Celebrating Excellence: AAA-ICDR® President & CEO Bridget M. McCormack and Fellow Innovators Honored with the Monica Bay Women of Legal Tech Award

Posted on: Thu, 01/23/2025

By Kendal Enz

Innovation, leadership and a commitment to driving positive change are the qualities that define the women recognized by this year’s Monica Bay Women of Legal Tech Award. Among them is Bridget M. McCormack, our president and CEO, whose work is shaping the future of dispute resolution and legal technology.

Honoring Women at the Forefront of Legal Innovation

The Monica Bay Women of Legal Tech Award, named after the late Monica Bay, celebrates women driving change in the legal industry through technology and innovation. Bay, a former editor-in-chief of Legaltech News, was a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusivity and a trailblazer in advancing the use of technology in the legal system.

Bay’s career was marked by her ability to bring people together and elevate the voices of underrepresented groups in the legal tech field. She led Law Technology News for nearly two decades, during which the magazine and its writers earned 53 journalism awards. She transformed the publication from a print magazine into a digital and mobile platform. Her tenure also included hosting must-attend events, such as the annual bloggers’ breakfast at LegalTech, fostering a sense of community in the legal tech space.

Bob Ambrogi, a close friend and respected legal journalist, described Bay as “a trusted mentor and inspirational role model to so many in the world of legal tech.” She approached her work with a collaborative spirit, championing initiatives like gender pay equality and promoting STEM education for young girls. Her influence extended far beyond the industry, inspiring a generation of professionals to prioritize inclusivity and innovation​. From her early career as a rock-and-roll journalist to her tenure as editor of Law Technology News, Bay’s journey was as remarkable as her impact. To learn more about her life and legacy, read this tribute by Ambrogi or watch this tribute video on LawSites.

Celebrating This Year’s Honorees

This year’s awardees, including McCormack, will be recognized during the Legalweek 2025 conference in New York City this March. They represent diverse leaders from law firms, corporate legal departments and technology providers.

This year’s honorees include:

  • In-house: Alisa De Dominicis (Rocket Software), Farrah Pepper (Marsh McLennan), Barbara Rogers (Honeywell)
  • Law Firm: Dr. Madeline A. Boyer (Reed Smith), Alison A. Grounds (Troutman Pepper eMerge), Myka L. Hopgood (Dykema), Kay Kim (Paul Hastings), Vanessa Barsanti (Kirkland & Ellis)
  • Providers: Heena Bhambhlani (Ernst & Young), Jessie Hoerman (Simply Convert), Emily Lippincott (Filevine), Kathryn McCarthy (FTI Technology), Bridget M. McCormack( American Arbitration Association®), Vazantha Meyers (HaystackID), Mollie Nichols (Elevate)

McCormack: A Leader in Legal Innovation

Bridget McCormack joined the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (AAA-ICDR®) in 2023 after a distinguished legal professional and public servant career. As chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, McCormack implemented reforms that expanded access to justice, including the use of online dispute resolution and remote court proceedings. These initiatives became models for other jurisdictions and demonstrated her ability to use technology to address systemic challenges in the legal system.

Since joining the AAA-ICDR, McCormack has spearheaded innovative projects like the AAAiLab™, which explores applications of AI in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). She has introduced tools like ClauseBuilder® AI to simplify ADR clause drafting and AAAi Panelist Search, an AI-driven platform that optimizes arbitrator and mediator selection. Under her leadership, the AAA-ICDR has positioned itself as a global leader in integrating technology to improve the efficiency and accessibility of dispute resolution.

Beyond her technical contributions, McCormack is a vocal advocate for ethical AI use in the legal field and a founding member of Duke University’s Responsible AI in Legal Services initiative. She is also an educator and mentor, sharing her expertise with the next generation of legal professionals through teaching and public speaking engagements.

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Monica Bay Women of Legal Tech Award,” McCormack said. “This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of the AAA team in leveraging technology to improve dispute resolution and expand access to justice. We are shaping a future where technology empowers individuals and businesses to navigate legal processes more efficiently and fairly.”

The Legacy of Monica Bay

Monica Bay’s legacy is advocacy, innovation and inclusivity. Her vision of a forward-thinking and equitable legal profession lives on through this award and the work of the incredible women it recognizes.

For more information about the Monica Bay Women of Legal Tech Award winners and other Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards finalists, read the Law.com announcement.

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