Past Winners
Take a look back at every winner in Innovation Awards history.
2026 Winners
Best Innovation: Beyond
CDS
AI Empowered Forensic Triage
Best Innovation: Beyond
AI Empowered Forensic Triage
CDS AI Powered Forensic Triage is an AI-enabled workflow transforming forensic outputs into structured, review-ready data for advanced analysis within eDiscovery workflows. Using CDS Convert, mobile phone and computer data parsed from tools including Magnet Axiom, UFED, XRY, and Oxygen is normalized into a consistent format, enabling analysis across communications, internet history, registry files, system artefacts, emails, documents, multimedia content and more. The solution combines advanced filtering, visualization, AI-assisted interrogation, and targeted review workflows to rapidly identify relevant evidence. Users can query complex datasets using natural language through aiR Assist, prioritize key material with aiR for Review, and accelerate timeline generation, reporting, and insights using aiR for Case Strategy. CDS Vision AI extends these capabilities to image and video evidence through object detection, summarization and gallery view, enabling faster identification of critical evidence in a collaborative manner inside of Relativity aiR.
Best Innovation: Organize
Bayer
Bluefin
Best Innovation: Organize
Bluefin
Bluefin is a centralized litigation management solution developed to eliminate fragmented, manual processes for handling tens of thousands of legal complaints and to provide Bayer with greater control, visibility, and reporting capabilities. By integrating directly with the service of process vendor via API, Bluefin automates the ingestion, routing, and storage of complaint documents into a unified system. The platform enables tailored notifications, streamlined document triage through a staging workspace, and clear assignment of responsibility for each case. Since its full adoption, Bluefin has processed more than 15,000 documents annually, driven strong user engagement from outside counsel, and earned leadership recognition for improving visibility into and management of Bayer's litigation portfolio.
Best Innovation: Discover
Troutman Pepper Locke eMerge
eMerge SearchCraft
Best Innovation: Discover
eMerge SearchCraft
eMerge SearchCraft is an AI-powered natural language saved search builder integrated directly into Relativity aiR, enabling users to convert plain-English prompts into robust, structured saved search conditions. SearchCraft streamlines the often-arduous transition from search intent to search result while supporting all major saved search components, including field-specific operators, logic groups, and dtSearch syntax. SearchCraft can also explain and then modify preexisting saved searches, executing precise adjustments to prior criteria without starting from scratch. By making sophisticated search construction faster, more accessible, and easier to validate, SearchCraft serves as a force multiplier for the native saved search capabilities Relativity users rely on every day.
Best Innovation: Act
JND
Auto-Redact: AI-Assisted Redaction for Relativity aiR
Best Innovation: Act
Auto-Redact: AI-Assisted Redaction for Relativity aiR
AutoRedact transforms redaction from a repetitive manual process into a fully automated, Relativity-native workflow. Users begin in the Detector Lab, where they can build, refine, and test detector profiles on document samples before launching a full redaction job across the review population. During a job, AutoRedact applies redactions directly to document images as Relativity markups, complete with confidence scores, tags, and saved-search outputs to support QC. In addition to creating custom detectors, users can also leverage 14 out-of-the-box detectors covering attorney-client privilege, PII/PHI, CBI, and other sensitive information. Powered by a combination of LLM-driven analysis and deterministic pipeline steps, AutoRedact can identify and place redactions across content that goes well beyond plain text, including handwriting, skewed or rotated text, and low-quality scans.
Best Innovation: Workflows
ModeOne
ModeOne
Best Innovation: Workflows
ModeOne
ModeOne Integration brings mobile data directly into Relativity aiR through a seamless, automated workflow. With a one-time configuration, legal teams can select targeted ModeOne collections, transfer data into Relativity, automatically process it, and make it available for review without manual intervention. The integration eliminates the traditional complexity of mobile data ingestion by connecting collection, processing, and review within a single workflow. This reduces turnaround times, minimizes administrative effort, and accelerates access to mobile evidence for legal and investigative teams.
