Experience

• 

  Fireman & Company

  • Phoenix, Arizona, United States

  • Senior Consultant

    • May 2017 - Present
    • Phoenix, Arizona, United States

    Provide management advisory services to law firms in the areas of knowledge management and strategic technology planning, including IT benchmarking and assessments.

• 

  Michael Farrell Associates LLC

  • Phoenix, Arizona Area

  • Founder & Principal Consultant

    • May 2016 - Present
    • Phoenix, Arizona Area

    Performs technology assessments for law firms and provides strategic advice on opportunities to improve a firm's use of technology to operate the business and deliver services to clients, to align IT systems and services to ensure reliable and secure ongoing operations, and to improve the IT organization's services to lawyers and staff.

• 

  Norton Rose Fulbright

  • London, United Kingdom

  • KM Programme Manager

    • Aug 2014 - Apr 2016
    • London, United Kingdom

    Led global implementation of Recommind's Decisiv enterprise search product to enable global access to information about the organization's experience as embodied in its people and the work performed for clients. Also led design of a new global content management system for capturing and maintaining knowledge and delivering access to fee-earners worldwide through extension of enterprise search.

• 

  Michael Farrell Group Ltd

  • Scottsdale, Arizona

  • Principal and Consultant

    • Jul 2013 - Aug 2014
    • Scottsdale, Arizona

    Delivered professional consulting services to the legal industry in the areas of strategic technology planning, legal process improvement and innovation, and knowledge and information management.• For leading US regional law firm, provided on-going strategic advice to align renovation of technology platform with strategic business objectives while also optimizing spending and appropriately leveraging outsourced service providers.• For US-based AmLaw 100 firm, developed strategy to leverage IT and knowledge resources to improve lawyer productivity and firm profitability; led follow-on project implementing a comprehensive legal project management and legal process improvement program designed to enhance profitability.

• 

  Dentons (formerly SNR Denton)

  • Greater Chicago Area

  • Chief Information Officer US and Asia Pacific Regions

    • Jul 2012 - Jul 2013
    • Greater Chicago Area

    Led information technology services and operations for the US, UKMEA, and Asia Pacific Regions to achieve alignment with strategic business goals. Optimized quality and costs of services through appropriate mix of internal and external resources. Aligned IT risk management with firm risk management. Promoted and supported optimization of technology-enabled business processes and information flows. Led IT planning and implementation for the US, UKMEA, and Asia Pacific regions as part of the creation of Dentons during the largest legal combination in history.

• 

  HBR Consuting (formerly Hildebrandt Baker Robbins)

  • Washington D.C. Metro Area

  • Senior Director

    • Oct 2008 - Jul 2012
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area

    Service line leader responsible for strategic technology planning and benchmarking. Continuing practice in areas of legal process improvement, knowledge management, e-mail management, and information management for law firms and law departments.• Conducted IT balanced scorecard assessments for law firms using proprietary methodology to mitigate risk, manage spending, improve IT systems and services and enhance lawyer and staff productivity.• Led annual law firm Staffing and Spending Survey for 2009 and 2010.• Assisted Seven-Sisters Canadian firm with the evaluation, selection, and implementation of e-mail filing system aligned with firm’s knowledge management and electronic records management objectives.• Assisted Seven-Sister Canadian firm in benchmarking the maturity and adequacy of its legal project management approach.• Assisted AmLaw 10 and Canadian Seven-Sister firms in development of knowledge management strategies, development of knowledge management organizations, and implementation of strategic programs.

• 

  Navigant Consulting Inc.

  • Washington D.C. Metro Area

  • Director

    • 2006 - 2008
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area

    Co-leader of Information Lifecycle Management practice helping corporations and law firms proactively manage knowledge, information and records to achieve litigation readiness, compliance, and operational efficiencies while also preserving and sharing institutional knowledge. • Assisted a large global media conglomerate to identify and implement a technology solution to archive, audit, and classify critical electronic business records including email, Instant Messaging (IM), and VOIP so that the company can proactively identify and audit inappropriate communications and facilitate streamlined document production to systemic litigation.• Worked with an AmLaw 50 firm to evaluate fit of e-mail management technology with business strategy and cultural readiness.• Worked with Top-Tier law firms in US and Canada and a global pharmaceutical corporation to progress award-winning knowledge management initiatives.

• 

  Baker Robbins & Company

  • Washington D.C. Metro Area

  • Shareholder

    • 2002 - 2007
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area

    As Shareholder -- Expanded knowledge management consulting practice. Sold, managed, and delivered engagements with Global 50, Magic Circle, and AmLaw100 firms.• Worked collaboratively with Magic Circle firm to create KM strategy guiding consolidation and transformation of 300+ person KM organization; led project to renovate know-how systems and realign working practices and KM roles to improve quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of services.• Worked with legal department of a global pharmaceutical corporation to develop a knowledge management strategy supporting realignment of legal function; helped implement key early initiatives to bind lawyers into a virtual law department through global access to knowledge content, a portal, expertise location, while also improving cost, efficiency and availability of on-line research services.• Assisted the safety function of a global energy company to review and assess its global information and knowledge management people, processes and technology and to develop recommendations to improve capabilities in the future.• Developed business transformation strategy recommendations for top global legal publishing organizationAs Consultant -- Established knowledge management consulting practice. • Established trusted advisor relationships with key clients, providing on-going advice and counsel on building knowledge management programs. Helped clients assess the business case and start knowledge management initiatives by creating strategies, defining and prioritizing programs, establishing organizational structures, and implementing associated business process changes. • Member of the faculty of Hildebrandt Institute, integrating technology and knowledge management into on-going executive leadership training workshops.

