NExT’s leadership is composed of accomplished professionals who bring deep expertise across legal technology, compliance, innovation, and strategic growth. Together, they guide the organization’s mission to advance excellence, expand access, and strengthen leadership within the TechLaw community.
"True leadership is not defined by the pursuit of power, but by the selfless dedication to empowering others to rise."
Dawson is the former Vice President and Associate General Counsel of the Litigation Department at AIG. In this role, he oversaw parent-related litigation cases, a range of eDiscovery matters, and antitrust compliance issues.
Before joining AIG, he served as Senior Litigation Counsel at Tyco International, where he managed a large toxic tort and insurance recovery docket. Prior to that, he spent eight years as Assistant General Counsel at Altria Corporate Services, overseeing the company's defense in the multi-billion-dollar RICO lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against major U.S. cigarette companies.
Earlier in his career, at Scott Paper, Dawson led the company’s defense in breast implant class action litigation and managed related insurance matters. He began his litigation training at the firm of Pepper Hamilton, gaining first-chair trial experience and working primarily on insurance and antitrust cases.
With this extensive litigation background, Dawson stays informed on evolving legal issues, particularly in eDiscovery. He is a member of the Educational Advisory Board for ALM’s LegalWeek and is a frequent speaker on eDiscovery topics.
Dawson also serves on the Board of the PLI and the Arthur Miller Foundation. Additionally, he is a member of the Committee on Finance & Administration for the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
He holds an A.B. degree from Duke University and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.
Val is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in eDiscovery and project management, boasting a career marked by excellence. Currently, he serves as the Vice President and Head of eDiscovery at Goldman Sachs, where he oversees the global coordination of discovery processes.
His responsibilities include ensuring the preservation, collection, and production of critical information for regulatory investigations, litigation, and internal inquiries. Val's commitment to operational excellence is evident in his strategic alignment of business services for quality, cost efficiency, and risk management, which includes monitoring project budgets and implementing cutting-edge technology solutions.
Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Val held the role of Vice President and Subject Matter Expert in Digital Forensics & eDiscovery for a Corporate and Institutional Bank. In this capacity, he efficiently managed discovery processes across North and Latin America, excelling in the preservation and collection of electronically stored data. His approach was characterized by collaboration and expertise, leading to cost-effective eDiscovery services and successful outcomes.
Val has a strong connection to Penn State, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology/Exercise and Sport Science. He actively contributes to his alma mater, having once served as an Alumni Advisory Board Member for the Penn State Paul Robeson Cultural Center, demonstrating his commitment to fostering cultural awareness and inclusivity within the Penn State community. Currently, Val generously supports the Penn State Educational Equity department, underlining his dedication to promoting educational equity and excellence.
Val's career has witnessed impressive progression from his role as a Senior Consultant to a Managing Consultant, serving as a primary point of contact for Fortune 500 companies and AM100 law firms. This journey has culminated in his current position as Head of eDiscovery at Goldman Sachs, where his expertise shines in advising clients on electronic data management and excelling in project execution for major litigations and regulatory investigations.
Val's leadership in handling complex productions underscores his mastery of the eDiscovery industry, establishing him as a highly sought-after professional recognized for delivering exceptional results.
As Chief Marketing Officer of Lighthouse, Stacy serves as an innovative marketer leading with a customer-obsessed, insights-driven, and outcome-based approach to branding, communications, thought leadership, demand generation, and product marketing.
She is a versatile leader known for developing and inspiring high-performing teams. Stacy has a long history of growing brands and building strong workplace cultures. She believes that great brands are built from the inside out, energized by a culture that promotes growth, impact, and belonging.
Prior to this role, Stacy was Vice President of Marketing at Lighthouse from August 2017 to January 2023. Before joining Lighthouse, she served as the Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Blucora (NASDAQ: BCOR) (formerly Infospace), where she provided overall guidance for the company’s internal and external communications, brand, and corporate giving functions.
Stacy implemented plans to ensure a positive corporate image and culture during multiple phases of turnaround, strategic repositioning, and renewal at Blucora. She also led numerous financial communications initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and public offerings.
Before joining Blucora in 2005, Stacy was an Investment Relations Analyst at Cascade Investment, a private investment and holding company for William H. Gates III and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Prior to her role at Cascade Investment, she held various investor relations roles at 360networks Inc. and XO Communications. She began her career in marketing at Telecommunications Inc. (now Comcast Corp).
Salomon Louis is a strategic eDiscovery leader with over a decade of experience spanning all phases of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM). He currently leads MassMutual’s eDiscovery program within its Privacy, Data & AI Governance organization, where he designs program strategy, implements technology solutions, and operationalizes defensible, compliant ESI workflows across litigation, regulatory, and investigative matters.
Throughout his career, Salomon has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to legal and business stakeholders. He partners closely with litigation counsel, compliance teams, cyber security, and IT to ensure discovery practices are aligned with evolving legal standards and business objectives. He has successfully managed internal and external resources, implemented caselaw-driven best practices to enhance defensibility and efficiency, and led technology adoption and change management initiatives that strengthen operational maturity. Adept at navigating dynamic legal and regulatory environments, he is known for bridging legal and technical teams to mitigate risk while delivering measurable business value.
Salomon plays a key role in shaping discovery strategy for regulatory inquiries, internal investigations, and incident response matters, ensuring workflows are defensible, scalable, and aligned with organizational priorities. His approach combines strategic vision with disciplined execution, with a focus on governance, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to build sustainable discovery operations.
ACEDS certified, Salomon has taught eDiscovery at Western New England University School of Law and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including Legalweek, the EDI Leadership Summit, and The Masters Conference.