Best Innovator: Access to Justice
Kara Schooley-Proud
Senior Analyst, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Best Innovator: Access to Justice
Kara Schooley-Proud
Senior Analyst, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Kara Schooley-Proud is a Senior Analyst in Ashurst Perkins Coie's eDiscovery team, specializing in legal technology and data-driven litigation support. Passionate about access to justice, she leverages innovative Relativity solutions to improve efficiency, helping translate complex legal data into practical insights that deliver impactful outcomes and support stronger legal decision-making.
Best Innovator: Customer Experience
Philip Weldon
Senior Director of eDiscovery and AI Assisted Review, Hecker Fink LLP
Best Innovator: Customer Experience
Philip Weldon
Senior Director of eDiscovery and AI Assisted Review, Hecker Fink LLP
Phil Weldon, Senior Director of eDiscovery and AI Assisted Review at Hecker Fink LLP, a boutique litigation powerhouse, is at the forefront of applied AI and automation in e-discovery. His education-first approach has driven widespread attorney adoption of emerging tools. A frequent panelist – including at Legalweek – he shares valuable insight and advocates for strong standards in technology assisted review.
Best Innovator: Inclusion
Monique Jiggetts
Director, eDiscovery Review, UnitedLex
Best Innovator: Inclusion
Monique Jiggetts
Director, eDiscovery Review, UnitedLex
Monique Jiggetts is a Director in eDiscovery Review at UnitedLex with 10+ years leading large-scale review programs. She drives high-stakes engagements by aligning teams, technology, and process to deliver defensible, high-quality outcomes. Known for operational leadership, she partners with clients to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and deliver consistent, scalable results.
Best Innovator: Legal Education
Joe Stephens
Director of Legal Solutions at Steno and Clinical Lecturer at Text Tech Law
Best Innovator: Legal Education
Joe Stephens
Director of Legal Solutions at Steno and Clinical Lecturer at Text Tech Law
Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno’s Director of Legal Solutions and a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech Law. With 15+ years in criminal defense and public service, he founded the largest rural public defender office in Texas. He serves on the Board of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, multiple Texas State Bar committees, and has practical expertise in trial advocacy and justice system innovation.
Best Innovator: Stellar Women
Katherine Li
Vice President of Analytics & AI, UnitedLex
Best Innovator: Stellar Women
Katherine Li
Vice President of Analytics & AI, UnitedLex
Katherine Li is Vice President of Analytics & AI at UnitedLex, leading data-driven solutions across the e-discovery lifecycle. She drives the use of advanced analytics and AI to improve efficiency, accuracy, and defensibility, and partners with clients to modernize legal workflows and deliver measurable, technology-enabled outcomes.
Best Innovation: Beyond
CDS - CDS Vision Financial Analysis
Best Innovation: Organize, Discover, Act
Troutman eMerge – Split!
Best Innovation: Organize, Discover, Act
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer – HSF Kramer Snap
Best Innovation: Organize, Discover, Act
Allens - Chronology Plus
Best Innovation: Workflows
IntrepidX - Hatch Waxman Pipeline Protection and Redaction Workflow
Best Innovator: Access to Justice
Melissa Weberman, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Best Innovator: Customer Experience
Daniel Smith, A&O Shearman
Best Innovator: Inclusion
Nicole Allen, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Best Innovator: Legal Education
Andrew Pardieck, Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School
Best Innovator: Stellar Women
Sarah Cole, Cimplifi
Best Innovation: Enterprise
Troutman Pepper eMerge - Flywheel
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
EY Switzerland – GenAI Toolbox
Best Innovation: Developer Partner
Milyli – Redaction Suggestions in Blackout
Artificial Intelligence
Ben Sexton, JND eDiscovery
