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ILTA’s litigation and practice support steering committee is really excited about our line-up of speakers for our peer group sessions at conference this year. Since May is ILTA’s spotlight month for litigation and practice support, I will be blogging about the speakers we have lined up for the conference in Las Vegas.

Today we put the spotlight on 2 of our panelists at the upcoming ILTA 2013 Conference.  Chris Haley and Deanna Blomquist are among the panelests for our session titled “The Business of Litigation and Practice Support”.  Another fabulous session described as follows:

Are you curious about the business models for litigation and practice support departments at other firms? LPS leaders will share their firm’s perspectives on the economics of the department, from breaking even to driving significant revenue. Panelists will discuss their current business models, insourcing and outsourcing decisions, challenges, successes, as well as changes they anticipate in the future.

So Deanna and Chris…

Q.  When and how did you begin your careers in Litigation and Practice Support? 

A.  Deanna:  I started in 2006 when I joined Faegre & Benson as Director of Client Technology Service.  The firm recognized that the changing landscape of e-discovery meant that they needed to do something differently with the leadership of the litigation support department and took a chance on recruiting a business person who had a background in service delivery operations and technology.

A.  Chris:  I helped start a trial presentation business in Tampa, FL. That business exposed me to not only courtroom technology, but technology used throughout the entire litigation life-cycle. I like to say that my career in this industry started at the end. Having operated presentation software in courtrooms and provided trial consulting services on hundreds of matters across the Country has given me a very unique perspective and understanding as to why we do the things that we do in litigation support early on in a case. Perhaps more importantly, I have seen firsthand the end result when evidence is handled poorly.

Q.  How has your role in this field changed over time? 

A.  Deanna:  My role has changed from being seen as an “order taker” to a collaborative consultant, at the matter, client, and firm levels.  This is an evolution I’ve observed across the industry.

A.  Chris:  I have had to learn to speak and understand complex technologies so that I can consult with our clients about their systems and manage the increasingly complex applications on our own systems

Q.  What do you find most interesting about this profession? 

A.  Deanna:  The fact that it is so dynamic.  We regularly have a chance to be very creative in reinventing and reshaping the way we provide services to our clients in response to rapidly changing technology, case law, and business processes.  What could be more interesting than being a professional in an industry that is truly transformational in terms of the way legal services are provided to clients?

A.  Chris:  Keeping up with the constantly changing technology and winning over a skeptical attorney

Q.  What do you do for fun? 

A.  Deanna:  Ski, hike, bike, garden, walk, run.

A.  Chris:  Spend time with my family

Q.  What are some of the key concepts you hope to cover in your session at the 2013 ILTA Conference? 

A.  Deanna: Due to multiple factors, we need to think differently about the way we deliver litigation support services to our clients and challenge the traditional law firm model; a firm’s service delivery model must fundamentally anticipate changing client needs so that the firm is positioned to effectively respond when those changes manifest

A.  Chris:  Advantages of providing eDiscovery services in-house and how to do it successfully

Q.  Anything you’d like to say to Conference attendees? 

A.  Deanna:  Because there is so much to learn about, see, and do during ILTA, spend some time thinking about what your personal goals for the conference and focus your efforts there.  Having a plan for each day – even if it’s at 35,000 feet and changes in the middle of the day – will help you get much more out of the conference.  I personally find the peer networking opportunities the most valuable part of the conference; I suggest attendees find out ahead of time who in their peer network is going to be there and set up a time to meet and catch up in person.

A.  Chris:  Stop me and introduce yourself. It would be great to meet you.

Deanna Blomquist provides strategic leadership and direction for the delivery of technology, professional and legal services in support of the firm's litigation and transactional practice areas. She develops strategies for litigation technology capabilities and litigation and transactional processes that bring value to the firm's clients and create an efficient, increasingly virtual practice environment.  website: http://www.faegrebd.com/Client-Technology-Solutions

Chris Haley is the Director of Litigation Technology for Troutman Sanders eMerge LLC. eMerge is a wholly owned subsidiary of the law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP and is dedicated to providing combined legal and technology services to its clients (www.tsemerge.com ). Chris has 15 years of experience in the legal technology and eDiscovery industry. Chris oversees eMerge’s technology and team of collection specialists, technology analysts, custom developers, and trial specialists. He consults directly with clients to help them address their eDiscovery and litigation technology issues. Prior to eMerge, Chris has worked in similar positions with Jones Day, Kilpatrick Townsend and Trial Exhibits.