On Thursday 12th February, we officially launched Clio Elevate in Dublin, the first in a new global series of live events designed to empower legal professionals with the tools, knowledge, and community needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving era of legal innovation.
Clio Elevate wasn’t created to just showcase technology. It was built to spark real conversations, share real experiences, and ensure every attendee walked away with practical insights they could take back to their firms or organisations. And I’m delighted (and a little relieved!) to say: we delivered. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Kicking Off the Day
I had the honour of opening the event and setting the tone for what was to come. But the real momentum started when Sarah Murphy from Clio took the stage. She shared Clio’s vision for the future of legal innovation and gave us a look at just how far the company has come.
From serving small firms to now supporting organisations of every size, Clio’s growth has been remarkable. With customers in over 130 countries, partnerships with 100 law societies, and more than 250 integrated apps, it’s clear the ecosystem is expanding with purpose. Add in the strategic acquisitions of vLex and ShareDo, plus four AI-powered products, and it’s obvious Clio is building a complete lifecycle solution for legal professionals worldwide.
Sarah also announced that Clio Elevate will be heading across the globe throughout the year, bringing the legal community together to share knowledge, swap ideas, and learn how best to embrace the future.
A Fireside Chat That Stole the Show
Next up was one of the most engaging fireside chats I’ve ever witnessed. Emma Hamilton hosted a conversation with Ross Galvin from Fenecas Law, an AI‑first firm competing with the “big six.”
Ross’s insights were refreshingly honest. He spoke about the reality of implementing AI, the impact on his firm, and the efficiency gains for both team and clients. A standout moment was when he said:
“Junior colleagues make mistakes… just like AI does.”
Simple, but true, and it shifted the room’s perspective instantly.
He also posed a powerful question:
Does AI reduce our thinking, or does it make us want to be more accurate?
Of course, the line that got the biggest reaction from the audience of predominantly law firm lawyers was this:
“AI has given me my weekends back.”
That’s the kind of real-life transformation people came to hear.
A Panel That Was As Informative As It Was Entertaining
After a quick networking break, my colleague Jeremy Small moderated a lively panel on the realities of AI in modern legal work, featuring Flor McCarthy and Martin Lawlor.
Between what can only be described as a highly entertaining double act from Flor and Martin, they tackled some of the industry’s biggest questions:
- Are firms asking why they should adopt AI, or how they should adopt it?
- Is AI safe enough yet to give firms true confidence?
- What do lawyers actually want AI to do for them?
- And crucially: what can we learn from how other industries have embraced AI?
The session was a perfect blend of humour, honesty, and hard‑won insight.
Introducing Clio Work
I then welcomed Aidan Hawes, who gave an excellent walkthrough of the vLex acquisition and introduced Clio Work, Clio’s latest solution for legal professionals.
A recorded demo, navigated by Cormac Lawlor, showcased Clio Work in action, giving the audience a practical look at what’s possible.
Key Takeaways + Interactive Q&A
Before we wrapped the formal part of the day, I invited Sarah, Emma, and Aidan back on stage to share their key takeaways. That led into a brilliant interactive Q&A session, full of thoughtful questions from an audience eager to understand how to bring AI into their firms responsibly and effectively.
And Then… The Experience Really Began
Clio Elevate was designed to be professional and educational, but also enjoyable, informal, and memorable. And we made good on that promise.
After networking over a couple of Guinnesses, attendees took a self‑guided tour of the Guinness Storehouse, seven floors of history, brewing mastery, and yes, the fact that there are roughly 300 million nitrogen bubbles in every pint.
We finished on the 7th floor at the Gravity Bar, where guests enjoyed a pint while taking in breathtaking 360-degree views of Dublin.
By the time 7pm rolled around, most attendees were still there, deep in conversation about AI, sharing ideas, and connecting with peers who are navigating the same challenges and opportunities.
So naturally, the evening continued.
We headed to the Guinness Academy for dinner, drinks, and lessons on how to pour the perfect pint using the legendary six‑step ritual. And if legal tech ever collapses… at least I now have a backup career.
We even arranged for the Clio logo to be printed onto the head of the pint using a Stoutie machine, a small touch that everyone loved.
A Day of Real Value
Clio Elevate wasn’t just a success for us, it was a success for everyone who attended. They heard from people actively navigating AI transformation, they shared experiences with peers facing similar decisions, and they left with actionable ideas to take back to their firms.
Plus, everyone went home with a Clio-branded Guinness pint glass, a perfect souvenir from an unforgettable day.
See You at the Next Clio Elevate
I genuinely can’t wait for the next event and for the full Clio Elevate series to continue. If Dublin was anything to go by, we’re building something special, and we’ll be elevating the legal profession together, one city at a time.