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August 9, 2018 In January 2018, The World Economic Forum published its Global Risks Report, finding that in terms of likelihood,Cyberattacks and Data Fraud or Theft fell 3rd and 4th in international risks facing businesses, both rating at around 4 out of 5 in corporate risk levels. Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters were the only two ahead on the list, but unlike environmental risks, technological ones can practically be managed and mitigated. The latest gold mine for hackers. The legal industry has particularly seen a stark increase in data breaches as cybercriminals realize the value of information they can tap into and how easy it often is to access. The industry has even been labeled “the latest gold mine for hackers.” This is because of the value of information circulated in the legal industry, and the easy access to client networks through firm networks. This can prove to be extremely damaging and the financial impact can compound into hundreds of millions of dollars, taking into account equipment replacement, regulatory fines, and lost business among other consequences. Third party involvement in a breach increases the cost. The Ponemon Institute's annual Cost of a Data Breach Study reported earlier this month that on average, the cost of a breach of at least 1,000 lost or stolen records rose a quarter of a million dollars, from $3.62M to $3.86M. Third party involvement in a breach increases the cost. If a third party caused the data breach, the cost increased by more than $13 per compromised record for an adjusted average cost of $161, up from $148 per record. Very few organizations can handle such costs, with major data breaches estimated to have average costs of $39 million -$350 million depending on the amount of data breached and the rate at which it was contained. For smaller organizations, a data breach can easily put them out of business. Devastating consequences. Let’s look at two examples of data breaches that had devastating consequences: In 2010, hackers instigated a massive attack on Canadian law firms, companies, and the government, successfully penetrating at least seven firms, including prominent firms Stikeman Elliot and Blake, Cassels & Graydon, in search of exclusive information on a takeover of the Potash Corporation. Daniel Tobok, who investigated these wide-spread attacks, stated that the attack was not only “very sophisticated and highly targeted” but that “nobody knew the severity of the issue or what was happening.” Not only were companies and firms targeted, but the cyber attack’s success in penetrating the Canadian government’s computers shut down all internet connections to the Finance Dept and Treasury Board and divisions of the Dept of National Defense, and almost a year later, all three departments still didn’t have full internet access. The consequent shut down of the deal cost nearly $40 Billion in the loss of the deal alone, with millions more in lost business and data. Even more infamous was the attack on Mossack Fonseca, the fourth largest offshore law firm, when more than 2.6 terabytes of information was stolen and nearly 11.5 million documents were leaked. An estimated $135 billion was wiped off of the value of nearly 400 companies after what was dubbed The Panama Papers incident, not to mention the massive fines and closures the firm faced. The information leaked led to numerous investigations, high-profile resignations, police raids and arrests, protests, and national legal reforms, amongst other consequences. According to Hannes Wagner of Milan’s Bocconi University, the financial hits to companies following the Panama Papers represents “the largest [overall] loss in history” following a data breach. Too many organizations are still employing a reactive stance than a proactive one. Despite more awareness of the prevalence and reality of attacks, too many organizations are still employing a reactive stance than a proactive one. For law departments and firms especially, it is too little, too late to ask for security certifications from technology vendors when a breach has already taken place. Cybersecurity consideration and preparedness must be sought and enforced from the onset, built into law department and firm technology acquisition processes and centralized in the same way other vendors due diligence processes are performed. Use ISO 27001 Certified, fully secure Counself Risk platform to send Due Diligence Requests to your vendors, create and circulate intelligent Forms that streamline the data collection process for you and your vendors, and maintain full audit histories and access security restrictions for ease of monitoring and maintenance. Please contact us here for more information.

