The Cactus Quarterly Newsletter - 1st Quarter 2026

President's Report

ALA Arizona Chapter – President’s Report

Happy 2026; I can’t believe it’s already April!

As I reflect on the past year, I am incredibly proud of what our chapter has accomplished together. The 2025–2026 year was truly a remarkable one. From hosting a meaningful career panel in collaboration with Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, to awarding two scholarships for members to attend the upcoming ALA Annual Conference & Expo, to delivering valuable and relevant educational programming—we have continued to elevate the experience and impact of our chapter.

Additionally, our Business of Law Expo brought together members and business partners in a meaningful way, further strengthening the relationships that are so vital to our success. These efforts, along with our ongoing community engagement and programming, have helped us build lasting connections and a strong sense of community.

When I began my term as Chapter President, I had ambitious goals and a vision to do as much as possible. As the year progressed, I gained a greater appreciation for balancing those ambitions with what is most impactful and meaningful for our members.

I am honored to continue serving as President for the 2026–2027 term. With the benefit of experience and perspective, my focus for the upcoming year will be more intentional. We will prioritize:

Please continue to check your email and watch the chapter calendar for additional updates and opportunities to get involved.

Thank you all for your continued support, engagement, and dedication to our chapter. I look forward to another fantastic year ahead as we continue to grow, connect, and strengthen our community together.

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Pacific Office Automation

POA “Problem Solved”

Pacific Office Automation is dedicated to the belief that a team of individuals who constantly challenge each other will develop the skills and manpower necessary to solve any problem, whether it’s for the customer, the company, or the community.

At Pacific Office Automation, our motto is: “Problem Solved.” That means providing custom office solutions that are fast, efficient and secure. The result: a connected and highly productive office that functions at top efficiency, whether it’s a one-person shop that wants document management advice or a Fortune 500 company concerned with network security.

We can guide you to find the right solutions for your office or organizational needs. Pacific Office Automation is available all day, every day for the Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale, AZ areas. With top-of-line products from brands like Konica Minolta, Sharp, or Canon, we are here to help with your perfect office solution. Contact us today to improve your workflow with a free consultation.

Let POA handle the logistics of tracking your printer network.

At Pacific Office Automation, we offer custom managed printer services so our customers can focus on their core business. We monitor equipment, collect data, and streamline document management for both small businesses and large organizations with thousands of printers, copiers, scanners and fax machines across multiple locations. Our printer management services will ensure your staff has more time to focus on their tasks and responsibilities, while we focus on tracking and controlling your printing so your business can run efficiently.

Average printing costs can add up to 5%-10% of your total revenue. If unmanaged, these costs can easily spin out of control. At Pacific Office, we believe that an office assessment is the first step to reduce your overhead cost and improve workflow management. With our sophisticated equipment monitoring and analytical reporting, we analyze an organization’s printing activities and provide ongoing analyses, even as your business develops and grows.

With our real-time monitoring, Pacific Office can quickly prevent printing problems from slowing down your office workflow. We know equipment malfunction can cost you time and money, which is why we guarantee a technician will be on-site within 4 hours or less. On average, our office equipment technicians can bring machines back online within one hour! We carry all our original manufacturer parts and supplies in 175,000 square feet of warehouse space across six states, giving us a lightning-fast turnaround time.

IT management, better.

You can rest easy when you outsource the management of your information technology (IT) services to Pacific Office. We offer comprehensive IT services for offices of any size. From an ongoing help desk and onsite support, to cloud-based disaster backup, to servicing IT hardware, POA is your one-stop shop for your business’ IT needs.

We believe lost network time is lost money. That’s why we provide 24/7 IT monitoring to stop problems before they happen. With our team of over 125 IT and network technicians, we'll handle your IT systems while you handle your business. Our selection of IT hardware, such as servers, monitors, workstations, and more, from top brands like HP and Dell will ensure your entire business technology system is reliable.

We'll work with you to create a custom support package that fits your needs, encompassing everything from setting up workstations, to managing email and securely storing data, to improving communications with integrated phone service systems by POA. We'll provide reporting and data to help you streamline your systems, and we'll be there for those day-to-day problems: lost passwords, network troubleshooting, software updates, and more. No need to worry about upgrades and maintenance — Pacific Office Automation will take care of all that behind the scenes.

