Earlier this week, the International Legal Technology Association handed out its annual Distinguished Peer Awards recognizing the innovation of both individuals and organizations. For an industry with an entirely deserved, if slightly overblown, reputation for lagging on the “coward’s edge” of technology adoption, these awards shine a light on those doing the hard work of leveraging modern technology into applications that deliver for clients.
At the organizational level, ILTA recognized the following:
Innovative Law Firm of the Year: Jackson Lewis P.C.
Innovative Law Department of the Year: Sanofi
Innovative Project of the Year — External/Client-Facing: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Innovative Project of the Year — Internal/Firm-Facing: McInnes Cooper
Innovative Solution Provider of the Year: iManage
We’ve discussed iManage’s contributions before, as they’ve taken what was once a fairly straightforward document management solution and turned it into an AI-enabled one-stop knowledge management haven. Jackson Lewis won its award in part for its workthruIT® product, a suite of web-based tools providing clients with legal and compliance information and assessments of potential legal risk. “Client service and responsiveness are central tenets of our culture, and our digital solutions empower our attorneys by improving their efficiency, while our clients realize the significant benefits of potentially reduced legal spending, faster resolution and a host of self-service capabilities,” said Firm Chairman Vincent A. Cino.
On the individual side, ILTA recognized these folks:
Knowledge Management Professional of the Year: Shengshi Zhao of Clayton Utz
Litigation Support Professional of the Year: David Hasman of Bricker & Eckler
Security Professional of the Year: William Kyrouz of Ropes & Gray
Technology Training or Support Professional of the Year: Jennifer Zanieski of Troutman Sanders
Innovative IT Professional of the Year: Shawn Curran of Freshfields
Leadership Award: Kate Cain of Sidley & Austin LLP
Young Professional Award: Shengshi Zhao of Clayton Utz
Innovative Consultant of the Year: OnGuard Consulting Team, Traveling Coaches
Innovative Thought Leader of the Year: Arup Das, Alphaserve Technologies
I got a chance to sit down with Arup Das of Alphaserve, the Thought Leader of the Year, and talk about industry trends. One insight he offered that few have focused on is the idea that smaller and mid-sized firms will drive the next wave of legal tech innovation. While the Biglaw elite have tended to drive adoption in the past with their deep pockets, Das feels those deep pockets have become a liability to innovation. The elite will spend their cash on established brands offering expensive but tested brands and it will be the smaller organizations that will, out of necessity, push vendors to create the cost-effective, bespoke solutions that they need. And the smaller firms have the benefit of more direct practitioner involvement because the lawyers using the products are less likely to be separated from vendors by layers of tech professionals.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Earlier: iManage Used To Be Where You Stored Your Files. Now It’s Where Your Files Work For You.
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.
