Next-gen knowledge

The November 2024 issue takes a deep dive into the world of knowledge management and its evolution on the back of significant change and technological innovation. Amid shifting working practices — the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic — and rapid growth of the legal tech sector, this month’s cover story explores how the fabric of the knowledge management function is still changing, with the help of leaders from Browne Jacobson, Freshfields, Charles Russell Speechlys and Clyde & Co.

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The start of the festive season always brings people together, so it seems rather fitting to take a similar approach and also focus this issue on the power of collaboration, and its significant role in taking law firms to the next level.

• Elite chief customer officer Martin Linusson highlights technology’s role in transforming how firms’ different functions work together
• Paul Suffield, managing director at Attest Group, discusses why firm-wide collaboration is the winning ticket to success
• Paul Foster, head of product development at sa.global, talks about the power of bringing functions together for seamless operations — using the billing process as an example
• SmartSearch general counsel and company secretary Nicola Gifford outlines the value of global cooperation between law firms and regulated businesses in the long fight against money laundering
• Dino Eliopulos, VP innovation and solutions at Fulcrum GT, highlights how a seamless collaboration between front and back offices can bring long-term success to firms

INDUSTRY INTERVIEWS

We also bring you exclusive interviews with LexisNexis UK principal product manager Madeleine Graham, and Litera chief product officer Adam Ryan, who discuss the value of using genAI to build knowledge management maturity. Plus, we exclusively chat with Andrew Lloyd, managing director at Search Acumen, about the company’s brand new real estate intelligence interface.

CASE STUDIES

What better way to illustrate the power of collaboration between law firms and technology providers than seeing first-hand how these tech solutions are helping firms improve their processes? For this issue, we speak to Travers Smith to learn how Blue Car Technologies has helped it put the pedal to the metal on its product roadmap. Meanwhile, Hill Dickinson delves into the process of implementing Bundledocs, and how the system has led to a better, stress-free bundling process.

If you’re craving more content, we’ve got plenty more insightful articles and case study chronicles for you:

• A deep dive into Penningtons Manches Cooper’s extensive journey on the ESG journey, and all the steps taken to reach the final destination — becoming a sustainable, net zero law firm
• Dana Denis-Smith, CEO at Obelisk Support, questions if the legal sector is doing enough to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and whether firms have reached a plateau
• Jo Styles, director of legal services at Williams Lea, explores whether the days of the traditional legal billing processes are numbered, and how technology, compliance and innovation can take things to the next level
• Beth King, managing partner at GenerativeWork, outlines the intricate process of building a knowledge-sharing culture — and the top challenges firms must overcome to achieve this
• Eric Wangler, president, global legal market at BigHand highlights why a detailed succession plan is the best defence against losing critical institutional knowledge
• Peppermint’s chief innovation and technology officer Mike Walker weighs in on the importance of transforming existing firm knowledge to maximise the power of AI in this function

KM 2.0: The new face of knowledge management

As the opportunities to reach new levels of firm efficiency and powerful process change through investment in technology — particularly automation and AI — hopefully begin to crystallise, how is the work and world of the law firm knowledge function changing as a result? Briefing editor Andreea Dulgheru explores how the fabric of KM is still changing, on the back of shifting work practices and significant innovation.

How we joined the top 10% of law firms targeting net zero

As the impact of climate change across the world intensifies, many companies — including law firms — are focusing on their part in driving sustainability. Penningtons Manches Cooper’s CEO Helen Drayton shares her firm’s ESG journey to 2024 and next steps on the sustainability agenda.

Has the legal sector succumbed to diversity fatigue?

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has been a hot topic on many firms’ agendas, including those in the legal sector. However, are firms doing enough to foster DEI, and is there an industry-wide understanding that inclusive leadership is more than just a desirable strategy? According to Obelisk Support’s recent study, not so much. Its CEO Dana-Denis Smith unveils the current progress firms have made in this space, and highlights the significant work still needed to be done by firms to truly embrace DEI.