No one's more concerned than you are about your data's security, except for us. We offer secure data security management with 24/7 backup monitoring, ensuring you'll never experience a data breach or information loss. The highest standard spam and virus protection keeps your sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Protect your most valuable assets with data security.

Pacific Office Automation’s top cybersecurity partner is Arctic Wolf. Together, POA and Arctic Wolf are helping to reduce risk, increase cyber resiliency and assist in managing Cyber Insurance Premium costs for law firms. Arctic Wolf has unique expertise helping to improve internal security operations for legal industry organizations and support 300+ firms worldwide.
 
Arctic Wolf is the leader in the Security Operations space, taking a unique approach via dedicated, named security experts assigned to each of our customers to support both operational and strategic initiatives. Arctic Wolf helps to secure our customers by offering:

Phone Services Solutions

Integrate your business communications onto one, reliable network with Pacific Office Automation’s large and small business phone services. While you focus on running your business, we will monitor your cloud-based phone system and provide industry-leading technical support to help ensure a reliable connection between your employees and customers.

If you prefer an on-premise network, we carry industry-leading communication products by Mitel to get your business connected.

Mobile device integration with screen sharing and conference calling allows your staff to connect anytime, anywhere—making it easier than ever to collaborate and share ideas. Give your employees, customers, and business partners the reliable communications they deserve with unified communications services from Pacific Office Automation.

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Total Networks

Total Networks’ President Dave Kinsey to Present “Making AI Work for Your Firm” at the State Bar of Arizona Convention

Lawyers and staff are already using AI tools — often without formal guidance, clear policies, or a shared understanding of risk. Is AI moving faster than your firm’s ability to manage that risk?

At the 2026 State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention, Dave Kinsey, President of Total Networks, will present “Making AI Work for Your Firm” as part of the State Bar’s Tech Talks program. This session focuses on practical, real-world guidance for law firms. Drawing on his work with Arizona law firms and his role in the State Bar’s Technology Advisory Group, Dave will address important questions:

The Tech Talks format is designed to be interactive and practical, giving attendees practical guidance for managing AI in their firms.

ALA members attending the State Bar convention are encouraged to attend and participate.

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First Legal

First Legal is the first comprehensive File Thru Trial™ solutions firm providing a single-source approach that enables us to simplify the litigation process for our clients. Our culture of innovation, trust, quality service, and depth of industry knowledge makes us uniquely qualified to bring relevant and timely solutions. Our suite of services, including court filing, eFiling, service of process, court reporting, eDiscovery, record retrieval, digital, and investigations, work together to ensure a personalized and effortless client experience.

First Legal’s Suite of Services 

Court & Process
First Legal’s experienced team is committed to providing consistent, high-quality service no matter the assignment. We are the premiere destination for eFiling, In-Person Court Filings, Service of Process, Research, and more.

Depositions
First Legal Depositions has the resources to help you schedule your deposition anytime and anywhere. Let our experienced team take the stress off your plate with customized solutions for your in-person, remote depositions, arbitrations, and trials.

eDiscovery
At First Legal, we don't just offer eDiscovery services; we become an invaluable extension of your legal team. Our unwavering commitment is to harness the power of technology in a manner that ensures the defensible management of your cases. We understand that every legal project is unique, and the success of your eDiscovery initiatives hinges on finding the perfect technological fit.

Records
First Legal Records simplifies the process of obtaining records for your legal case. Whether the matter is civil, federal, or workers’ compensation, we can prepare the necessary documentation and take the entire process out of your hands.

Digital               
At First Legal Digital, we pride ourselves on our best-in-class customer service, so you can relax knowing experts are preparing your legal documents they way you want, when you want it. From document printing and scanning, trial and exhibit binder production, document depository, or document shredding, we’re here for all of your digital solutions!

Investigations
First Legal Investigations is a full-service, licensed detective agency staffed by experienced professionals. We provide services to the legal industry, insurance industry, municipalities, corporate clients, and private individuals. From skiptracing to highly specialized investigations, we are discreet, professional, and deliver real-time evidence you can use.

