2026 LMA Midwest Summit & Awards | Basecamp: Midwest Expedition
September 24, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. CT
Starting at Basecamp
Practical insight for the work ahead.
On September 24, legal marketing and business development professionals will gather in Chicago for a focused, single‑day experience hosted at Bank of America Tower. This year’s theme, Basecamp: Midwest Expedition is built around what actually works—tools, tactics, and trusted takeaways teams can use, not just talk about.
The day moves from the field to the spotlight, celebrating work worth sharing alongside peers from across the Midwest. Together, education and the Best of the Midwest Awards (also known as the Your Honor Awards) program create a full day experience to explore what works, learn from peers, and celebrate the wins shaping our profession. For those looking to extend their learning, Expedition Lab offers a deeper, hands on start that complements the full Basecamp experience.
Basecamp Details
What to expect and how to prepare.
Schedule
The event unfolds across four connected moments—from deep‑dive learning to shared education, awards recognition, and a closing celebration.
Expedition Lab | 8:30 a.m. (extended learning experience) An optional hands‑on, immersive learning experience designed for applied skill‑building and deeper exploration of key topics that carry through the day.
Field Notes Education Sessions | 10:15 a.m. A single‑track program of practical, field‑tested education focused on tools, tactics, and real‑world insights for legal marketing and business development. Registration and networking will open at 9:15 a.m.
Best of the Midwest Awards | 3:20 p.m. Also known as the Your Honor Awards, Best of the Midwest celebrates standout work shaping legal marketing and business development across the region.
The Afterglow Reception | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. A relaxed, celebratory closing reception bringing the community together to connect, reflect, and celebrate award winners after a full day of shared learning.
Expedition Lab
An optional immersive starting point for the Basecamp experience.
Expedition Lab is a workshop‑style experience designed for hands‑on learning and applied skill‑building. It offers participants the opportunity to engage more deeply with specific tools, topics, or challenges—extending the day’s learning through concentrated, interactive work.
Ideal for those who want to extend their experience with deeper exploration and walk away ready to apply what they’ve learned.
Field Note Education Sessions
Learning together in the field.
Field Note Sessions are the foundation of this single‑track, education‑first program which delivers practical, field‑tested learning grounded in real challenges and real work. With no competing sessions and no filler, everyone shares the same conversations—focused on applied insight, meaningful perspective, and ideas that can be put to use.
Throughout the day, the experience moves from ideas to application, with built‑in opportunities to learn from peers, compare perspectives, and connect insights back to everyday work.
Best of the Midwest Awards
Recognition at the end of the trail.
Best of the Midwest Awards (also known as Your Honor Awards) celebrates standout work shaping legal marketing and business development across the region — highlighting progress, creativity, and impact worth learning from.
More than recognition, the awards offer an opportunity to see what’s working, learn from peers’ successes, and celebrate the ideas, teams, and results driving progress across the Midwest. Award submissions will open soon. Full category details and submission guidelines will be shared at that time. Until then brief award descriptions and eligibility guidelines are available here.
Collective Effort
Firm programs and initiatives shaping the work.
These awards recognize firm‑led programs, projects, and initiatives that demonstrate thoughtful strategy, strong execution, and meaningful impact. They highlight the work teams build together—how ideas move into action and shape the practice of legal marketing and business development.
- Compass Award: Strategy & Business Impact
- Signal Award: Marketing Campaigns & Visibility
- Keystone Award: People, Collaboration & Impact
- Imprint Award: Creative, Brand & Design
- Wayfinder Award: Innovation, AI & New Approaches
Personal Impact
Leadership and contribution in action.
We’ll honor individuals whose leadership, creativity, and contribution have made a difference—within their teams, their firms, and the broader legal marketing and business development community. These awards recognize the people behind the work and the influence they bring to the profession.
- Kindling Award: Emerging Talent & Early Career Impact
- Catalyst Award: Execution, Influence & Immediate Impact
- North Star Award Leadership & Sustained Impact
The Afterglow Reception
Celebrate the day together.
The Best of the Midwest Awards presentation flows directly into The Afterglow Reception, a relaxed closing reception included with registration—bringing the community together to reflect, connect, and celebrate award winners after a full day of shared learning.
Registration
Registration includes access to all Field Note education sessions, the Best of the Midwest Awards program, and The Afterglow reception. Expedition Lab is an extended learning experience available with Summit registration for an additional fee.
Summit:
- Member: $125
- Prospective Members: $175
Expedition Lab
Optional extended learning experience
- Member: $30
- Prospective Members: $50
While the destination is set, the route may shift—schedule details are subject to change.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your registration, you must send an email to LMAMidwest@legalmarketing.org requesting a refund. To receive a full refund, your request must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event. Refund requests received after this deadline will not be honored. However, transfers will be accepted, with applicable fees applied if necessary.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you're interested in promoting your business at the 2026 LMA Midwest Summit & Awards, please see the 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus.
For questions or concerns about your event registration, please contact lmamidwest@legalmarketing.org.