The Legal Innovation Summit will return to Johannesburg in June 2026, bringing together legal leaders, technology innovators, in-house counsel, law firms and policymakers from across Africa for a two-day hybrid convening focused on the future of law in an AI-driven world.
Now in its latest edition, the Summit has firmly established itself as a continental platform where legal and business leaders move beyond discussion into practical collaboration, driving the transformation of legal services, leadership and operating models.
The 2026 Summit will take place under the theme Connect. Co-create. Innovate., reflecting both the momentum built in recent years and the growing urgency across the legal sector to respond to rapid technological disruption, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence.
Responding to a Shifting Legal Landscape
Across Africa and globally, the legal profession is not only evolving but actively adapting to structural changes driven by new technologies, shifting client expectations and increasing pressure for efficiency, transparency and measurable value.
Building on this momentum, the Legal Innovation Summit continues to serve as a convening space for forward-looking practitioners and decision-makers who are shaping the future of the profession in real time. The 2026 edition places a strong emphasis on co-creation, reflecting a sector that is no longer reacting to change, but is rapidly changing with each update and actively designing its future.
The programme will focus on practical implementation, with sessions designed around real-world challenges faced by legal teams, including the integration of AI tools, transformation of legal operations, and how legal leaders are navigating an unpredictable global environment.
Launch of the Legal Innovation & Impact Awards
A key development for 2026 is the launch of the Legal Innovation & Impact Awards, a new continental recognition platform celebrating excellence, leadership and innovation across Africa’s legal ecosystem.
The Awards will recognise individuals, teams, and organisations that are reshaping the role of law through innovation, measurable impact and forward-thinking leadership.
Award categories include:
- In-house Legal Trailblazers
- Law Firm Innovation Award
- Legal Operations Excellence Award
- Legal Tech & SMME Startup of the Year
- Transformative Legal Leader Award
- Next Generation Legal Leader Award
Distinguished Awards Jury
The Awards will be adjudicated by a distinguished and diverse panel of legal experts, innovators, and industry leaders from across Africa and globally. The 2026 judging panel includes:
- Allan Rwakakooko – Head of Legal Services, Umeme LTD (Uganda)
- Azhar Aziz-Ismail Attorney, Legal Tech & Innovation, M&G 200 Young South Africans 2025 (South Africa)
- Prof. Sizwe Snail ka Mtuze – Professor of Cyberlaw | Managing Director, Nelson Mandela University & Snail Attorneys (South Africa)
- Megan Jackson – Managed Legal Services | Legal Operations & Transformation, TLT LLP (United Kingdom)
- Rosemary Koech-Kimwatu – Technology Policy Lawyer, KCB Bank Group (Kenya)
- Greg Baker – Senior Lawyer – AI & Innovation, Linklaters LLP (United Kingdom)
- Wellington Chimwaradze – General Counsel Africa, AB InBev (South Africa)
- Lauren Salt Executive – Employment Law, International Speaker, ENS (South Africa)
- Rorisang Mzozoyana – Senior Legal Counsel, Legal Trainer (South Africa)
This represents a selection of the 2026 judging panel, drawn from a broader group of leaders shaping the future of law across Africa and globally.
This curated panel reflects the Awards’ commitment to cross-border collaboration and diverse legal perspectives. For more on our distinguished jury you can visit our website and social media pages.
A Continental Convening of Legal Decision-Makers
The Summit is expected to host over 200 in-person and virtual delegates, including general counsel, law firm partners, corporate executives, regulators, academics, founders and legal technology providers.
Delegates will engage through keynote presentations, expert panel discussions, fireside conversations and practical workshops designed to foster collaboration across legal, business and technology ecosystems.
Unlike traditional conferences, the Summit is positioned as a working forum for co-creation, where stakeholders collectively develop implementable solutions to shared challenges in the legal sector.
About the Legal Innovation Summit
The Legal Innovation Summit is a leading African platform focused on advancing the future of law through innovation, technology and leadership. It convenes legal and business decision-makers to explore practical pathways for transforming legal services in a rapidly evolving global environment.
