SOLID West Agenda – Thursday, February 28 2019
*Content Subject to Change
08:30 – 09:00 Breakfast and Networking
Hello and Introductions
Table Introductions
Session One: The Big Picture – Macro Drivers of Change
“Shape Your Future: People to Systems”
Jay Angelo – Head of Legal Tech/Innovation and Divisional General Counsel, Smiths Group PLC
Two years ago Smiths Group looked at where their legal department was, where it was going, and what it needed to do next to get to the future. Jay embraces the vision of AI shaping the future of law and thinks there is more corporate legal executives can do to build the bridge to that future, more than the piecemeal, project based deployment of legal technology. Smiths Group built its own external law consultancy, using senior-level executives from top-ranked law firms and is now turning the pyramid upside down – combining confident, experienced decision makers with great tech and great data to make faster and better decisions. General Counsel needs to take the first steps on the bridge to the future of law themselves in order to really own the future of the industry, rather than just being the buyers of legal technology.
“Law Firm of the Future”
Bennett Borden – Chief Data Scientist & Chair IG Group, Drinker Biddle & Reath
Data science and nextGEN technology combined with collaborative legal talent are revolutionizing the delivery of legal services making it possible to exceed current client expectations and attract new clients and practice groups.
Bennett will share his strategies and tactics on :
- How to combine data science and NextGEN Legal Talent to grow your practice and delight your clients.
- How to increase profit margins by 400% and reduce the client bill by 50%.
“The General Counsel’s Requirements Today: Fixer to Founder”
Alexia Maas – SVP, General Counsel, Volvo Financial Services
Alexia Maas will share her thoughts around the evolving role of the general counsel, from reactive legalist to proactive legal entrepreneur, and the impact this evolution has on outside counsel and the procurement of legal services.
“The Economics of Collaboration”
Stephen Allen – Global Head of Legal Operations, Innovation Lead at Hogan Lovells
“Hogan Lovells is rapidly evolving the delivery of legal services business model by quarterbacking companies like elevate and FTI with their clients. This new and transparent business model allows a far more efficient and valued outcome between all parties. Hogan understands the intricacies of the legal issues and leverages the “significant technology investments” of Elevate and FTI to bring advanced automation and superior outcomes to our clients. This is the new normal”.
“Wheels Up and Standby for All-Call: Bringing Security to the Forefront”
“Fireside Chat”
Bryant Isbell – Managing Director Global eDiscovery and Data Advisory, Baker McKenzie
David and Bryant will discuss the benefits and challenges of working in a global position.
Table Discussions
Town Hall
Morning Break
Session Two: Innovation in Action – Corporate Use Cases
“See The Matrix: Leveraging Predictive Analytics”
Don Walther – EVP & General Counsel, Esterline Technologies Corporation
Change is coming far faster than our outside counsel recognizes and far too slowly for our internal stakeholders”. Don will share his Experience with successful predictive analytic projects that mitigate risk for his firm and Board of Directors.
“Making the Invisible Visible: Negotiating Better Deals”
Kristi Anne Gedid – Senior Director, Global Legal Operations, Mylan
Pennie Phelps-Valentine – Director, Global Strategic Sourcing, Mylan
“Law Firm Innovation In Action“
Anusia Gillespie – Director of Innovation, Eversheds Sutherland
Innovation is not new but the intensity, complexity and rate of change is. In this new normal, law firms need to rely on established innovation practices and collaboration with clients, internal resources and business partners. Eversheds Sutherland will share two examples of their substantive innovation program – which is having an impact on clients, their practices groups and the firm.
“The Rising Tide of Legaltech – Improving Legal Outcomes Through Technology”
Kiwi Camara – CEO, DISCO
Kiwi Camara, CEO of Disco will talk about investments in the legal eDiscovery and software space and new opportunities this presents across the industry.
“Cultural Change is the Hardest Part”
Ben Allgrove – Principal, R&D, Baker McKenzie
“Ben will talk about how Baker McKenzie is approaching the challenge of culture change, both internally and at clients, the success and failures that they have had, and the lessons learned”.
“Innovation in Corporate Legal: What We Have Learned”
Table Discussions and Takeaways
Town Hall and Collaborative Q&A
12:30 – 01:15 Lunch
New Table Introductions
Session Three: Innovation in Action – Process Driven
“The Changing Legal Landscape – The Big 4”
Stephen Poor – Chair Emeritus, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
The Big Four are outspending, out hiring and out investing Big Law by a significant margin.
What’s the impact of The Big Four on the business of law and the AmLaw 200? And how are the Fortune 1000 General Counsel and corporate boards reacting to this behemoth aggressively courting their legal spend.