With fast response times and unwavering dedication to success, we lead clients effortlessly through the litigation cycle with Best-in-Class people, technology, and fulfillment services at a fair price. 

We look forward to finding solutions to your litigation process challenges – reach out and let’s discuss how we can help!

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LexisNexis

New AI entrants have created the perception that general-purpose AI tools can easily disrupt established legal platforms. But that assumption overlooks something fundamental: Proprietary legal data is not easily replicated. Legal data fortresses (built on decades of curated case law, statutory analysis, and secondary sources) create a substantial moat. AI tools that lack direct sources of deeply curated, proprietary legal content are not equivalent substitutes for platforms that own and structure that authority. But when the work must stand up in court, before regulators, or in front of a client, the question remains—can this AI produce work I can rely on? Click here to continue reading.

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ABA Retirement Funds

Iran Conflict Update

From Mercer Trust Company ("Mercer"), the ABA Retirement Fund Program’s ("Program's") investment fiduciary, discretionary trustee, and custodian.

Fighting involving Iran has intensified in the Middle East, with periodic missile and drone strikes and retaliatory actions raising concerns about continued regional escalation.

A key focus for global markets has been the extent to which the conflict disrupts energy production and shipping routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

While headlines can shift quickly, markets have generally been most sensitive to (1) signs of widening military involvement by additional countries, and (2) any sustained interruption to oil supply or shipping.

The Impact on Global Markets

Geopolitical shocks like this typically affect markets through a few main channels: 

How might the situation evolve from here?

Key potential developments include:

While short-term uncertainties may arise, maintaining a long-term perspective is crucial to achieving retirement goals. Mercer, the investment fiduciary for the Program’s core investment Fund options, is monitoring the conflict and the resulting market effects as the situation evolves. However, to date Mercer has not made any investment changes in the Program’s multi-manager structure.

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Acrisure

Stephen Lowe has been working with the Arizona Legal community for over 30 years and was asked to step in when the existing carrier left the Arizona Bar program without warning, leaving the Bar without an insurance program moving forward. That was over 20 years and our company Acrisure, rebranded from Ahern Insurance Brokerage, is still the member benefit provider for the Arizona Bar today. Arizona Bar and Arizona ALA have been a great partner to work with over the years. It is always a great occasion to attend the various events and see both new and established members throughout the years. 

Steve has a degree in business management and started his insurance career working with hard-to-place business which back in the 80’s many law firms fell into that category also. Over the years Steve has designed unique programs catered to the legal community and helped develop an exclusive program in Arizona with one of the strongest carriers in the country. Working actively with the AZ Bar in helping them navigate new insurance exposures and put together the only insurance specific program for legal paraprofessionals that can be completed online within minutes.

As Steve puts it: I have been very fortunate in my insurance career establishing long term partnerships (over 20 years) that have evolved into friendships making my job less about the work but helping people I enjoy working with. During my earlier years I traveled extensively and was able to circle the globe which gave me a much broader view of people and what is really important which I incorporate in my life today.   

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IST Management Services

Kim Oleniacz, Senior Vice President & Partner, IST Management Services

Trusted by AMLAW 100 firms and corporate legal teams nationwide…

IST Management Services is a national provider of workplace solutions and litigation support, helping law firms and corporate legal teams enhance operations, reduce administrative burden, and stay focused on what matters most. With a people-first approach and flexible, tech-enabled services, IST partners with legal teams to make day-to-day workflows easier and more efficient.

Kim Oleniacz is a Senior Vice President and Partner at IST, supporting clients U.S. With more than 35 years of experience, she’s built her career around helping organizations improve how work gets done across records, mail, and legal support services.

Having worked in both operations and sales, Kim brings a practical, real-world perspective to every client relationship. She understands the pressure legal teams face and focuses on building solutions that are reliable, responsive, and easy to work with.

What Kim enjoys most about working with the legal community is being a trusted partner when the stakes are high and timelines are tight. She’s known for showing up, staying engaged, and making sure clients feel supported every step of the way.

