Michael was one of the first people I met in legal technology, shortly after I started in that role myself in 1989. At that time, we did not talk about KM, it was "work product retrieval."

I was living and working in DC then and would see Michael at least a couple of times a year at legal tech events. At the Roundtable that I organized in the 1990s, he was a regular - and a regular contributor. And, no surprise, usually ahead of to 30+ other participants in what he was doing.

I got to know Michael better after I left the law firm and went to work for Jnana Tech, a precursor to Neota. Michael was the biggest, best, and most knowledgeable customer.  We spent countless hours working together in person, by phone, and email, as Michael learned the software and started building expert systems for Davis Polk clients. I realized that we had moved quickly from my teaching him the software, to  working jointly and collaboratively to develop legal logic, deploy advance software / logic features, and talk through new software features. 

That collaboration was typical for Michael, as the many other stories here illustrate. He was always a delight to work with on that project. The system he built was then used in production by a financial institution for some 20 years.

After that, I saw Michael regularly on the conference circuit and we had many opportunities for one on one conversations, which were always delightful. I miss him.

What a huge loss. As we say in Judaism, ‘may his memory be a blessing’.

I first met Michael in 1991 and regarded him in the intervening 32 years as the leading global figure in law firm technology. He was deeply expert, endlessly curious, and always inspiring. He extended an arm of friendship and collegiality to me across the Atlantic as I moved from the academic world to the legal market and we enjoyed innumerable discussions about what the future might hold. We were deeply immersed in AI before most of today’s legal technologists were born. His professional legacy is huge – a legion of enthused and active specialists in law and technology. 

More importantly, Michael was a wonderful man – urbane, hugely intelligent, a superb listener, a kind and generous spirit, and a fine friend. When I think of Michael in years to come, I will remember him sending my (then) little daughter a gift – there had been a scheduling confusion which meant that I might miss an event that mattered to her, and he responded with characteristic sensitivity and warmth.