Starting as KM Leader at a New Firm

Description: ILTA's Knowledge Management Peer Group is pleased to present this podcast featuring the perspectives of KM leaders Gina Lynch of Paul Weiss and Ali Shahidi of Cooley, both of whom recently joined these firms to lead their KM programs. Gina and Ali discuss their KM roles at their prior and current firms, how and why Paul Weiss and Cooley have defined the scope of KM, and their short- and long-term project priorities. They also provide useful thoughts on the benefits of longer-tenured KM leaders taking a fresh look at their firms, practices and resources.

Speakers:
Chris Boyd is the Senior Director of Professional Services for Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR), a 700-attorney firm, leading the teams that recruit, develop and retain the firm's attorneys. In the areas of knowledge management and professional development, Chris and his team design, develop and market learning tools that give each WSGR professional the skills and knowledge required to deliver maximum value to clients. These tools include substantive legal training programs, professional skills group classes and one-on-one coaching, model and sample forms, profiles of past deals and cases, and expertise locators.

Gina Lynch is the Director of Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where she is responsible for all knowledge initiatives and is currently working on information governance standards, workflow solutions and client site strategy. She has been leading knowledge initiatives in global law firms for over 20 years, and prior to joining Paul Weiss worked at Bingham McCutchen as the director of knowledge services, overseeing the library and CI teams. While there, Gina co-chaired the team that implemented an award winning Intranet that drove key metrics around business intelligence, financials, clients and matters to firm partners and business group managers.

Ali Shahidi is the Director of Knowledge Management & Research Services at Cooley LLP. With over 20 years of experience in the legal industry, Ali oversees the firm's knowledge management, business analysis, practice innovation, application development, library and research services functions.