Alexander Paykin, Esq., founder of Paykin Law, is helping lead the inaugural NYSBA Tech Summit, scheduled for January 19 through 21, 2027, at the New York Hilton Midtown as part of the New York State Bar Association's Annual Conference. TechForward Foundation, a nonprofit Paykin co-founded, has received its 501(c)(3) status and will run the summit's startup competition. The summit is a collaboration between two NYSBA committees: the Standing Committee on Technology and the Legal Profession, which Paykin chairs, and the Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Vivian Wesson.
Paykin is helping coordinate the program's speakers, subjects, schedules, and rooms, and he will also speak at the event. The summit will bring together continuing legal education (CLE) courses, an expo of legal technology vendors, a startup competition, and a promptathon. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn 16 MCLE credits, with sessions addressing AI ethics; practical AI use in drafting, writing, legal research, and evidence; tomorrow's digital courtroom; and technology for solo and small-firm practitioners. "Lawyers should leave a technology conference with something they can use Monday morning," said Paykin. "That's our goal for the NYSBA Tech Summit: practical tools, informed judgment, and better ways to serve our clients."
Paykin regularly speaks and teaches on legal technology and artificial intelligence. He previewed what attendees can expect from the summit in the Fall 2026 issue of the NYSBA Journal. The announcement matters because it signals a formal effort by the legal establishment to bridge the gap between emerging legal technology and everyday practice. By integrating a startup competition into a major bar association event, the organizers are creating a structured channel for innovators to connect with practicing lawyers, potentially accelerating the adoption of tools that address real pain points in legal workflows. This could lead to more efficient client service and improved access to justice, as Paykin suggested.
TechForward Foundation was created to encourage the legal profession to embrace new technology while helping startups break into the legal industry. At the Tech Summit, the foundation will host the TechForward Startup Competition, which will showcase new ideas and emerging solutions for legal practice. "The best legal technology starts with a problem worth solving," said Paykin. "Through TechForward Foundation's startup competition, we're connecting innovators with practicing lawyers to help turn promising ideas into tools that strengthen legal practice and expand access to justice." The competition's presence at a bar association conference also lends credibility to startups that may struggle to gain traction in a conservative industry, while giving lawyers a curated look at vetted solutions.
Registration for the Tech Summit is available through the NYSBA Annual Conference 2027 registration page. The summit's emphasis on practical AI use and digital courtrooms reflects broader shifts in how legal services are delivered, and its outcomes could influence how lawyers in New York and beyond integrate technology into their practices. With Paykin at the helm of one of the collaborating committees and his foundation running the startup competition, the event is positioned to become a recurring platform for legal tech innovation.
