Evolving KM Episode 5: North of the Border and Across the Pond - User-Focused KM

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how Knowledge Management is progressing and the impact it is having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have either worked in or on the periphery of Knowledge Management. We're given their perspective on how this profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

In this episode, we have a thought-provoking conversation with Kate Simpson, the National Director of Knowledge Management at Bennett Jones in Toronto. Kate started her career in an online legal publishing startup in London, and then built a consultancy practice for KM and design thinking for law firms in the UK and Canada. She applies the best practices of these roles to her current KM position, focused on the intersection of people, process and technology. Kate is a regular writer for Canadian Lawyer magazine, including an article exploring the role of product managers in law firms, in which she advocates for a user-focused approach. She has been involved in the Institute for the Future Practice of Law to promote innovation with the next generation of lawyers. Without predicting the future, Kate shares the attributes she sees as most important for an evolving KM team. Tune in to hear the discussion unfold!

Moderators: Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.

Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager within the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.