon for New Zealand compliance requirements.
Steve Knutson
Director | Digital Workplaces at Stratos Technology Partners
Kia ora, I am Steve Knutson from Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2011 I co-founded Stratos Technology Partners, a software development services & technology consulting firm. In the time since then we have grown from an idea to a mid-sized services company. In my client facing role I work as a Microsoft 365 Consultant, focused on SharePoint. I connect people with technology and helping them understand what is possible and how to make it happen. I have experience in a wide range of projects including Intranets, information management, cloud migrations and transformation projects. I enjoy creating opportunities for people to learn and develop their careers. I was fortunate to have a great mentor early in my career who encouraged me to pass it on. My community activities include user groups, blogging, YouTube and speaking on topics related to SharePoint, Digital Workplaces, and Intranets.