December 16, 2023 Are you a Legal Operations professional planning to use data for decision-making? You might have a list of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and reports but are uncertain about which ones to prioritize and how to implement them effectively. This is a common challenge. A necessary approach is to avoid overpromising; instead, focus on setting achievable goals and progressing step-by-step. Data analytics is complex, requiring a strategic approach. Having a list of KPIs is not enough; prioritization and understanding how to implement them effectively and sustainably is also needed. Legal Data Analytics Readiness Model Data analytics transcends specific technology or tools; it's the process of transforming raw data into actionable insights. Achieving this can involve a range of technological solutions and methodologies, making data analytics a comprehensive science. The goal of this model is two-fold: to assess your current readiness level and to select metrics and indicators aligned with your readiness. This enables not only measurement but also the creation of a roadmap for KPI implementation and use in management and decision-making. This evaluation assigns each area a rating from 1 to 4, representing readiness levels from Early to Advanced. Maturity is broken down into four areas: People, Operations, Technology, and Data. An example KPI and its categorization across these areas and levels will be discussed. What are the Levels of Maturity? To acknowledge the progressive stages, let’s divide readiness into four distinct levels: Early (Level 1) - Legal departments at this stage react to issues as they arise, lacking structured data analytics and minimal technology use. To improve, they should invest in data analytics training, establish data management processes, and adopt case management software. Developing (Level 2) - Departments implement technology, standardize processes, and use data for proactive measures and operational efficiency, moving towards data-driven decisions. Mature (Level 3) - With a structured approach and a dedicated data analytics team, these departments integrate data insights into decision-making, optimize workflows, and use advanced technology for strategic planning. Advanced (Level 4) - At this peak stage, legal departments significantly contribute to business goals through predictive analytics, advanced visualization, and AI, influencing company-wide strategies with their insights. What Are the Key Areas of Maturity? The key areas of maturity represent the pillars on which a legal department can build and enhance its data analytical capabilities and provide a framework for assessing where you currently stand and what needs to be developed. People - Assess the competencies of the legal and IT teams, focusing on technical skills, adaptability, leadership, and communication, to ensure effective use of data analytics. Operations - Evaluate the efficiency of legal processes and workflows, management of data in cases and documents, communication effectiveness, and compliance protocols, considering their integration with other departments and contribution to organizational goals. Technology - Examine the utilization and integration of technology tools to enhance legal operations' efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and support data-informed decision-making. Data - Analyze the quality, accessibility, and use of data for strategic decision-making, including the sophistication of analysis techniques and the impact of data-driven insights on legal strategies and outcomes. Real-World Example Let's examine the KPI Matter Average Age (MAA) and the suggested minimum readiness level needed for its implementation. People (Level 2) - Requires understanding of matter management and legal operations life cycles to effectively use MAA data in legal operations. Operations (Level 3) - Emphasizes structured processes for case management, including uniform criteria for case lifecycle, to ensure consistent MAA calculation. Technology (Level 2) - Utilizes matter management systems and reporting tools for efficient MAA reporting, minimizing manual errors and offering detailed insights for improved decision-making. Data (Level 3) - Necessitates high-quality, accurate data for precise MAA calculation, noting challenges like delayed case closures that may affect accuracy. The Matter Average Age demonstrates the importance of readiness across key areas: understanding legal processes (People Level 2), having structured case management (Operations Level 3), using technology for efficient reporting (Technology Level 2), and ensuring data quality for accuracy (Data Level 3). This example underlines the need for a multidimensional approach to effectively implement and leverage KPIs within legal operations. Measuring Readiness Determining your position within the Legal Data Analytics Readiness Model is critical for strategically implementing relevant KPIs. Aligning legal operations with the organization's wider goals facilitates continuous improvement and long-term success. To evaluate your current level of readiness in legal data analytics, a readiness assessment tool has been developed. See this article on Linkedin here. Got any questions? You can contact us at info@infiniglobe.com or (833) LGL-TECH.

September 14, 2020 As businesses evolve, so do their process and system requirements. Often, however, TeamConnect objects, fields, screens, and processes are not kept up to date with newly-desired functionalities. Without dependency references, system admins hesitate to delete or hide a field that was customized and added in ages ago, clogging the system with hundreds of fields and tens of screens, with no idea of what’s useful and what’s obsolete. This compounds into lost motivation, if not full frustration, for end users when they login to TeamConnect and try to manage their cases or approve invoices. We all have come across applications that we use if and only if we are required to use them. To do a proper system cleanup, you need visibility of your data and usage trends. The IG Insight data mining tool analyzes your data and generates reports showing the usage of all fields, records, etc. These Reports support business users and IT in making decisions on retiring or archiving old data, fields, modules, and processes. Whether you are planning for your next TeamConnect upgrade, updating your business process and workflows, or simply would like better insight into how your users use your TeamConnect, this tool can help you significantly increase efficiency, cut costs, and open up system visibility. For more information, contact us at info@infiniglobe.com or at +1 (833) LGL-TECH.

“Today, the role of the legal department is expanding across the organization,” said Mark Delgado, General Manager, EMEA & APAC, Mitratech.“Given that recent shift, it’s more important than ever that the right technology is in place. We look forward to working with InfiniGlobe to ensure client success.” As a Mitratech Certified Partner, InfiniGlobe is committed to assisting clients with new implementations, helping them understand and realize the benefits of their system, and advising others on how to advance and enhance existing solutions. The company’s experienced teams offer a broad range of matter management implementation and customization services, including project management, process analysis and system design, as well as data conversion, report writing, end-user training, and continued support. View the official press release here. About Mitratech Mitratech is a market-leading provider of legal, compliance and risk software solutions for more than 1,200 organizations of all sizes across the globe, representing almost 40 percent of the Fortune 500, and over 500,000 users in over 160 countries. Mitratech’s portfolio of enterprise legal and risk management software includes: legal matter management, spend management, eBilling, legal hold, contracts management, risk management, policy management, audit management and health & safety management. To learn more, visit mitratech.com. About InfiniGlobe InfiniGlobe LLC is a software technology and consulting company headquartered in Newport Beach, California, offering a broad range of professional services and software solutions for the legal industry. With decades of experience working in legal technologies and a prominent reputation of consistently and passionately helping clients solve their problems, the InfiniGlobe team enables Corporate Legal Departments and Law Firms alike to overcome the challenges and complexities of technology through simple, intuitive design solutions. At InfiniGlobe, we don’t believe in the finite – in what just works; we believe in the infinite – in purpose, collaboration, and achievement. To learn more, please visit infiniglobe.com.