Rolling Out LPM Software at Akin Gump

In this interview with Bloomberg Law, Toby Brown, Director of Strategic Pricing and Analytics at Akin Gump, discusses his career trajectory and current role in developing pricing strategies and legal project management at the firm. Initially focused on pricing, Toby's role has evolved to encompass broader practice management, including legal project management (LPM) and practice reengineering. He explains the challenges of integrating traditional project management into legal practices without disrupting the way lawyers work.

Toby shares insights on a pilot program using Lean for Legal, a project management software aimed at improving fixed-fee work within a transactional practice group. He highlights two key success factors: leadership-driven initiatives and client-demanded project management. Toby also discusses the importance of managing budgets effectively and the evolving nature of pricing functions within law firms. Looking ahead, he envisions further reengineering of legal practices over the next five years, aiming to embed these changes into Akin Gump's service delivery model.