Loeb & Loeb's 2026 AI Summit Brings Industry Leaders Together in Chicago

Loeb & Loeb hosted its fourth AI Summit on July 14, 2026, in Chicago, convening over 60 in-house counsel from prominent companies for a morning of discussions on the evolving legal, regulatory and business considerations surrounding artificial intelligence. Attendees represented a broad cross-section of industries, including health care, technology, consumer products, financial services, food and beverage, manufacturing, transportation, retail, media and communications, sports and entertainment, and professional services, among others. 

The morning began with welcome remarks, followed by a fireside chat with Gabriel Hayduk, global data protection officer at Whirlpool Corporation, who shared insights into the company’s AI initiatives and how its legal department is leveraging AI to drive efficiency, enhance legal service delivery and better support business objectives.  

Following this, Kenneth Adler, chair of the firm’s Technology & Sourcing practice, and Liz Allen, chair of the Emerging Technologies practice, examined the current AI legal and technical landscape, offering insights into recent regulatory developments and emerging trends shaping AI innovation and adoption. 

The summit concluded with two rounds of 45-minute, lawyer-led roundtables exploring critical issues shaping the AI ecosystem:

• Intellectual Property – Led by Advanced Media & Technology partner Nate Hole and Patent Litigation & Counseling partner Jon Thielbar
• AI Governance – Led by Advanced Media & Technology partner Nerissa Coyle McGinn
• Talent and Production AI Issues – Led by Ryan Martin, deputy chair of the Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice 
• Advertising Law – Led by Libby O’Neill, deputy chair of the Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice
• Privacy – Led by Caroline Hudson, deputy chair of the Privacy, Security & Data Innovations practice
• AI Contracting – Led by Advanced Media & Technology partner Alison Pollock Schwartz
• Employment Law – Led by Employment & Labor partner Lauren Richards

To learn more about Loeb’s AI practice, please click here. To view our AI Legislation Tracker, click here.