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This document discusses innovation in law firms. It provides examples of how several international and domestic law firms are innovating through the use of technology, flexible work arrangements, and a focus on diversity and collaboration. Law firms are under pressure to cut costs and improve efficiencies while meeting rising client expectations. Firms that cultivate an innovative culture and take risks with new ideas will be best positioned to adapt and stay ahead of competitors in a changing legal market.
This document discusses innovation in law firms. It provides examples of how several international and domestic law firms are innovating through the use of technology, flexible work arrangements, and a focus on diversity and collaboration. Law firms are under pressure to cut costs and improve efficiencies while meeting rising client expectations. Firms that cultivate an innovative culture and take risks with new ideas will be best positioned to adapt and stay ahead of competitors in a changing legal market.
This document discusses innovation in law firms. It provides examples of how several international and domestic law firms are innovating through the use of technology, flexible work arrangements, and a focus on diversity and collaboration. Law firms are under pressure to cut costs and improve efficiencies while meeting rising client expectations. Firms that cultivate an innovative culture and take risks with new ideas will be best positioned to adapt and stay ahead of competitors in a changing legal market.
finding that their clients’ expectations change often. It’s no secret that Asia is a tight market filled with an ever-expanding cast of both direct and indirect competitors. The role of technology is expanding, and new approaches to pricing are driving the need for efficiencies and newer solutions. To achieve this and ensure that they remain a leader in a rapidly devloping business world, firms are recognising the necessity of building and sustaining an innovative culture. To do so requires a big psychological leap, and law firms are learning how to “Innovation for law firms means looking diversity in our teams, with some clients cultivate a safe environment that allows at how we can put our client’s need at the placing diversity as a key decision-making staff to put forward new ideas and gives heart of our service. It means embracing criteria in panel reviews.” them room to flourish – or even fail. flexibility, diversity, technology and Law firms that take their commitment Several law firms are using technology adaptation – not only to change the way to innovation seriously should focus on to standardise processes as well as we conduct our service, but also how we using their resources to generate and offer data centres, flexible resourcing or think.” nurture novel ideas. technology products. This is expected to The legal industry is also facing more “We have to learn to put our desire keep rising in 2017. In Asia Pacific, more and more disrupters, such as accountancy for perfection aside to create a high- online products being delivered to clients firms trying to get into the legal market, performance culture and launch products and more flexible working options launched smaller firms that are pursuing more and ideas that may not be as complete as to attract and keep the best talent. commoditised work (at least initially) planned in order to keep moving forward “Innovation starts with a cultural as well as local firms expanding their and stay ahead of the market. And if a new change,” says Stephanie Keen, Singapore horizons. As Keen explains, “We are also project doesn’t go as well as we hoped, we managing partner at Hogan Lovells. seeing more and more clients demand learn from it and try again,” says Keen.
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Hogan Lovells Mayer Brown JSM COVER STORY INTERNATIONAL FIRMS Asia locations: Multiple Asia locations: Multiple Hogan Lovells sees enormous Mayer Brown JSM bucked the AWA Asia activity in Greater China and industry trend towards outsourcing Asia locations: Hong Kong and beyond in the delivery of goods and back office support by merging its DOMESTIC BOUTIQUES AND Beijing services through new and disruptive regional IT service desks to create ALSPs Awa Asia has implemented specific online and mobile technologies. a single global solution, achieving software tools to assist its billing, This includes payment services substantial gains in efficiency, client time entry, matter management and broader developments in the satisfaction and cost reduction. Prior Collyer Law diary and docketing systems. This financial technology or “fintech” to this ambitious remake, Mayer Location: Singapore enables the firm to see how many space, which covers innovations Brown’s three service desks in the Collyer Law has incubated oppositions a client has filed, how such as stored value/e-money, peer- Americas, Asia and Europe served a legal-tech platform called many marks pop up which it can to-peer lending and data analytics. more than 3,500 people across 22 FirstCOUNSEL , designed to prompt its clients to oppose, and Globally, the firm strives offices globally. provide on-demand tailored legal how many oppositions it has won to be at the forefront of privacy Amid growing client support to entrepreneurs, startups or lost. It also allows the firm to and cybersecurity regulation pressure for lower costs, there is a and SMEs. From online support on determine successes and assess as it continue s to e volve. significant interest from law firms incorporation to access to a curated whether it is surpassing or stacking Accordingly, Hogan Lovells in outsourcing across all areas of library of commonly used contracts up against the competition. has established a cybersecurity back office support. A common as well as an in-house lawyers on- The firm is now able to measure solutions team primarily focused misbelief about IT outsourcing demand, the platform provides its growth areas and highest profit on risk management, incident is that it delivers efficiencies and early-stage businesses with a centres as well as identify trouble preparedness, regulatory improvements that cannot be one-stop solution for all their legal spots, wastage of resources and enforcement, litigation, crisis achieved internally. support