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Strategic and practical
Managing Partners leading research into legal knowledge
management on the continent has revealed that there are clearly two
sides to this job role. On the one hand, you have to have a strategic
plan for where knowledge could take your firm and how you will embed
it. On the other hand, the strategic plan is useless if you dont have the
practical techniques to
manage knowledge and
demonstrate that you are
managing as well as
actually embedding it.
This years 8th annual KM
Legal Europe conference
has been carefully balanced between strategy and practice, in alignment
with this research, to ensure that any knowledge manager or lawyer
attending will leave with a clear view of how to best focus their time and
effort. Indeed, keynote speaker Mart van de Kerkhof, Head of Know-How
at Allen & Overy will reveal a new strategic approach for how you can
choose the right tools to support KM activities in your firm.
A strategic future for knowledge
Back by popular demand, world renowned keynote speaker Dave
Snowden, will explore agility in legal knowledge management. Often
knowledge projects become so large and so complex that it is hard
to keep up with the fast changing nature of the legal services market.
Through his keynote, Dave will demonstrate how you can use agile
project management to change direction during your KM projects, in
response to changes in the market and your firms strategy.
Client matters are also becoming increasingly complex, and,
since satisfied clients are your bread and butter, the use of knowledge
management in client service is the key way to get knowledge on your
firms strategic agenda. Some clients are now demanding that firms
demonstrate their legal project management (LPM) skills and their IT
capabilities at the time of tender. Global firm Baker & McKenzie, which
has several offices on the continent, has been quite radical in creating
actual Legal Project Manager roles and its Director, Knowledge Global
M&A Practice Group will give the second keynote at this event, drawing
on themes raised by Dave Snowden to help you decide if you should
implement LPM in your firm.
Winning the argument with senior
management
One sure fire way to win investment in your KM programmes is to draw
a clear link to the bottom line. At KM Legal Europe 2014 two different
presentations will explore the methods of measurement of KM activities
and their potential for creating cost efficiencies in law firms, now that
fees are being squeezed.
Engaging your fee earners
A big challenge that seems to be common across Europe, no matter
what stage of the knowledge journey a firm is at, is engaging lawyers
in the importance of KM. At this years conference, we are fortunate to
have comparative case studies from two different European firms on
the techniques they have used to achieve this. Norton Roses Head
of Knowledge (EMEA), based in France, will explain how the firm has
used a knowledge cost code to track the hours invested in knowledge
management, while the Latham & Watkins team from Germany will
explain how the firm has introduced a knowledge element directly into its
annual bonus structure for lawyers.
There is certainly a debate to be had over whether incentives work to
encourage knowledge sharing or not and Menno Ong, the past-event
Chair will present the counter-argument, against incentives. You will then
get the chance to have your say via a floor discussion so that when you
leave the conference you will have a clear idea of how best you could
engage your lawyers back at your firm.
Practical tools
At Managing Partner we understand that while you need to keep
an eye on the strategic goals, much of your day job is about the
practical implementation of KM projects and programmes. This years
programme will also include practical advice on topics including:
Engagement
SharePoint
Open access legal texts
External content
Dont feel that you are alone
One thing that past delegates have rated highly about this conference,
is the opportunity it provides to establish long-standing relationships
with other knowledge managers and lawyers dealing with similar issues
across the continent, which becomes of value when you need advice on
knowledge issues from your peers once you return to your firm. Indeed,
a subcommittee of the International Bar Association was enhanced
by the discussions resulting from our last conference bringing this
community closer together. We are delighted to have the Chairman of
the subcommittee speaking at KM Legal Europe, to share with you the
committees work during 2013 and its plans for 2014, so you can have
the opportunity to be involved at a pan-European level going forward.
Make sure you become a key player in the European legal
knowledge management community, book your place on KM
Legal Europe 2014 today!
LEGAL EUROPE 2014
KM
Two-day conference with pre-event site visit 21-23 January 2014 Amsterdam
tel: +44 (0)20 7324 2365
|
events@ark-group.com
|
www.kmlegaleurope.com
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Directors and Heads of Knowledge Management, Knowledge
Managers, Knowledge Lawyers and Information Managers from
across the European continent.
This is an established community annual event and is the best
way to establish face-to-face connections with those working
in the same field as you and to determine common solutions to
shared problems.
New ideas,
practical examples and
good to meet new people.