Outside of work, Kim is all about family. She enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. Something people may not expect: that same people-first mindset carries into her work, where she builds long-term relationships and treats every client like part of her extended team.

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Stream Realty

Breaking Down the Build-Out: What Phoenix Law Firms Need to Know About TI Costs

By Stirling Pascal and David Kollar, Stream Realty Partners

We’ve had the chance to connect with many of you at recent ALA events on the topic of law firm tenant improvements (TI), and the conversations keep circling back to the same concern. Build-out costs are rising faster than most firms budgeted for, and the math on renewals versus relocations is changing quickly. The firms handling it best are the ones thinking about it earliest.

In Phoenix, TI costs are now being driven by a mix of inflation, a tight construction labor market, and rising expectations for what a modern legal workplace should feel like. 

Construction Cost Impact

For law firm office build-outs in Phoenix, costs are pushing as high as $250 per rentable square foot. Several key factors have contributed to this rise:

As a result, law firms that once relied on traditional TI packages to fund full build-outs now find that new space, or even renovations, require either additional capital or aggressive value engineering to close the gap.

The Law Firm Distinction

Law firm offices differ substantially from standard commercial workspaces in both form and function, and these distinctions significantly drive up TI costs. 
Firms place a premium on materials that convey professionalism, credibility, and trust: stone or wood reception desks, full-height glass walls, custom millwork, and high-end flooring in public-facing areas. These finishes elevate brand perception but also increase both material and labor costs compared to standard commercial interiors.

Unlike many modern workplaces shifting toward open office plans, law firms retain a relatively high ratio of enclosed private offices per employee—often with partners, associates, and legal support staff each requiring dedicated spaces. This private-intensive layout increases the costs of wall framing, doors, glazing, electrical distribution, and HVAC zoning.

Given the sensitive nature of legal work, law firm designs emphasize sound attenuation and confidentiality. That means additional costs for acoustic batt insulation, STC-rated partitions, sound-masking systems, and high-performance doors. Law firms frequently invest in more robust security features such as access control, IT closets with advanced cooling systems, and secure file storage—adding both upfront capital and system integration expenses.

Together, these characteristics create a premium-cost environment. While visually striking and functionally essential, they compound hard costs and require longer timelines, more detailed coordination, and highly specialized subcontractors.  While many law firms take steps to economize, few break free entirely from at least some degree of the trappings of typical law firm space.

Looking Ahead

The firms getting ahead of this aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets—they’re the ones asking the right questions 18 to 24 months before their lease expires. Is yours?  

Stirling Pascal
Senior Vice President – Stream Realty
925.408.5006
[email protected] 

David Kollar
Senior Director, Construction & Development – Stream Realty
480.364.8972
[email protected] 

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Robert Half Talent Solutions

AI and Legal Tech Integration: What Legal Administrators Need to Know Now

By Lisa Ricketts, Robert Half

Most law firms and legal departments are expanding investments in AI enabled tools—but whether their teams can use them effectively is another story. Put simply, there’s a growing gap between adoption of new and emerging tech and the workforce’s readiness for it.

According to Robert Half’s latest Demand for Skilled Talent report, integrating AI and legal tech into daily processes is among the top strategic priorities for 2026. The vast majority of legal departments (95%) and law firms (85%) report they are already using AI enabled software—and nearly 9 in 10 (89%) are increasing their investment in these tools. Yet the same research shows that many organizations are struggling with skills gaps on their teams and resource constraints that threaten successful implementation.

For legal administrators, this disconnect has practical implications: Technology spending is climbing at a fast pace, but workforce capability is lagging behind. The gap between the two is increasingly where operational risk—and competitive advantage—will be determined.

Specialized skills can make the difference

As legal teams move from experimentation to broader AI and legal tech adoption, a clear reality is emerging: Implementing new technology without the right people in place does not increase productivity. Instead, it can introduce inefficiencies, strain teams and increase risk.

Research shows that a significant majority of legal leaders (79%) report having skills gaps in their departments, and most say the impact of those gaps has grown more pronounced over the past year. All while legal technology proficiency ranks among the most critical areas of need—including experience with AI enabled tools, eDiscovery platforms, contract lifecycle management and matter management systems.