needs. weakest links. Through specific management assistance, and When the firm’s global IT The firm seeks to make the software tools, AWA Asia can breach response and investigations service manager and director quality of its work environment structure billing arrangements to counsel. we i g h e d t h e o pt i o n s , t h e y better for talented candidates who meet clients’ needs. Hogan Lovells has also discovered that diverse challenges may not have such flexibility in Big launched Business and Social around language and culture Law. For example, one third of its Enterprise, a programme that were very difficult to achieve with lawyers can work virtually anytime Berwin Leighton Paisner teaches young lawyers about the outsourcing. They built the business – they can use a “hot desk” when Asia locations: Multiple foundations of business, financial case for an internal global service, they’re in office for meetings and Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP) modelling, client management and which was fully supported by the so on, but they can also work culture of collaboration and cross- social impact within a commercial firm’s leadership. from home whenever that is the border work is a common thread environment. more productive option. “We were running through most of its practice inspired by consulting firms where areas. The firm has implemented Pinsent Masons the client-facing consultants often a new case management and Kobre & Kim Asia locations: Multiple spend much time outside the office workflow platform equipped with Asia locations: Hong Kong and In Asia, the firm’s focus is sharper, and at client locations, and have enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) Seoul building its business around only hot desks for when they return and data analytic capabilities. Kobre & Kim has invested in the energy and infrastructure to the office,” it says. Its arbitration team is one building infrastructure around sectors. A compelling example Collyer Law also actively practice area that offers 24-hour matter management, budgets, of that strategy in action has hires and engages with candidates assistance to its clients, with group knowledge sharing and training been the development of the who wish to work on a part-time members located in Asia, the Middle for its teams. For example, it has Pinsent Masons’ “Infrastructure basis, especially working moms East and London. implemented an “aggressive, trial- Academy”, in partnership with a and millennials seeking work-life Another innovative way BLP ready approach” where it attacks major infrastructure client in South balance while remaining in legal serves its asset finance clients is each engagement using a vigorous, Korea. practice. by using a remotely-based legal trial-focused strategy designed The firm has developed services delivery team. Stationed in to get to the heart of the matter TermFrame, an in-house matter Manchester, UK, this group supports as quickly as possible. After each management system that Lawyers On Demand BLP fee earners in delivering aspects case is concluded, the firm’s case incorporates machine learning into Asia locations: Multiple of client work that can be process- and knowledge management team the legal process. TermFrame offers From helping a law firm to develop engineered and follow a structured meet for a post-mortem discussion a straightforward way to model its own flexible legal service to “checklist” approach. for a follow-up. legal scenarios and automatically helping a lawyer work remotely The firm uses a document The firm supports its lawyers’ pulls in discrete parts of the firm’s with a top fashion brand based in management system and career goals. Lawyers are ensured legal knowledge, thus providing Los Angeles, LOD is focused on e-discovery software called Ringtail the option to discuss their relevant information and prompts providing each client a tailored to carry out document reviews. It professional ambitions with partners to lawyers. solution. has implemented the One Asia through a mentor programme and To date, this technology A major practice of LOD is the approach, which sees partners directly with firm’s management. Its has been deployed in over 7,000 personalised career development jointly planning, managing and training programmes are focused matters, including property process. The outcome of this adjusting budgets throughout on providing lawyers with the tools acquisitions, leases, licences and dispels the myth that being a the year. This strategy has been needed to develop specific legal disposals, dispute resolution flexible lawyer or consultant instrumental in allowing it to be skills as well as how to advance processes, contract risk review stops career growth. LOD believes more considerate and organised in at the firm, including career frameworks, complex due diligence career development is individual. its spending. progression. and contract review. A business plan process is in place
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COVER STORY Drew & Napier DOMESTIC FIRMS firm. The sector-oriented structure Location: Singapore placed the firm in a better position to Drew & Napier ’s organisation advise on the most important legal Atsumi & Sakai structure is unique in that it is affairs and business opportunities for new lawyers and consultants, Location: Tokyo organised in teams comprising of clients in the areas of internet, providing them with an individual With the rapid advance and junior directors, associates, and healthcare and compliance practice. and targeted approach to facilitate development of technologies such as secretaries. All the teams are led by Coinciding with the launch of their professional development. AI internet of things (IoT), big data, senior directors who are recognised the practice areas restructure, KWM The firm is constantly assessing analytics and communications, and leaders in their area of practice. also rolled out a plan for improving the Asian markets and remain the expansion of their application Junior lawyers are expected to rise legal service quality as well as innovative and responsive to across all business fields, legislators to the challenges of a top-tier legal boosting its client relationship them. frequently have trouble keeping up practice, but they aren’t expected management programme and For example, LOD launched with the