• 

  Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

  • Washington, DC

  • Chief Information Officer

    • 1999 - 2001
    • Washington, DC

    Developed strategic technology plans and directed service delivery for $465 million professional services organization, managing 120 IT and litigation support staff with budgets totaling $31 million. Participated in marketing initiatives where technology was a key factor in selection of the firm as a service provider.• Transformed technology platform and IT organization into new model enabling the Firm’s global business strategy.• Turned around mission-critical Y2K implementation, mobilizing entire firm to accomplish objectives within time constraints. Accomplished Y2K transition with no disruption of services.• Established strategic partnerships with key service providers. Inaugurated the firm’s transition to managed services for selected technologies, reducing costs and improving service levels.• Developed extranet service portfolio for clients designed to enhance client intimacy through collaboration and create new revenue opportunities. Marketed the portfolio, expanding services to and revenues from top-tier clients and helping the firm win new clients.

• 

  PwC

  • New York, New York

  • Principal Consultant

    • 1998 - 1999
    • New York, New York

    For the Law Firm & Law Department Consulting Group, chartered to expand the Group’s technology practice in the areas of strategic planning and knowledge management. Sold and managed engagements for law firms and law departments of high-tech and professional service organizations. • Developed strategies for legal departments of major biotech and pharmaceutical companies focusing on core technologies and services, knowledge management tools, managing IP as corporate asset, and linking lawyers to scientists early in the invention process.• Led benchmarking studies of technology services and programs, recommending changes to maintain competitive position and align technology with business mission.

• 

  Covington & Burling

  • Washington, DC

  • Director, Information Technology Services

    • 1996 - 1998
    • Washington, DC

    Developed strategic technology plans. Managed firm wide IT with 32 total staff supporting 850 users. • Defined major new technology and KM initiatives and a multiyear implementation plan. • Introduced Lotus Notes, helping expand business with top clients and creating knowledge repositories.

• 

  Jones Day

  • Washington, DC and Cleveland, OH

  • Firmwide Manager of Practice Systems

    • 1990 - 1996
    • Washington, DC and Cleveland, OH

    As Firmwide Manager of Practice Systems (1993 - 1996). Established and managed development function chartered with fostering the use of technology to add value to the delivery of services to clients. Designed and deployed new firmwide systems and applications supporting professional service delivery activities.• Championed Lotus Notes as a tool for collaboration and knowledge management. Managed development of a portfolio of applications to support knowledge management and individual practice specialties. Led enterprise-wide Notes rollout.• Engaged lawyers in the ownership of and support for technology programs and knowledge-based initiatives.• Developed and implemented network-based solutions for imaging, electronic research, collaboration, document assembly, and document management. • Led design, development and pilot projects for a series of evolutionary technology programs that moved firm from Wang minicomputers to client-server-based enterprise networks supporting 3000 users worldwide. As Manager of Information Systems Washington, DC Office (1990 - 1993). Managed office IS for 250 attorney office with IT staff of 18. Built prototype systems that were later implemented firm wide.• Participated in firm-wide strategic planning to align technology initiatives with the business goals. Helped formulate a 5-year, $20 million plan to reengineer the technology infrastructure to support practice systems, new business management systems, and extranets. Managed implementation of firm’s first LANs. • Led team that designed a unique technology solution to run SoftSolutions document management system on 45 networked Wang minicomputers. Achieved multi-million-dollar ROI by extending the useful life of minicomputers until firm could move to PC LANs.

• 

  Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, P.C.

  • Northern Virginia

  • Manager of Information Systems

    • 1989 - 1990
    • Northern Virginia

    Implemented networked minicomputer systems in multiple offices. • Installed office-wide network to support front office and back office automation.• Installed the firm’s first voice mail and e-mail systems. • Introduced PC’s and PC-based applications (spreadsheets, databases, word processing).

• 

  Hogan & Hartson

  • Washington, DC

  • Information Systems Director

    • 1983 - 1988
    • Washington, DC

    As Information Systems Director (1985 - 1988). Built and managed IS organization during period of rapid business growth. Managed 70 IT and litigation support staff and budgets totaling $10 million. Introduced voice mail and automated message center systems. Designed and built computer facility and one of the first twisted pair cable plants supporting Wang systems As Manager, Computer Applications Department (1984 - 1985). Founded department to develop and support legal practice applications. Developed precedent capture and retrieval systems.Legal Assistant (1983 - 1984). Applied PC applications to legal practice specialties.

• 

  Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering

  • Washington, DC

  • Legal Assistant

    • 1978 - 1983
    • Washington, DC

    Litigation and Estates & Trusts. Developed automated drafting system for Estates and Trusts practice reducing time spent by lawyers on document drafting by 85% and focusing lawyer involvement in high value areas.