Baker Donelson is a pioneer in legal project management and one of the first firms in the U.S. to develop its own LPM system, BakerManage®. BakerManage® is our award-winning LPM platform and the foundation for planning, budgeting, reporting, and management of any type of legal engagement, whether business or litigation. Since its creation ten years ago, we have implemented the system on more than 13,000 client matters and/or portfolios. Continued usage has proven to reduce matter costs by 30 – 45 percent for select clients.
BakerManage® encourages enhanced communication and transparency, greater team collaboration, systematic planning, proactive monitoring, and real-time performance metrics. The system assembles all key project information (e.g., scope, tasks, schedules, deadlines, budgets, reports, and performance) in one secure location. Using SharePoint, the platform securely shares information in real time with our team and clients through customized dashboards that are accessible 24/7 on traditional and mobile devices.
Our dedicated in-house Client Solutions Group (CSG), composed of lawyers who are also certified as Project Management Professionals (PMPTM) and Lean/Six Sigma specialists, works closely with our attorneys and clients to implement the BakerManage® platform at no additional cost to our clients.
Example Implementation
Client Need: To achieve greater efficiencies and cost savings in the management of litigation matters across the U.S.
Our Solution: Using BakerManage® as a foundation, and incorporating our BakerLean process methodology, we developed a highly customized approach to improve communication and transparency through:
- daily case note exports;
- real-time budget tracking and monthly budget-to-actual reports for individual matters and/or portfolios;
- quarterly reports to in-house counsel;
- process maps and workflows; and
- storage of all key documents and matter and/or portfolio information.
Implementation of these value-focused management practices produced a 45 percent reduction in per matter cost and a 63 percent reduction in matter cycle time after the first three years. The company's work to improve operational efficiencies was recognized by the ACC, who awarded the department "Legal Department of the Year for Outside Legal Management."