The Knowledge Management Group Committee is as follows:
Chair:
James Holyday, Knowledge Manager, Linklaters LLP
Committee Members:
Melanie Farquharson, Consultant, 3Kites Consulting Limited
Melanie’s career began in an international law firm, where I became a partner in 1994. I was always looking for ways to do things better and took an interest in the way knowledge was shared across the firm, so that we did not reinvent the wheel. In 2001 I became the firm’s Director of Knowledge Management and found I had a great interest in the business of law, as much as the law itself. That role provided many opportunities to be involved in wider change projects. This gave me a real insight into the potential for technology to improve the delivery of professional services.
Lucy Dillon, Chief Knowledge Officer, Reed Smith LLP
Lucy is responsible for the delivery of the Reed Smith’s knowledge, innovation and information strategy. Her role is to deliver access to the relevant information and knowledge required to deliver exceptional client service. Using technology and project management to deliver legal service efficiently is a key focus of the firm’s Practice Innovation team, which Lucy’s leads. The firm has invested in an Innovation programme to harness the ideas and creativity of the firm’s community. Lucy and her team also identify opportunities for the firm to collaborate with clients to help them deliver their own strategic goals.
Andrew Dey, Independent Legal Technology Advisor for Corporate Legal
Andrew was a founder member of the Banking Legal Technology (“BLT”) group, the Legal IT Innovators Group (“LITIG”) and the “KMIT” in-house legal group and is an active member of the Knowledge Management Committee of the Society for Computers and Law. Having worked closely with the LEDES Oversite Committee (“LOC”) to produce the international version of their eBilling standard and pioneer the use of matter management and eBilling in the UK, he is on the Board of the LOC. Andrew also works closely with the Legal Operations Group of the ACC (Association of Corporate Counsel) and has been on the judging panel for a number of legal awards.
Ruth Ward, Head of Knowledge & Collaboration Technologies, Allen & Overy LLP
A finance lawyer in the last century, and a KM professional in this. Ruth led A&O’s central knowledge function for a number of years before becoming one of our global IT heads. In her current role she continues to lead on A&O’s knowledge systems strategy and head the legaltech engagement and comms team. She particularly enjoys her work with A&O’s clients, advising on all aspects of KM and legaltech adoption.
Jane Bradbury, Head of Knowledge & Information, Slaughter and May
Jane is Director of Knowledge & Information at Slaughter and May, a department that covers Knowledge Management and both central and practice stream Information Services. Her role includes responsibilities in connection with the Professional Support lawyers and she has in previous roles at other firms also been responsible for Learning and Development.
Mark Ford, Chief Knowledge Officer, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Mark Ford is Chief Knowledge Officer at Baker McKenzie, where he leads a team of nearly 300 knowledge professionals. He joined the firm in June 2015 after spending more than 20 years at Clifford Chance, first as a lawyer and then in a variety of knowledge management-related roles. He was a pioneer in the development of client-facing online services and led the implementation of a firm-wide document automation initiative, which resulted in the creation of more than 300 automated standard form documents. In 2007, he set up the firm’s Legal Service Centre in Delhi, which was the first “captive” offshore legal operation established by a major law firm.
Latest News: ‘Valuing Value Add’ Report – Andrew Dey and Melanie Farquharson of the SCL KM Group have produced a fascinating report which details the results of their research into ‘value add’ – the additional services provided by law firms which go beyond the scope of the contractual commitment arising from their client’s instructions.
Read the full article and download the report