Keynote Speaker: Catherine MacDonagh, JD
Catherine Alman MacDonagh, JD is the founder of the Legal Lean Sigma Institute and the developer of both Legal Lean Sigma® and the award winning Legal WorkOut®, a collaborative method for lawyers, business professionals, and clients to engage in process improvement together that has won multiple awards, including the 2018 Process Excellence Award for Best Business Transformation Process at the OPEX Week: Business Transformation World Summit.
A former corporate counsel and law firm executive, Catherine is a Legal Lean Sigma® Black Belt and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt who now teaches and provides training and consulting services with a focus on process improvement, project management, operational and process excellence, organizational development and strategy. She co-founded the Legal Lean Sigma Institute to provide consulting and the first and only process improvement and project management certifications, courses, and workshops designed specifically for the legal profession.
Catherine is an adjunct professor at Suffolk Law School and George Washington University (Master’s in Law Firm Management) and a frequent guest lecturer at other academic institutions. She is the author of Lean Six Sigma for Law Firms and the co-author of The Woman Lawyer’s Rainmaking Game and The Law Firm Associate’s Guide to Personal Marketing and Selling Skills. She is a contributing author to six books: Redefining Matter Management: A Best Practice Guide to Improving Processes and Profitability; The Lawyer’s Guide to Project Management; The Bigger Picture: Driving Client Value Through Collaboration; The Lawyer’s Guide to Process Improvement; and The Procurement Handbook.
Catherine’s full bio can be found here.
Morning Session: Lean Law Libraries – Shaunna Mireau
As the former Director of Knowledge Management and Process Improvement at the Field Law firm in Alberta, Shaunna’s position included coordinating knowledge management projects, managing the firms Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement projects, and close collaboration with the firm libraries, technology team and practice groups. Shaunna retired from traditional employment in June 2018 and is spending her time serving as the Vice President (President Elect) of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries.
She blogs at Slaw.ca and wrote “Internal and External Marketing by Information Professionals”, a chapter in A Handbook for Corporate Information Professionals, by Katharine Schopflin, contrib. ed. (London, UK: Facet, 2014) and a chapter titled “Working in Knowledge Management” in Legal Information Specialists: A Guide to Launching and Building Your Career, by Annette Demers, ed. (Toronto, LexisNexis, 2012). Shaunna graduated from the MacEwan Library Technician program in 1992 and earned her Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University in 2015.
Afternoon Session: From Start to Finish: Getting Your Project Management Game On
Panelists
Katherine Lowry, BakerHostetler
As Director of Practice Services, Katherine reports to the CIO and provides strategic leadership and governance of the firm’s information technology deliverables and services to five core practice areas. While her role oversees knowledge management, training and integration of business applications, business process improvement solutions, and the delivery of information and research services, it also includes management of the newest legal innovation group, IncuBaker, focused on the integration of three major advancements: Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics. Katherine obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stetson University and her law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.
Megan Von Behren, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Megan Von Behren is the Senior Research Services Manager at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson in New York City, where she has also served in roles such as Technical Services Librarian and Interim Help Desk Manager. She received her PMP (Project Management Professional) certification in April of 2017.
Sandra Dunbar, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C.
Sandra Dunbar is Firm Librarian for Heyl Royster Voelker and Allen. Sandy has been with Heyl Royster for 12 plus years. During that time she managed the move and downsizing of all five of the firm’s libraries; four of those moves were office relocations. More recently the firm has opened new offices in Chicago and St. Louis, with the expectation of largely electronic resources. Sandy is a graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and an M.L.I.S. graduate of Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.
Moderator
Elaine Egan, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Elaine M. Egan is Director, Global Library and Information Services for Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Elaine is the current PLLIP Chair and is an active member of AALL and LLAGNY having served as Past President and Board member. She received her MLS and undergraduate degree from St. John’s University. As a moderator, speaker and panelist, Elaine has collaborated with PLLIP members on topics at the forefront of knowledge management, law firm strategy, user engagement and industry trends. Elaine can be reached through LinkedIn.
Afternoon Session: Two Concurrent Sessions
The Power of Process in Action: Applying Process Improvement Concepts and Tools – Catherine MacDonagh
See above.
Legal Project Management: Enhancing Delivery of Legal Services – Leslie Brown
Leslie F. Brown is the Hogan Lovells Head of Legal Project Management for the Americas. She is an experienced Knowledge Management and Legal Project Management professional with a background in patent and complex litigation, and technology transactions. She is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia. For more than 10 years, Ms. Brown has been responsible for implementing practice-oriented and business development initiatives that are focused on institutional knowledge sharing and collaboration, professional skills development, effective client service, and efficient legal management. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Brown was a software consultant providing computer systems implementation and training services to clients across the US and around the world.
In addition to her role as Head of Legal Project Management at Hogan Lovells, Ms. Brown is a creator and an adjunct instructor for the Advanced Diploma program in Legal Project Management at NYU School of Professional Studies and is a frequent speaker on legal project management. She is on the Advisory Board of UC Hastings’ LexLab, and is a member of the True Value Partnering Institute (TVPi) Council of Advisors.
Ms. Brown earned her law degree at the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, during which time she served as an associate editor for the Berkeley Technology Law Journal, and holds a degree in Computer Science from Brown University. She recently became a Certified Legal Project Manager.
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