Overview
Leanna R. Simon, MLIS, CKM, is Director of Research and Intelligence at Honigman, where she leads the firm’s research operations, intelligence initiatives, and related attorney-support services in support of client work. Her focus includes research strategy, competitive intelligence, attorney training, and the practical use of AI and legal research technologies to improve efficiency, insight, and legal service delivery. Simon is a frequent speaker on topics including artificial intelligence in research workflows, emerging legal technologies, firmwide collaboration, and the evolving role of research services in law firms. She is active in national and regional professional organizations and currently serves as AALL’s 2025–2026 LexisNexis liaison through the Committee on Relations with Information Vendors and as co-chair of the PLLIP Awards Committee. Her prior leadership roles include service as President of the Michigan Association of Law Libraries and chair of AALL’s Emerging Leader Award Jury. Simon is a two-time Emerging Leader Award recipient, honored by AALL in 2017 and PLLIP in 2018. She earned her MLIS from Wayne State University, her BA in Biological Anthropology from the University of Michigan, and her CKM credential.
Experience
Prior Experience
- Director, Research and Knowledge Management, Honigman LLP (2021 - 2024)
- Senior Manager, Research and Knowledge Management, Honigman LLP (2019 - 2021)
- Law Librarian, Honigman LLP (2012 - 2020)
- Law Librarian, Cranbrook Educational Community (2010 - 2014)
Credentials
Education
- Biological Anthropology
Recognition
Awards
Emerging Leader Award, PLLIP (2018)
Emerging Leader Award, AALL (2017)
American Libraries Association Library Legislative Day Grant Recipient (2015)
Professional & Community Involvement
American Association of Law Libraries
- Committee on Relations with Information Vendors (2025 - 2028)
- Lexis Liaison
- Survey Subcommittee
- Leadership Development Committee (2021 - 2023)
- Chair, Emerging Leader Award Jury (2020 - 2021)
- Committee and Jury Chairs Committee (2019 - 2021)
- Vice-Chair, Emerging Leader Award Jury (2019 - 2020)
- Council of Chapter Presidents (2015 - 2017)
- Digital Access to Legal Information Committee (2013 - 2016)
AALL Special Interest Sections
Awards & Leadership Experience:
- Chair, PLLIP Awards Committee (2022 - present)
- Chair, PLLIP Strategic Directions Committee (2021 - 2023)
- Treasurer, PLLIP Executive Board (2019 - 2021)
Technology & Innovation Experience:
- LIT Blog Committee (2022 - Present)
- LIT Grants Committee (2022 - Present)
Additional Committee Experience:
- Chair, PEGA Nominations Committee (2021 - 2023)
- Co-Chair, PEGA Bylaws Committee (2021 - 2022)
- Chair, PLLIP Grants and Scholarship Committee (2015 - 2019)
- PLLIP Awards Committee (2014 - Present)
- PLLIP Grants and Scholarship Committee (2013 - 2015)
Michigan Association of Law Libraries
- Past-President; Webmaster (2017 - 2018)
- President (2016 - 2017)
- Chair, MichALL Community Service Committee (2016 - 2018)
- Joint Meeting Program Committee (MichALL, ORALL, MAALL, MALL, CALL, and LLAW) (2016 - 2017)
- Organizer, Joint Meeting with ORALL and MichALL (2016 - 2017)
- Chair, MichALL Nominations Committee (2016 - 2017)
- Vice-President (2015 - 2016)
News & Insights
News
Events
Panel, Speaker, “From Library to Intelligence Engine : The Research Function Reimagined for the AI Era”, LegalTechConnect, Spring 2026
Panel, Webinar, Speaker, “Preparing for Tomorrow’s Legal Professional Challenges”, AALL/TR, Spring 2026
Panel, Webinar, Speaker, “Leadership in Action : Strategies from Law Librarians”, AALL, Fall 2025
Panel, Speaker, “The Impact of Critical Thinking in AI”, AALL, Summer 2025
Panel, Speaker, "Fostering Firmwide Collaboration", ARK Law Libraries, Autumn 2024
Panel, Speaker, "Artificial Intelligence in the Library Workflow: Improving Efficiencies" (Sponsored by LexisNexis), AALL, Summer 2024
Speaker, "The Dynamic Role of Research & Knowledge Services in Law Firms", Legal Innovation Spotlight podcast Summer 2024
Panel, Speaker, "Knowledge in the New Work Era: Challenges and Opportunities", ARK KM, Autumn 2023
Panel, Speaker, "Generative AI and KM: A New Paradigm", AALL, Summer 2023
Panel, Speaker, "The Future Ready Lawyer", ARK KM, Autumn 2022
Panel, Speaker, "KM and Innovations Experiences for Mid to Large Firms", ARK KM, Autumn 2022
Webinar, Speaker, "ESG: Investing in your Portfolio", AALL, Spring 2022
Moderator, "Developing a Data Science Perspective", webinar Spring 2019
Speaker, "Law Librarian Conversations with Richard Leiter", podcast Winter 2016
Publications
Article, “How Law Librarians Are Taming the AI Landscape”, Spring 2026
Chapter Contributor, "Knowledge Management & Innovation: A Manual for Law Firms and Other Legal Services Organizations" treatise, Practising Law Institute, Fall 2025, 2nd Edition