A year rolls by very quickly, and it is time for Relativity Fest in Chicago once more. It runs from 20 to 23 October and the agenda, as always, is packed with sessions, panels, workshops and social events. It grows every year, but somehow manages to remain, if not exactly intimate, still friendly and welcoming.

My purpose in going, as always, is twofold. First, I am moderating a panel on Tuesday morning. Called simply the 2019 International Panel, it aims to cover the latest developments in cross-border e-Discovery, conflict of laws, and data privacy and protection.

The speakers are Meribeth Banaschik of EY GmbH, Kelly Friedman of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and Manfred Gabriel of Holland & Knight.

As always when I am moderating, I have asked the speakers to tell me what they want to talk about – what issues are arising, how they are dealing with them, and what they foresee. I am looking forward to it and very much appreciate the opportunity to lead such a panel, and on such an important topic, at this event.

My other purpose in going, as always, is to conduct video interviews of people with interesting things to say, both about their use of Relativity and about wider issues. The videos bring to a wider audience the messages and views collected for the event; they also give me the opportunity to hear what people have to say – it is easy enough to stand on a platform and give people one’s own views, but you can’t sensibly hold any views unless you listen to the people who are doing the work and rising to its challenges.

I am doing more than twenty of these interviews, and Relativity is wonderfully supportive – Taylor Laabs of Relativity organises the schedule so that I can bat through several in succession, and we are given use of a balcony above the main lobby, which is both convenient and serves as a great background.

I am accompanied by one of my techie sons, Charlie, and by my wife Mary Ann. Do come and say hello if you can catch us when we are not actually recording.

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