pace of change. to do this alone. Within the teams, cross-selling. This served to its In-House Legal Women of Atsumi & Sakai says it keep senior lawyers give consistent reinforce the change from a project- Influence Program in Asia last itself abreast of these changes and personal attention and hands- based to a client-centric mindset year. This is a forum for women in assists clients with the novel legal on training to junior attorneys. and work approach. senior in-house legal roles to share issues arising from them through Instead of hiring laterally, the firm The restructure also brought ideas, issues and solutions to the its Innovation Business Support has a tradition of developing and on a massive reshuffling of its challenges they face in their line (IBS) team. Recently, the IBS team promoting talent from within. Drew operational systems including IT, of work. has been transformed into a new & Napier’s five senior counsels are HR, marketing, digital solution and The firm uses social media Innovation Practice Group, which homegrown talents. ERP. Under the same principle, and forums to recruit and connect combines lawyers experienced in The firm has a “ministry of KWM also successfully restructured with lawyers before the candidates the fields of law relevant to this fun” committee organises enjoyable its business support system to be decide to apply for a post. LOD swiftly changing world. events, allowing staff to take a client-focused as it was designed has built relationships with the HR The firm also provides matching break, let their hair down and get around the practice groups’ needs, teams of various law firms, and they services, assisting a leading to know one another better. The while the client management refer talented lawyers who may be company or a venture capital firm to group puts together cocktail events programmes have become sector- looking for an alternative way to find startups, and supports industry- throughout the year, a trivia night oriented . practice law to LOD. government-academia partnerships. for the charities that Drew & Napier supports, and a crazy call party to celebrate trainees. Rajah & Tann MG/Chambers Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Locations: Multiple Location: Singapore Locations: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajah & Tann is the first of the In March 2016, MG/Chambers Bangalore, Chennai and Hammurabi & Solomon Singapore mega-firms to set up a launched a document assembly Hyderabad in India Locations: New Delhi, Mumbai, dedicated practice group (business system called VanillaLaw and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Bangalore, Patna and Ranchi in fundamentals) for startups and deployed it to clients. Unlike a (CAM), India’s largest law firm India SMEs. Most SMEs lack specialised template/form filling system, by headcount, wants to be at the When it comes to incorporating skills and knowledge to negotiate VanillaLaw has guide notes to allow forefront of the technological innovative approaches in running issues involving compliance, users, even those who have no legal revolution in the fast-growing Indian a law firm, Hammurabi & Solomon regulations and corporate training, to select the clauses they legal market by being the first user ensures that its services offer value documentation, while they face want. While there are other non- of machine learning software Kira for money. The firm discusses competing demands in managing, template systems in the market, Systems as well as by bringing more its approach and budget for the marketing and growing their these systems are used in the back change through innovation. transaction prior to commencing businesses at the same time. The end by lawyers and are not suitable It recently signed an agreement work. This encourages absolute business fundamentals group is for use by non-lawyers. with Canada-based provider Kira transparency, as the client is made aimed at countering these pain By deploying VanillaLaw Systems to enhance its delivery aware of the strategy and costing points by offering SMEs a spectrum directly to clients, MG/Chambers model and boost the efficiency, beforehand. It also provides detailed of growth-stage appropriate has made itself available virtually, accuracy and pace of certain legal bills to clients, reflecting the hours affordable solutions. and is no longer just a brick-and- services. and work done by lawyers on the The firm has also established mortar law firm. This gives its clients Kira is software that AI to matter or transaction. R&T Asia Resources, a flexible to have access to a virtual in-house identify, analyse and extract Hammurabi & Solomon insourcing service designed to legal department and external clauses and other information from maintains an intranet system to meet clients’ increasing need for lawyers combined. contracts and other types of legal facilitate knowledge sharing at the experienced contract lawyers to To support VanillaLaw, the firm documents. CAM the first law firm firm. It also recently introduced an support in-house counsel on short- had to digitise all its work flows and in the country to deploy such a IT-driven system to manage its client term contracts and project-specific processes. Its lawyers now work in technology. relationships and matter mapping. work. a strictly digital environment, which As a full-service law firm, As work from clients corresponds to increased cyber CAM does numerous deals and has grows in complexity and spans security issues. Therefore, the firm previously innovated in the area of King & Wood Mallesons multiple jurisdictions, R&T has has changed some of the hardware M&A diligence by establishing of its Locations: Multiple implemented group-blended rates and work flows to deal with these Transaction Support Group. Since its restructuring, King & Wood with established working protocols, issues. As an early user of artificial Mallesons (KWM) has discovered ensuring clients have a unified, Founded by Mark Goh, MG/ intelligence, the firm aims to move more opportunities for larger simplified and more enriching Chambers aims to “clear the fog of up the learning curve and be ready transactions that require cross- experience through a one-stop shop law”. for further technological changes. practice legal services within one service.
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