At the same time, 57% of legal leaders say their teams lack sufficient legal technology support to perform their jobs efficiently—while workloads remain high and burnout persists. For administrators responsible for staffing models, budgeting and operational performance, the message is clear: Investments in legal technology should equal the amount of investment in workforce capability.

The growing demand for hybrid and governance focused skill sets

To effectively integrate AI and other technologies into legal workflows—and equip employees to put them to productive use—organizations need professionals who have both legal expertise and tech fluency. This includes attorneys and other team members who understand data analytics, workflow automation and AI driven tools. But it also includes specialized talent focused on governance, oversight and risk.

As AI use expands, firms and legal departments are placing greater emphasis on governance oriented capabilities such as data privacy, regulatory compliance, ethical AI use and internal policy development. Legal administrators often sit at the center of these conversations, coordinating across IT, risk, compliance and leadership to ensure technology adoption aligns with professional standards and client expectations.

Hybrid talent—those who understand both the legal function and the operational realities of technology—will become increasingly valuable as organizations scale their use of AI.  https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/research/ai-and-legal-tech-integration-for-law-firms-and-legal-departments 

Why legal operations leaders are central to integration efforts

Technology may enable integration, but operations determine whether it actually changes how work gets done.

Legal administrators and operations leaders are often responsible for evaluating vendors, managing implementation timelines, redesigning workflows, training teams and measuring outcomes. In many organizations, they also play a key role in aligning technology investments with staffing models, utilization goals and long term strategy.

Successful integration requires more than deploying tools. It depends on embedding technology into day to day legal work in a way that reduces friction, supports attorneys and staff, and improves consistency and quality. For legal administrators, that means balancing innovation with practicality and ensuring teams have both the capability and capacity to adapt.

Bridging skills gaps without slowing progress

One of the most pressing challenges many firms face is how to build internal capability while continuing to meet client demands. Upskilling existing teams is essential, but it takes time. Meanwhile, AI initiatives, data heavy projects and process modernization often require immediate expertise.

For legal administrators, flexibility is key. Workforce strategies that combine new permanent staff, upskilling current staff and specialized support from project-based talent can help organizations maintain momentum without overextending internal teams.

The path forward for legal administrators

AI and legal technology integration will continue to reshape how legal services are delivered and supported. The opportunity lies in treating technology adoption not as a one time deployment, but as an ongoing operational and workforce initiative.

Organizations that succeed will be those that align people, processes and technology—investing as deliberately in talent and skills-building as they do in tools. Legal administrators are uniquely positioned to lead that alignment, ensuring AI adoption strengthens operations rather than complicating them.

Lisa Ricketts is the Practice Director of the legal practice division at Robert Half for Arizona, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm. She has over 25 years of experience in the legal industry as both a practicing attorney and recruiting specialist. Robert Half provides law firms and corporate legal departments with contract professionals and permanent professionals. Roles we staff include attorneys, contract administrators, in-house counsel, legal assistants, legal secretaries and paralegals. For more information, visit: www.Roberhalf.com. For more information, visit: www.Roberhalf.com.

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GLJ Financial

Q&A with Alan Wilson of GLJ Benefit Consultants

Briefly tell us about yourself – how long you’ve been in AZ, with your company, etc.
I have been in Arizona and with GLJ Benefit Consultants for 22 years. We have been creating special ALA Member offerings for 20 of those years.

In a few sentences, tell us about your background experience.
I have been in Sales and Consulting for 40 Years! I can’t believe I am saying that! I had a career in National Sales with McLane Company (the largest distributor and product supplier for convenience stores) for 20 years prior to joining the GLJ Team. My experience has been blessed by many mentors that have all taught me to focus on Client Experience, and that focus is lynchpin of what I have grasped and subscribed to my entire working life.

What do you enjoy most about working with the legal community?
My answer is contained in the question, “legal community”, because it is just that, a community. It amazes me at how tight and giving this industry is, especially the ALA Community. Relationships are key. I have been blessed in my life in building lifelong friendships in AZ and across the country with this amazing organization. People do Business with People.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I have 5,000 people come to my house on Halloween!!

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