
- C-level law firm executives
- Managing partners
- General counsel
- Corporate legal operations leaders
Advisory Board
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Damien AtkinsSenior Vice President, General Counsel and SecretaryThe Hershey Company
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Bob CraigChief Information OfficerBaker Hostetler
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Adrian DavisChief Attorney Development & Knowledge OfficerLatham & Watkins
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Kathryn DeBordChief Innovation OfficerBryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
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Andrew GlincherChief Executive Officer and Managing PartnerNixon Peabody
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Juanita LunaDirector of Legal Operations and Administration, Office of the GCPacific Gas & Electric
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Matthew PetersNational Innovation LeaderMcCarthy Tétrault
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Greg SmithChairmanHusch Blackwell
Agenda
Now in its fifth year, Legal Lab is a unique forum intended to foster open dialogue across a diverse spectrum of the legal ecosystem on strategy, challenges, culture and changes that support the law firm and corporate client relationship. The 1.5-day event includes a variety of formats, including facilitated discussions, TED talk style presentations, interactive workshops and roundtable discussions.
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6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception + Networking
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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast + Networking
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9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Introductions, Opening Remarks + Industry Trends Briefing
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10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Service Delivery: Achieving Alignment in an Increasingly Segmented Market
Law firms face increasing competition – from ALSPs, the Big 4, and their own clients (a “crossover,” as described by a Legal Lab 2018 participant, where law departments’ internal legal spend exceeds outside counsel spend), as well as shifting talent needs and changing underlying client relationships and expectations. These pressures are incompatible with the traditional law firm model, requiring firms to develop new service delivery models that directly align with the needs of the corporate client. This session will explore ways to achieve that alignment, along with the supporting business model and firm culture.
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12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch + Networking
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1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Technology: Data Science + Analytics
The world around us continues to digitize and data analytics is becoming a point of strategic emphasis for organizations across business sectors. Though perhaps a step behind peer industries, analytics is quickly becoming a priority for legal organizations and creativity in this space continues to increase. This interactive session will explore the leading areas where data can be leveraged to improve decision-making and enhance client service. Specific examples and success stories from pioneers in this space will be shared to help participants understand how to their analytics initiatives from lofty ideas and concept into tangible results.
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3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Break
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3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. | Talent: Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce and Driving Long-Term Engagement
Competition for legal talent remains intense. Recruitment alone continues to be a challenge, and yet organizations are quickly realizing their greater gap may be in fostering an inclusive and engaged workforce. Engagement of team members is a persistent challenge (increasingly remote workforce, generational dynamics, space considerations, work / life balance focus). In this session we will discuss what is working, what has not worked, lessons learned, and what actions law firms and law departments can take today to start to move the needle in talent strategies.
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4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. | Closing + Takeaways
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5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | Break
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6:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Offsite Dinner + Networking
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8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | Breakfast + Networking
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9:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | How to Strengthen the Corporate Client + Law Firm Relationship through Collaboration
As discussed in earlier sessions, client-focused alignment is crucial for law firm success in this evolving market. Many law firms are striving to innovate to differentiate themselves in the market, but not all succeed. Innovation efforts that are aligned with clients’ needs are most likely to gain traction. Collaborating with clients through co-innovation is a way to cultivate that alignment such that clients know their voice is heard and firms truly understand their clients’ needs. This interactive, facilitated workshop builds on the prior day’s discussions, allowing participants to delve deeper into the topics in small groups, developing “call to action” ideas to specifically address advancements between corporate clients and law firms.
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12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks + Survey Feedback
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1:00 p.m. | Boxed Lunches + Departure
News + Downloads
- Latest News
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Legal Lab 2018 Key Takeaways Infographic
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As Law Departments Push to Contain Costs, the Voice of the Client Should be Influencing Law Firms
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Diversity In The Legal Profession: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same – Until They Don’t
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HBR Consulting Reports on the Findings of Legal Lab 2017