Featured Session: The Era of the Connected Firm
Oct. 27, 2020 | 9 - 9:45 a.m. PT / 12 - 12:45 p.m. ET / 4 - 4:45 p.m. GMTAs client buyer behavior evolves, firms struggle with a host of converging factors, including pricing pressure, increased competition, and winning the battle for top talent. The truth is that you can no longer afford accept operational inefficiency as the status quo if you want to remain competitive in the marketplace. Welcome to the era of the connected firm, where best-in-class technology integrates data, processes, and people to reduce costs, accelerate growth, increase profitability, mitigate risk, and provide superior experiences to professionals, partners, and clients alike. Join this session to learn more about this vision for the connected firm in professional services, and hear from a panel of industry innovators from some of the world’s firms, sharing their perspectives on how leaders can address some of the most pressing challenges facing our industry.
Speakers
Terra Liddell
Chief Marketing OfficerFinnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Terra Liddell
Chief Marketing Officer
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
As CMO at Finnegan, Terra Liddell has firmwide responsibility for marketing, communications, business development, and research services for one of the largest IP law firms in the world. She works closely with firm management to develop, refine, and execute Finnegan’s vision and strategy across 10 offices worldwide. Overseeing a team of communications, website and social media, business development, public relations, event planning, and other research and information services professionals, Terra implements programs that build brand awareness, leverage market intelligence, direct marketing strategy and communications, and develop business aligned with the firm’s goals.
Ann-Michele Bowlin
Global Chief Information OfficerNorton Rose Fulbright U.S. LLP
Ann-Michele Bowlin
Global Chief Information Officer
Norton Rose Fulbright U.S. LLP
As Global CIO, Ann-Michele Bowlin is responsible for Norton Rose Fulbright’s global IT strategy, innovation, and implementation. Her duties include advocating for and implementing global IT projects; leading the management of the IT team’s relationship with major business stakeholders; directing the delivery of quality, cost-effective IT services; advising leadership on IT functions and contingencies; and overseeing the global IT shared budget and the overall financial viability and performance of the IT teams.
In overseeing the firm’s global IT strategy and services, Bowlin applies her expertise in strategic planning, innovation, business process transformation, organizational change, and global program management. Based in Houston, she regularly visits the firm’s principal offices in other cities, where she meets with key business stakeholders.
Nicholas Bagiatis
Chief Operating OfficerReed Smith LLP
Nicholas Bagiatis
Chief Operating Officer
Reed Smith LLP
As Chief Operating Officer, Nick Bagiatis oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm’s global operations. Driving the firm’s administrative functions — including human resources, technology, knowledge management, accounting, finance, and operations — his role is to ensure the firm is focused on delivering operational excellence and efficiency.
Bagiatis is a member of the firm’s senior management team and executive committee. He is actively involved in significant lateral acquisitions, preparing the firm’s long-range financial plan, and the firm’s geographic expansion process.
Prior to taking the role of Chief Operating Officer, Bagiatis was a senior member of the Business and Finance Department leadership team for more than 10 years. He managed global operational and financial functions of the department, and helped shape the strategic positioning of the practice. He uses his strong understanding of the business of law to improve financial management, pricing, and project management across the firm.
Bagiatis directs the Reed Smith Client Value Initiative in developing, aligning, and executing strategies and tactics that both support existing client relationships and bring new clients and business to the firm. He leads the firm’s strategy related to evaluating and implementing value pricing, alternative fee arrangements, and legal project management.
Prior to joining Reed Smith, Bagiatis served as a manager in the audit department at Deloitte, where he was responsible for overseeing one of the U.S. firm’s significant public company audits. He was also active in the launch of a tech practice in the Pittsburgh regional market. Upon joining Reed Smith, Bagiatis took an active role working for the firm’s senior management team on various special projects.
Ralph Baxter
Board MemberRalph Baxter
Board Member
Intapp
After leading a prominent global law firm for nearly a quarter century, Ralph Baxter has turned his attention to a diverse set of activities, across the spectrum of the evolving legal profession.
He regularly advises law firms, legal technology start ups, and corporate law departments on their strategies and execution. He is an active writer and speaker, including participation in law firm partner meetings, about the emerging models for improved delivery of legal service.
He is a Senior Advisor and member of the Advisory Board of the Stanford Law School Center on the Legal Profession, a member of the Advisory Board of the Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at the Georgetown Law Center.
From 1990 to 2013, Mr. Baxter served as Chairman and CEO of Orrick, leading Orrick’s progress from a domestic firm with California origins to become one of the world’s leading global firms. He launched numerous transformative initiatives during his tenure, including the creation of Orrick’s Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia, and changes in the firm’s talent and pricing models.
Dan Tacone
President and Chief Client OfficerDan Tacone
President and Chief Client Officer
Intapp
Dan Tacone is the President and Chief Client Officer at Intapp. Since 2010, he has helped build Intapp into one of the most valued and trusted partners to professional service firms. With over 35 years of professional services experience, he plays a pivotal role in helping meet clients’ most pressing challenges in a changing yet vibrant environment. Prior to Intapp, Tacone held leadership positions in sales, marketing, professional services and consulting at technology firms focused on the professional service industry. Tacone was the COO of Elite Information Systems where he helped establish the company as the market leader offering practice management systems for the professional services industry before its acquisition by Thomson Reuters. At Thomson Reuters, Tacone held various leadership positions as a Senior Vice President.