Reinventing Professionals

I spoke with Don Keller and Jim Brock, the CEO and chief product officer, respectively, at Joinder, a project management software platform for corporate legal departments. We discussed why a centralized project management platform is so important for law departments, how the increased use of technology by professionals in legal has impacted the overall comfort level, and whether law firms should focus on developing new technology.

I spoke with David Perla, the co-chief operating officer at Burford Capital, a leading provider of capital to the legal market. We discussed Burford’s 2021 Legal Asset Report, why it is important to talk to chief financial officers about legal assets, how CFO’s view affirmative recovery and legal cost management programs, and how corporate finance and corporate legal can collaborate more effectively.

I spoke with Vishal Rajpara, a co-founder and the chief technology officer at Casepoint, and Dana Wesley Sarti, a litigation support manager at Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck & Untereiner LLP. We discussed how legal teams are using AI within their eDiscovery workflow, the benefits of using AI and advanced analytics, the value of analytics in modern litigation, and how litigators are using machine learning to reduce the time and expense of review.

I spoke with William Morriss, a co-founder and the technology innovation advisor at IP Toolworks, which is a software platform that helps attorneys respond to rejections from the US Patent and Trademark Office. We discussed how companies are using technology to change the way they negotiate to obtain patents, the importance of the patent examiner to any given matter, best practices for preparing for an examiner interview, and how patent practices are evolving.

I spoke with Raymond Millien, the new CEO of Harness, Dickey & Pierce, an intellectual property boutique with four offices and headquarters in suburban Detroit. We discussed how in-house experience can help law firm leaders, techniques for understanding and connecting with clients in a remote environment, changing client expectations, and how law firms with a specific focus can maintain their competitive advantage in a shifting legal landscape.

I spoke with Collin Williams, the founder and chairman of New Era ADR, a platform designed to help litigants reimagine how they resolve disputes. We discussed the biggest problem in litigation today, how to reshape traditional alternative dispute resolution, and how litigation is evolving.

I spoke with Jay Sheldon, the general manager of the Equinox Golf Resort and Spa in Manchester, Vermont. We discussed ways to create unique client experiences, how hospitality and general client preferences have changed in the pandemic, and how organizations are adapting to a dynamically shifting business climate.

I spoke with Bill Piwonka, the chief marketing officer for Exterro, a provider of software for legal teams to defensibly manage their legal governance, risk, and compliance requirements. We discussed why legal professionals should leverage tools that provide automation and scalability, how e-discovery can realize additional benefits from artificial intelligence, and how AI is evolving.

I spoke with Mike Mandell, a lawyer with Mandell Law in California, who educates the public about the law through social media. We discussed how he produces content for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, his process for selecting topics for his videos, the message he conveys to consumers, and how he sees the use of content-driven social media tools for lawyers evolving.

I spoke with Jennifer Martinez, the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and a partner at Hanson Bridgett. We discussed the policies and programs that have helped the firm support its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, its Agile Workforce Initiative, and ways that clients are driving change.