Customer Experience
Jenna Rooney, Arete
Education & Mentorship
Deedra Smith, FTI Consulting
Security
Jenna Rooney, Arete
Inclusion
Vazantha Meyers, HaystackID
Stellar Women
Stephanie Goutos, Gunderson Dettmer
Best Innovation: Enterprise
Alston & Bird - MetaHistogram
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
Deloitte UK – Deloitte Audio Discovery powered by TrueVoice
Artificial Intelligence
Richard Finkelman, Berkeley Research Group
Customer Experience
Jeanne Somma, Lineal
Education & Mentorship
Megan Daviduke, Capital One
Inclusion
Rachel Williams, Charles River Associates
Security
Aneesha Gupta, metafinanz
Stellar Women
Natalie Lau, Allen & Overy
Spirit of Innovation
Juan Ramirez, NSerio
Best Innovation: Enterprise
Troutman Pepper eMerge – eMerge Xtractor
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
Lineal Services – Lineal Amplify and Lineal Images
Artificial Intelligence
Kelly Friedman, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Customer Experience
Adrian Agius, Gilbert + Tobin and United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability Against Da’esh/ISIL Crimes (UNITAD)
Education & Mentorship
Lauren Roso, ProSearch
Inclusion
Farrah Pepper, Marsh McClennan
Security
Inés Rubio, FTI Consulting
Stellar Women
Allison Stanton, Meta
Best Innovation: Enterprise
UNITAD - Zeteo
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
JND eDiscovery – Virtual Helpdesk
Best Innovation: Community Choice
Gilbert & Tobin – Hyperview
Lineal – AI Applications
Attorney Tech Evangelist
Alicia Hawley, Discovery Counsel
Corporate Tech Evangelist
Siva Palepu – Univeristy of Southern California
Stellar Women in e-Discovery
Heena Bhambhlani, EY Gloabl Delivery Services
Lit Support All-Star
Nikolai Pozdniakov, vdiscovery
Academic Innovator of the Year
Sara Skeens, Reynolds Community College
Inclusion Breakthrough of the Year
Christopher Campbell, Baker Hughes
AI Catalyst
Briordy Meyers, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI)
Best Innovation: Law Firm or Corporation
Herbert Smith Freehills - CheckMate
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
Deloitte UK – Audio Discovery
Best Innovation: Community Choice
Sky Discovery – Sky Photo Search
Attorney Tech Evangelist
Kate Bauer, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Corporate Tech Evangelist
Jada Payne, Voya Financial
Stellar Women in e-Discovery
Kenya Parrish-Dixon, Empire Technologies Risk Management Group
Lit Support All-Star
Rachel McAdams, A&L Goodbody
Academic Innovator of the Year
Joseph Vallette, Molloy College
Inclusion Breakthrough of the Year
Maribel Rivera, ACEDS
Best Innovation: Law Firm or Corporation
Kilpatrick Townsend – LitSmart Autotasker
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
icourts - GoX
Best Innovation: Community Choice
Clayton Utz – AcquiRE
Attorney Tech Evangelist
Cristin Traylor, McGuideWoods
In-House Tech Evangelist
Sara Skeens, Capital One
Stellar Women in e-Discovery
Stephanie Clerkin, Korein Tillery
Lit Support All-Star
Pavan Kotha, Deloitte
Academic Innovator of the Year
The Institute for the Future of Law Practice
Best Innovation: Law Firm or Corporation
Bricker & Eckler – Petition Analyzer
Best Innovation: Solution Provider
Deloitte – FOIA App
Best Innovation: Community Choice
Clayton Utz – Provisor
Attorney Tech Evangelist
Tessa Jacob, Husch Blackwell
Stellar Women in e-Discovery
Joy Murao, Practice Aligned Resources
Lit Support All-Star
Emma Young, Consilio
Academic Innovator of the Year
Peg Gianuca, UCLA Extension School
Best Solution Provider
H5 – H5 Matter Intelligence
Best Law Firm or Corporate Solution
Bricker & Eckler – Land Tracker
Community Choice
QDiscovery – QMobile Insight
Best Service Provider Solution
KrolLDiscovery – KrolLDiscovery A/V Suite for Relativity
Best Law Firm or Corporate Solution
Reed Smith – Consent Tracker
Best Community Choice Solution
KrolLDiscovery – KrolLDiscovery A/V Suite for Relativity
Best Law Firm or Corporate Solution
Reilly Pozner – Damages Calculator
Best Service Provider Solution
Kroll Ontrack – Kroll Ontrack Nearline
Best Community Choice Solution
Kroll Ontrack – Kroll Ontrack Nearline