Spark 2025 brought together hundreds of legal professionals from across Australia for a day of inspiration, innovation, and connection. From groundbreaking legal AI product announcements to powerful keynotes and unforgettable networking, it was a celebration of everything that makes the legal community thrive.
As we look ahead to Spark 2026, we're taking a moment to reflect on the highlights that made Spark 2025 so special. Whether you attended last time or you're considering joining us next year, here are five reasons why Spark 2026 is the must-attend legal conference in Australia for lawyers and law firm leaders.
We kicked off Spark 2025 with a keynote from our CEO, Hunter Steele, who shared the incredible success of our legal AI assistant, Archie AI, since its launch in 2024. The excitement jumped another level when Hunter went on to announce the newest addition to our AI toolkit: the Archie Prompt Library.
This feature, which we launched shortly after Spark, allows Archie-enabled firms to save their AI prompts in Smokeball and provides access to pre-built, expertly crafted prompts designed specifically for legal tasks. From drafting correspondence to summarising case notes, the Prompt Library takes the guesswork out of using AI and helps law firms work smarter, not harder.
It was a powerful reminder of Smokeball's commitment to innovation and putting cutting-edge legal AI tools in the hands of Australian lawyers to make legal practice management smarter and faster.
Joining us on the main stage at Spark 2025 were two thought-provoking keynotes that left attendees buzzing long after they had left:
In the morning, we heard from Todd Sampson, one of Australia's most respected advertising minds and television personalities. Todd showed us how to unlock our brain's full potential, drawing from his extraordinary scientific journey. He shared practical tools, strategies, and techniques to boost your brain power and improve cognitive performance. His message was clear: we're all capable of far more than we realise, and modern science is revealing exactly how to tap into that potential. A fantastic way to get everyone ready for a day of learning!
Later in the day, we were privileged to hear from Jennifer Robinson, the renowned Australian human rights lawyer who represented Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. Jen shared her extraordinary career journey and experience on cases involving free speech, human rights, and climate change. Her story was a powerful reminder of the impact lawyers can have on the world, and also how exciting being a lawyer can be.
These keynotes were more than just talks, they were calls to action that inspired our guests to push boundaries and think beyond the traditional practice of law.
One of the most popular sessions at Spark 2025 was Scaling Smart: Strategies to Grow Your Firm, which featured Smokeball clients who shared their real-world experiences of building successful legal practices.
As two accomplished legal principals, Sach Fernando and Bron O’Loan have experienced the highs and lows of building a law firm from the ground up. Drawing on their own journeys, they explained how to assess whether scaling is truly viable for your practice, outlined practical strategies to grow without compromising service quality, and pinpointed the most important hires to make, plus when to bring them on so growth is sustainable. Attendees walked away with actionable ideas they could implement in their own law firms, such as how to refine their client intake process, leverage legal technology more effectively, and building stronger teams.
It's one thing to hear from experts but another to hear from peers who are in the trenches every day, achieving real results. This session embodied the collaborative, community-driven spirit we cultivate at Spark.
Spark 2025 marked the debut of our Legal Tech Pitch Stage, a dedicated space where Smokeball's integration partners showcased their products. Bringing in this new experience provided attendees the opportunity to discover new tools and solutions that complement Smokeball's platform, including better document filing with File Republic, and more tailored client communications with VXT. The Legal Tech Pitch Stage was all about empowering lawyers to build the perfect tech stack for their firm's unique needs.
It was also a great opportunity for our partners to connect directly with potential customers in a focused, engaged setting, while attendees could enjoy the efficiency of learning about multiple solutions in one convenient location. This initiative reinforced our goal to be a complete platform ecosystem designed to support every aspect of a modern legal practice.
After a full day of learning and networking, we let loose at Ignite, our post-Spark celebration! Our 2025 theme was "Neon Playground", complete with rainbow lights, a DJ, arcade games, and plenty of drinks for a vibrant, high-energy celebration.
At Smokeball, we know that legal professionals spend enough time at formal dinners and networking events. That's why we designed our Ignite after party to be different - fun, memorable, and a little bit wild. It's a chance to connect with peers in a relaxed, exciting atmosphere and celebrate the hard work that goes into running a successful law firm.
We’re glad to see our Neon Playground was a hit, and it's just one example of how Spark breaks the mold of traditional legal conferences.
Spark 2025 set a high bar, and we're raising it even higher for 2026! On Friday, 20 February, Spark 2026 will be taking over ILUMINA in Sydney’s iconic Martin Place. You can expect:
Don't miss your chance to be part of Australia's leading legal conference. Get tickets to Spark 2026!
Smokeball Spark is Australia's leading legal conference for small and midsize law firms. It brings together legal professionals for a day of keynote presentations, expert-led sessions, and networking opportunities focused on legal technology, practice management, legal AI, and law firm growth.
Spark 2026 will take place on Friday, 20 February 2026 at ILUMINA Sydney, located in the heart of Sydney's CBD at Martin Place.
Spark is designed for lawyers, law firm owners, practice managers, paralegals, and anyone involved in running or working at a small to midsize law firm, and looking to grow their firms through AI, legal tech, and strategic practice management. Whether you're a Smokeball client or simply interested in legal innovation, you're welcome to attend.
Expect inspiring keynote speakers, expert-led breakout sessions on topics like legal AI and law firm growth, opportunities to discover new legal tech integrations, networking with peers and industry leaders, and an unforgettable after party to celebrate the day.
Tickets are available now on the Spark website. Early-bird pricing is available for a limited time, so secure your spot today at spark.smokeball.com.au.
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