This week's Ark Group Lex 2010 event in London seems to have received the thumbs-up from delegates – in an ideal world there could have been more there but the ones I spoke to were very happy with the quality of the conference sessions – the presentation by Louise Hadland, the HR director of Shoosmiths, was very impressive, particularly regarding the issue of whether law firms have broken the 'psychological contract' with their lawyers. Lex will be back next year.

One event that won't be returning however is By Legal For Legal – provisionally scheduled for May this year. Instead the event organisers – ICBI, part of the Informa group – are merging By Legal with their flagship New Legal IT Forum. The new event will take place in 13th-15th October 2010 at the Marriott St Pierre, Chepstow.

ICBI say the New Legal IT Forum will include several of the more 'quirky' innovations from By Legal for Legal, including the 'Vendors Have Got Talent' session that provides an informal opportunity to present a product's USP to an audience of decision-makers and the 'Witchie Awards' – widely accepted as the only legal IT award that you would want to have proudly displayed on your mantelpiece. More programme details to follow.