Robert Ambrogi Blog
Two leading international legal transformation think tanks, Digital Legal Exchange (DLEx) and Liquid Legal Institute (LLI), are joining forces effective April 1. The strategic union brings together more than 1,500 members representing more than 140 multinational corporations, organizations, institutions and agencies across more than 20 countries, creating what the organizations describe as a formidable global forum for legal transformation.
Going forward, DLEx will operate within LLI as a curated legal executive forum called the Digital Leaders Exchange @ Liquid Legal Institute (DLE@LLI), to be led by the cofounders of DLEx, Chairman William “Bill” Deckelman and Chairman Emeritus Mark A. Cohen.
The union aims to create the world’s leading think tank for legal transformation under the motto, “Together we design the future of legal.”
“Welcoming the distinct DLEx community will strengthen LLI’s vision of serving as an international, diverse think tank focused on innovation and transformation in law, embracing all parts and all levels of the organization,” said Dr. Dierk Schindler, co-founder and co-CEO of LLI, along with Kai Jacob.
Deckelman, who is currently chief legal officer at Anderson and who has held that role at several major corporations, added: “The opportunity to formalize the close working relationship DLEx has had with LLI is very exciting and will create a powerful capability to collaboratively address the significant challenges facing corporate legal organizations in the AI era.”
Complementary Organizations
The merger reflects the two organization’s complementary strengths and approaches. Both have collaborated in the past and even share some overlapping members. Both focus on applied research, community building, and practice solutions. And both are navigating the same terrain of enhancing the legal function.
In an interview for my LawNext podcast that will air tomorrow with Schindler and Cohen, Schindler explained that, while LLI started as an association for the “doers and shakers” in legal organizations, eventually bringing in more managing partners, general counsel, and senior business leaders, DLEx began from the outset with a focus general counsels and senior leaders.
With this union, and the creation of DLE@LLI, there is still a space for general counsel to continue to have an exchange in the spirit fostered by DLEx, while also opening the door for them to bring in more of their teams to engage in projects, initiatives, roundtables, and the like.
In addition, Schindler said, the union broadens the organization’s geographic scope. Because LLI was founded in Germany, its membership is strongest in Europe. By contrast, the bulk of the membership of DLEx is in the United States and the United Kingdom.
“It’s a win-win-win all around,” Schindler said. “The initial feedback that we’ve received, both from the Liquid Legal Institute community, but also, more importantly, from the DLEx community, is super positive in terms of seeing that added value and additional opportunity.”
One Plus One Equals 11
Cohen, an internationally known legal business consultant at Legal Mosaic and longtime columnist for Forbes, described the union as one in which “one and one adds up to 11,” noting that both organizations share common goals and methods.
“For a long time, Bob, my view is that our industry has been too vulcanized,” Cohen said in our podcast interview. Too many legal associations, he said, are too heavily driven by concerns about dues and sponsorships. In contrast, neither LLI nor DLEx are sponsor driven, but rather are independent and have as their primary goal creating community.
Founded in 2018, DLEx has functioned as a global, non-profit membership forum for general counsels, business leaders, and select external advisors focused on accelerating digital transformation of the corporate legal function. LLI, also founded in 2018, is an international think tank devoted to legal transformation with a broader membership representing the entire legal sector.
The integration creates expanded opportunities for member organizations. Former DLEx members, who typically engaged as individuals or with a deputy, can now bring entire teams (up to 30 members) into LLI activities. Current DLEx members will automatically become LLI members through 2025.
Benefits to members will include expanded community, scholarship, and live and virtual events, drawing on the expertise of each group’s members. DLEx entity members can now engage more of their colleagues in a wide range of LLI transformation activities appropriate to their level and role.
DLE@LLI will continue to host DLEx’s signature Salons — invitation-only virtual events for GCs and senior innovation leaders to engage in candid and robust exchanges on timely topics.
A dedicated DLE Executive Office, led by Robert Dilworth, who was already a member of both organizations, will ensure a smooth transition and support DLE activities within the broader LLI framework.
Joint Events Planned
A series of initial joint projects and events is already planned, which includes:
- The April 12 publication of the book, Liquid Legal — Sustaining the Rule of Law, which includes contributions from some 30 members of both LLI and DLEx.
- Featured content at Legal Tech Talk 2025 in London (June 26-27) and LLI’s 2025 Summit in Düsseldorf (July 7-8), including a private GC meeting and dinner associated with these events.
- Publication of a collaborative white paper on gen AI-era legal sector talent.
The organizations share a vision of transforming the legal function to better serve business needs in a digital world. “Transformation has a lot to do with mindset, first and foremost,” Schindler explained in our podcast interview. “This is not a project. This is not about technology, first and foremost. This is about people, yes, but first of all, it’s a mindset.”
Cohen emphasized the importance of creativity and curiosity in modern legal practice: “When I was a baby lawyer … you were not encouraged to be creative. You were not particularly encouraged to be curious. And I’m delighted to say that in today’s world, I think that has become a real requisite for lawyers.”