LLMxLaw Hackathon 2026 Opening Ceremony
The 2026 LLM x Law Hackathon Opening Ceremony will feature two keynote addresses. The first will focus on the policy, governance, and regulatory dimensions of AI in the legal sector, while the second will provide a technology-focused perspective on the latest innovations driving the future of legal AI.
Opening Keynote: H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki, the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
H.E. Mbelwa Brighton Kairuki is the current High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Kingdom since 2023.
His diplomatic career includes being Director of the Asia & Australasia Department in Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He served as Assistant to the President of Tanzania, working in the State House under President Jakaya Kikwete. Before that Kairuki also served as Tanzania’s Ambassador to China, with additional accreditation to Vietnam, Mongolia, and North Korea.
On a personal and community level, he contributes to philanthropic causes: he is a patron of Malaika Kids UK, a charity supporting vulnerable children in Tanzania, which reflects his commitment to social development and humanitarian engagement.
Technical Keynote: Daniel Martin Katz, Professor of Law at Illinois Tech Chicago-Kent College of Law
Professor Katz is a scientist, technologist and professor who applies an innovative polytechnic approach to teaching law - to help create lawyers for today's biggest societal challenges. Both his scholarship and teaching integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Professor Katz's forward-thinking ideas helped to earn him acknowledgement among the Fastcase 50, an award which "recognizes 50 of the smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders in the law." He was also named to the American Bar Association Journal's "Legal Rebels," a prestigious group of change leaders in the legal profession.
Professor Katz teaches a variety of courses at Illinois Tech Chicago-Kent Law and spearheads new initiatives to teach law students how to leverage technology and entrepreneurship in their future legal careers. Professor Katz has published or forthcoming work in a wide variety of academic outlets, including Science, Plos One, Scientific Reports, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Journal of Statistical Physics, Frontiers in Physics, Physica A and Artificial Intelligence & Law. In addition, his work has been published in legal journals including Cornell Journal of Law & Public Policy, Emory Law Journal, Virginia Tax Review, Iowa Law Review, Illinois Law Review, Ohio State Law Journal, Journal of Law & Politics, and Journal of Legal Education. Professor Katz is currently working on two book projects including an edited volume entitled Legal Informatics (Cambridge University Press 2021).
His work has been highlighted in a number of media outlets, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, BBC Radio, Wired, Vox, National Public Radio and many others.
Professor Katz is actively involved in the rapidly growing legal technology industry. He is the Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of LexPredict (a legal technology and analytics company that was acquired by Elevate in 2018). He also serves as a formal and informal advisor to a number of legal tech startups. In addition, he is a member of the advisory board of NextLaw Labs - a global collaborative innovation ecosystem organized with Dentons (the world’s largest law firm).
WHEN: Friday, 26th June 2026
7.30 - 7.45 PM: Opening remarks
7.45PM - 8.05PM: opening keynote by H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki, the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
8.05PM - 8.25PM: Technical keynote by Daniel Martin Katz, Professor of Law at Illinois Tech Chicago-Kent College of Law
8.25PM - 9.00PM: H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki and Daniel Martin Katz in a moderated discussion and Q&A with Kamiar Mohaddes, Co-Founder of King's E-Lab and Director of Global EMBA at Cambridge Judge Business School
WHERE: Judge Business School
TICKETS: Registrations are now closed.
Please note that there will be photography and recording at this event.
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