Blogs

Please enjoy this blog authored by Ricci Masero, Marketing Lead, Intellek.

ILTACON is one of the biggest events in the legal technology calendar. It's exciting, it's busy, and if it's your first time… honestly? It can be a little overwhelming. I've been a few times now, so I want to share what I've learned to help you get the most out of your week in Nashville.
The conference kicks off August 23rd and runs through August 27th, all under one roof at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - a destination unto itself, with over nine acres of indoor gardens, a quarter-mile indoor river, and waterfalls. It's stunning, and also genuinely enormous. You will get lost. I promise. Embrace it.

Plan Ahead - but not too much
Download the ILTACON app and use it. Mark the sessions you want to attend, note the booths you want to visit, and think about who you'd like to connect with. If there's someone specific on your list, reach out before the event - diaries fill up fast.
But here's the thing I had to learn the hard way: leave gaps. Some of the best parts of ILTACON happen in the in-between moments - a conversation in a coffee queue, a recommendation from someone you just met, a spontaneous detour into a session you hadn't planned on. If your schedule is wall-to-wall, you'll miss all of that.

Sessions are the Heart of ILTACON
ILTACON's educational programme is peer-created and practitioner-led - built by the community, for the community, not driven by vendor agendas. There are over 80 educational sessions spanning AI adoption, change management, knowledge management, cybersecurity, and hands-on training labs. You genuinely cannot see everything, and that's fine.
Two sessions I'd especially flag: our CRO Daryl is the session coordinator for 4245 - Copilot Success Stories and 4321 - What Would You Do? Technology Trainers Edition. If you're a trainer or anyone navigating Microsoft Copilot rollout (and who isn't right now?), please do add those to your plan - they'll be worth your time.

Don't skip the Exhibit Hall
The exhibit hall brings together top legal tech vendors and solution providers under one roof, and it's genuinely one of the most useful places to be. The Opening Reception of the Exhibit Hall on the first evening is always a highlight - a great mix of energy and conversations that don't feel like sales pitches. Go in costume. Wear your badge. Talk to people.
This year, the exhibit hall has a few extra reasons to linger - there's a golf simulator (a nice nod to the TopGolf just down the road) and free professional headshots being offered, so if your LinkedIn photo is looking a little tired, this is your moment. Both are great excuses to wander further into the hall than you might otherwise, and honestly, some of the best chance encounters happen exactly that way.
And of course, come and find us at Booth 573. We're Intellek, and we'd love to say hello, hear what you've been working on, and have a proper conversation. No hard sell, just good people and good chat. We'll be easy to spot, and we promise to make it worth your while stopping by.

Don't Underestimate the Socials!
The evening events at ILTACON are not optional extras - they're where a lot of the real connection happens. Previous years have included receptions in the stunning Delta Atrium, and vendors and attendees alike put on some brilliant events throughout the week. Keep an eye on the app and your inbox for invites, and say yes more than you think you should.
The Gaylord Opryland itself has plenty to keep you busy beyond the conference floors - multiple bars and restaurants are right there in the hotel complex, so there's no need to venture far if you just want to decompress over dinner and a drink with people you've met during the day.
But if you do want to explore, Nashville delivers. The legendary Grand Ole Opry is practically on the doorstep - if you can get tickets for an evening show, do it. It's a proper bucket-list experience and a great way to make the most of being in Music City. For something more casual, TopGolf Nashville is nearby and perfect for a relaxed evening with colleagues (no golf ability required, I promise). If you're an early riser or have a free afternoon and need some retail therapy, the Opry Mills mall is right there or Tanger Outlet Shopping is just a short ride away - consider it your reward for surviving the exhibit hall.
Lower Broadway's famous Honky Tonk Highway is also worth the trip into town, with live music from 10am to 3am and no cover charge. If you get a free evening, go. It's unlike anywhere else!

Look After Yourself
Nashville in August is hot, and the Gaylord is vast. A few things that genuinely help:

-Wear comfortable shoes - you will walk much more than you expect
-Dress in layers; the conference spaces are air-conditioned to arctic levels, while outside is the opposite
-Bring a reusable water bottle and use it
-Take a battery pack for your phone - it won't survive the day otherwise

If the noise and bustle feel like a lot when you first arrive, just slow down. Grab a drink, find a quiet corner, and plan your next hour. The venue has beautiful spaces to decompress in.

Your playlist to remember:
📅 ILTACON 2026 runs August 23-27 at Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville
📱 Download the ILTACON app before you arrive and build your schedule
🤝 Go to the Exhibit Hall Opening Reception - don't miss it
🏢 Find Intellek at Booth 573 - come and say hello!
🎤 Catch our CRO Daryl as session coordinator for Session 4245 (Copilot Success Stories) and Session 4321 (What Would You Do? Technology Trainers Edition)
🎵 Say yes to the evening socials - that's where the best conversations happen
👟 Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable
🔋 Bring a battery pack
🌧️ Leave white space in your schedule - the best moments aren't planned

Before the Curtains Close…
You will not see everything. You will not attend every session or visit every booth. That is completely fine - it's what next year is for. Focus on a handful of great conversations, a couple of sessions that genuinely challenge your thinking, and one or two ideas you can take back and actually use.

I hope to see you there!

— Ricci #WeAreILTA