05/29/2026
At the 2026 WSG Americas Regional Meeting in Seattle, gathered to connect and exchange insights, beginning with a Welcome Reception graciously hosted by Schwabe. The reception was inspired by Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market, followed by dine-around experiences across the city.
The following day’s program brought forward a range of perspectives on the forces shaping today’s business and legal environment. Conversations opened with a look at how growing energy demands and infrastructure limitations are influencing data center development, with Sara Sayles and Brendan Crowley of Schwabe joined by Matt Chambliss of Aligned Data Centers and Alex Spaulding of Jupiter Power.
Discussion then shifted to the in-house perspective, exploring how legal teams in the Pacific Northwest are enabling innovation while managing global risks, where Rebeka Osborne of Expedia Group, Joaquin Hernandez of Aristocrat, Omar Contreras of Identity Digital Inc., James Edwards of Slalom, and Joanie Kim of Starbucks shared how organizations are balancing rapid advancement with risk and regulation, in a session led by Ben Lauritsen of Schwabe.
Later, attention turned to the region’s natural resources and long-term sustainability, with Ryen Godwin of Schwabe guiding a conversation featuring Joseph Nguyen of Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Hilary Franz of American Forests, and Diane Meyers of Weyerhaeuser.
The program concluded with an interactive discussion on the shifting dynamics within the legal sector, moderated by Darius Hartwell of Schwabe, as Seth Deutsch of Samson Partners Group and Peter Jarvis, Retired Legal Ethics, Law Practice Management & Technology Lawyer, explored how private equity is influencing law firm strategy and growth.
Following the program, WSG members gathered to connect and strengthen relationships in the perfect atmosphere, with sweeping views of the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains.