“Change Agents – Navigating Through Increased Complexity”
Ali Khorasanee – VP & General Counsel of AGS and SPG Segments, Applied Materials
It’s easy to think that tomorrow can be different from today, but it takes a lot of hard work to make that happen. There is a tremendous amount of opportunity for law departments to provide value added services to the business, drive direction, and help the Board think through alternative business models. As lawyers and executives, our future is to be the voice of new opportunities for the business and change the dynamic within the law department.
“Teaching Attorneys to Fish: The Impact of Expert Systems”
Scott Rechtschaffen – Chief Knowledge Officer, Littler
Expert Systems will be the new normal For every lawyer within the next five years. Learn how Littler is ramping up their newbies, partners and clients for the future.
“In-House Discovery for the Win”
Patrick Barry – COO, Logikcull
Mira Edelman
Changes to the law and improvements in technology mean that corporate legal teams can deliver a huge win for the business by managing the first stages of discovery in house. Learn how from Mira Edelman, who did it at Google and Facebook.
“Legal Leads – Partnering with the Business to Support Innovation”
Wendy Callaghan – Chief Innovation Legal Officer and Associate General Counsel, AIG
Providing legal support for innovation requires close partnership with the business or function area. The role of the attorney is to ensure that novel issues are addressed in an agile way while still ensuring compliance. The most critical aspect of what Wendy will be sharing is the importance of finding balance between maintaining a flexible mindset and protecting the company.
“$2 Billion and Counting”
Michael Bryant – Operating Partner, KNOX Capital Holdings
“Michael will share with us why the private equity space loves the NextGEN legal technology industry.”
“An Insider’s View: Big 4 in Law, in Context”
Jonathan Nystrom – Executive Director, EY
Jonathan will talk about reframing the way the market thinks about “law.” In particular:
- What got you here won’t keep you here
- The role of allied professionals
- Thriving in a rapidly evolving ecosystem
- What exponential technology really means for the legal world.
Table Discussions and Takeaways
Town Hall and Collaborative Q&A
Afternoon Break and Table Charge
Table Introductions
Session Four: Innovation in Action – People Driven
“Build Your Talent Pipeline Like A Major League Baseball Organization”
Michael Avalos – Assistant General Counsel, AIG
Law departments can learn a lot in attracting, training, and retaining talent by looking at other industries, particularly professional sports organizations, on how they recruit, train, and optimize bottom-up talent. Michael will share how AIG developed a new talent optimization model, where lawyers are hired right out of law school and placed into a two year rotational program which maximizes their value to the organization and accelerates their legal training. How does this program differ from traditional hiring of experienced lawyers from outside counsel ranks and what impact does this have on the provision of internal legal services and the bottom line to the business.
“Fireside Chat – Race to the Top”
“Tomorrow’s Lawyers”
Shawn Clark – Attorney, Ford Motor Company
Ronald Mcnulty – Attorney, Ford Motor Company
Forgiveness and NextGEN Legal Talent :
Over the past three years, The FORD Legal Department has hired completely out of the box NextGEN Legal Talent to shake up and collaborate with the General Counsel, legal operations, procurement and business units. NextGEN talent equals, JD’s with deep software development experience and data analytics experience.
Their results are remarkable and innovative.
“Fireside Chat”
Michael Conner – Director of Global Business Development, NightOwl Discovery
David and Mike will discuss evolving changes in client requests from their legal service providers and the new opportunities this presents.
“Now to Next – Leaders of the Future”
Peter Buck – VP Product Strategy, Net Documents
Sprint Panel moderated by Peter Buck
Participants
Ali Shahidi – Chief Innovation Officer, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Suzette Allaire – Chief Innovation Officer, Ballard Spahr LLP
Ryan Schlunz – Chief Administrative & Innovation Officer, Stoel Rives LLP
David Wang – Corporate Strategic Innovation Counsel, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Andrew Sprogis – Chief Innovation Officer, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
The rise of the Chief Innovation Officer. More and more law firms have been adding the Chief Innovation Officer role over the past year. What are these positions? What are the skills, competency and experience required to be successful in these roles? How do you measure success? And, what’s next for these professionals and your career
“Now to Next – Leaders of the Future”
DAVID COWEN – CEO, The Cowen Group
Moderated By DAVID COWEN
The rise of the Corporate Legal Chief of Staff. Corporate law departments are adding a legal Chief of Staff role. What are these positions? What are the skills, competency and experience required to be successful in these roles? How do you measure success? And, what’s next for these professionals and your career?
Participants
Alex Jonas – Senior Manager, Legal Operations and Legal Chief of Staff, Autodesk
Eva Lehman – Chief of Staff and Vice President Global Legal Operations, Western Digital
Eduardo Ruiz Montoya – Vice President & Legal Chief of Staff, Hewlett Packard
Designing Your Innovation: Ready, Set, Go!
Douglas Ferguson – President, Voltage Control
Much of our day will be spent discussing the art of and trend towards co-creation. After a full day of informative and instructive speakers, Douglas will share what to do next and how to jump into action, using an examples from his work with a corporate department.
