Charlotte, NC – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce that Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Kristen Bateman Leis has been named the 2026 chair of the College of Law Practice Management’s (COLPM) annual Futures Conference. Held in February in New York City, this year’s conference will follow a theme of "innovating tomorrow, leading today."
The COLPM is a professional honorary organization recognizing leaders in legal innovation and law practice management. Intended to recognize those shaping the future of legal services, membership is limited and consists of lawyers, legal business professionals, government officials, law professors, and others who have made significant and sustained contributions to the business of practicing law. The conference coincides with the College’s annual meeting and will bring together senior leaders across numerous disciplines to advance the future of law practice management.
The conference will be designed around live problem-solving sessions, opportunities for Fellows to share their perspectives and leave with actionable ideas, and peer-to-peer exchange, where seasoned veterans and emerging leaders across the legal sector can learn from one another. This year’s theme reflects the core purpose of the College, which is to improve the management of law practice, enhance professional quality, and elevate public respect for the legal profession. The conference will aim to drive innovation by welcoming bold ideas and highlighting cutting-edge technologies, legal operation strategies, and novel business models.
Kristen will be supported by a conference planning team that reflects a wide range of perspectives across the COLPM: Marla Crawford, general counsel, Cimplifi; Kristen Uhl Hulse, chief talent officer, Snell & Wilmer; Catherine Sanders Reach, director of the Center for Practice Management, North Carolina Bar Association; Deborah Read, partner, Thompson Hine; Evan Shenkman, chief knowledge and innovation officer, Fisher Phillips; Lisa Simon, chief marketing and business development officer, Holland & Hart; Alycia Sutor, managing director, GrowthPlay; Gabe Teninbaum, assistant dean of innovation, strategic initiatives, and distance education, and professor of legal writing, Suffolk University Law School; Aaron Van Nice, vice president, global operations — legal affairs, regulatory & compliance, Archer Daniels Midland Company; and Stephanie Wilkins, director of content, Legaltech Hub. COLPM president Chris Boyd, chief operating officer at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and COLPM president-elect Patrick Fuller, chief strategist for ALM, appointed Kristen as conference chair.
The Futures Conference will also feature a gala to celebrate newly elected Fellows and the winner of the Michael Mills InnovAction Award.
Kristen has over 25 years of experience driving strategic growth and superior client service to existing clients and engaging new clients for some of the most well-respected business law firms in the Southeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. She is a member of the Executive Team at Parker Poe, where she is responsible for the business law firm’s strategic growth, practice management, business development, and marketing. In 2019, Kristen was inducted into the College after being nominated by her peers, joining fewer than 300 Fellows from around the world who have received the honor.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 275 lawyers in eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC. The firm provides legal counsel to many of the largest companies and local governments in the Southeast.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through the challenges of global business.