Keeping Tech Projects on Track

Before implementing Elite 3E, US law firm Munger Tolles replaced its self-built process automation software with Intapp’s Conflicts and Intake solution. It asked legal technology expert, Harbor, to help manage the complex and interdependent implementations.

“We needed a flexible conflicts and intake platform to match the rigorous review processes of much larger firms. But we also wanted to serve our internal clients, our partners better,” says Kevin-William Hughes, Senior Manager of Conflicts and Records at Munger Tolles. “After our internal vetting process and discussion with key stakeholders, we decided on Intapp applications as the best option.”

Having Harbor support two very high-profile projects at the firm resulted in better communication and eliminated issues. Kevin-William Hughes, Senior Manager of Conflicts and Records at Munger Tolles

Why Harbor?

Munger Tolles wanted to ensure its implementation timeline and project outcome, so it turned to Harbor to support the project. Harbor is a certified Intapp partner with deep domain expertise in the Intapp platform and Elite 3E. These joint skills gave Munger Tolles peace of mind that Harbor would deliver their project effectively and efficiently to ensure a successful and positive outcome.

“We were on a very tight timeline,” Hughes explains. “Our CFO wanted to ensure our rollout of Conflicts and Intake did not impede or hinder our 3E project. We felt that having Harbor support two very high-profile projects at the firm would result in better communication and eliminate any issues that could arise as we got closer to the go-live. That was essential given our complex and compressed timeline.”

Tackling consecutive go-lives

To allow ample time to adapt to new intake and conflicts processes, Munger Tolles chose to go live in phases, thus maximizing the firm’s return on investment while aligning with an ethos of continuous improvement. The firm first deployed Conflicts in its Elite Enterprise environment, then quickly progressed to Intake. It seamlessly transitioned Intake and Conflicts to Elite 3E as the software went live.

Harbor’s expertise allowed the firm to migrate from the old to the new practice management system without significant reengineering.

Streamlining using proven methods

Harbor’s model-office approach was critical to other project success elements. This method allowed Munger Tolles to quickly understand the benefits of the Intapp solution and make more informed decisions about what would or wouldn’t work for its business.

Harbor consultants also improved the firm’s ability to collect and annotate conflicts data with custom reports, helping attorneys visualize conflicts by organizing and presenting data in logical sections for accurate and rapid decision-making. This solution also leveraged Harbor’s asset library elements to jumpstart the development framework.

Jonathan Silva, Conflicts System Administrator, Munger Tolles, says Harbor’s services team was helpful throughout the project. “They were very knowledgeable about managing data communications across our software systems. Also, the Harbor project manager was always available to jump in and assist, which was particularly helpful.”

While each go-live was a success, in hindsight, Silva would recommend concentrating on a new software environment rather than getting the software running in a system that is about to be retired. “We essentially had three go-lives in a brief period,” says Silva. “The program was very resource-intensive, which Harbor helped us break into manageable pieces.”

Harbor was very knowledgeable about managing data communications across software systems. Kevin-William Hughes, Senior Manager of Conflicts and Records at Munger Tolles

Plans for future improvement

The firm’s conflicts team is now working to build proficiency with its Intapp platform to maximize efficiency and productivity.

“Ultimately, we want to ensure the platform remains flexible for our attorneys,” explains Hughes. “We want to provide service in a way that alleviates as much of the administrative burden as possible so they can concentrate on client matters.”

About Munger Tolles

For more than 55 years, Munger, Tolles & Olson attorneys have been partnering with clients on their most important and complex cases and deals. With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC, it maintains a national and international practice. Its principal areas of practice include litigation, corporate, labor and employment, environmental, real estate, financial restructuring and tax.