1. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM
Sofia, 2 June 2006
Alberto Fortún

2. FOUNDATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (KM)
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT(KM) IS VITAL TO A LAW FIRM’S EFFICIENCY AND COMPETETIVENESS
Increasing lawyers’ knowledge = increasing firm’s assets
CONCEPT: A systematic method to identify, capture and leverage the knowledge of individual lawyers so that this knowledge becomes an organizational resource benefiting clients, firm lawyers and the law firm (Byron Sabol, Managing Partner of a US firm)

3. GOALS OF A KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT GROUP
UNIFY CRITERIA (Technical security for the client and for us)
KNOWLEDGE TRANSMISSION (Training and communication of our profesionals)
GREATER QUALITY OF DOCUMENTS (Equalization and brand image)
REDUCE DUPLICITY (Saving time and costs)

4. Creation of a forum to discuss complex matters
ACTIONS AND TASKS
Specific co-ordination of Criteria (Specific support in the study of complex matters)
Creation of a forum to discuss complex matters
Commission for the Co-ordination of Criteria
Communication of Criteria
Creation of a Database for document models
Knowledge transmission
No duplicity of work
Harmonization

5. ACTIONS AND TASKS Continuos Update and Technical Commissions
Builds and manages a documental database of:
Standards
Experiences
Resolution of technical enquiries (Telephone / “Management of Commercial Knowledge”)
Services: Informative bulletins for professionals, newsletter for clients, management for internal area education, unifying criteria, recopilating experiences etc.

6. Elaboration / Update standards
STANDARDS AND QUALITY
Elaboration / Update standards
Greater Quality
Harmonization
Brand Image
Types of standard documents:
Formats
Agreements
Notes
Due Diligence
Company models
A great part are available in English and French

7. Bibles of transactions Agreements Contractual Clauses Notes
SHARING EXPERIENCES
The documental database of experiences which KM Group includes:
Bibles of transactions
Agreements
Contractual Clauses
Notes
Company models
Legal opinions

8. PRACTICES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Staff allocation depends on firm size
KM is carried out in various departments
New initiatives focus on software, intranet and training
KM is going entreprise – wide but tailored to practice groups
Technology expenditure is minimal
Attorney’s participation is crutial

9. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: INTRANET

10. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: RESOURCES

11. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: DATABASES

12. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: WEBLIBRARIES

13. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: ARCA

14. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: PRACTICE GROUPS

15. KNOWLEDGE SPACE

16. KNOWLEDGE SPACE: LEGAL INFORMATION CENTER

17. HOW LEFIS COULD BENEFIT LAW FIRMS (I)
WIDENING THE LAWYER’S ORGANIZATION
Network
Trustmark
Quality
Know-How
PROVIDING ATTORNEYS WITH MULTIDISCIPLINAR KNOWLEDGE
ALLOCATING KM STAFF
LOCATING “SOURCE PEOPLE” AND PUBLISHING WHO KNOWS WHAT

18. HOW LEFIS COULD BENEFIT LAW FIRMS (II)
MINIMIZING TECHNOLOGY EXPENDITURE
SHARING EXPERIENCES
RELIABLE RESOURCES
REFERENCE MATERIALS (Bookmarks and Links to resources and centers of opinion)