About Us: Knowledge Management & Technology

At McGuireWoods, we continually find new ways of using technology to ensure that our lawyers and staff have the tools they require to anticipate and respond to our clients' needs.

The focus of our technology strategy includes access, mobility and support, all with a Web-based design.

Our Knowledge Management Strategy

We use technology as one aspect of a broader Knowledge Management strategy at McGuireWoods. To deliver legal and business services in a "connected" world, our lawyers must have access to the firm's collective corporate knowledge anywhere and any time. All of the firm's lawyers have access to notebook computers and many of them carry personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other wireless devices. It is not uncommon for our lawyers to access the firm's network remotely through high-speed DSL connections and cable modems, and our highly trained information technology staff installs and supports the necessary equipment.

High Speed Collaboration

All of our offices are connected through a high speed, wide area network, allowing seamless information sharing across the firm. Just as important, we securely share this information with clients on a real-time basis, using simple technology such as encrypted e-mail, or sophisticated systems such as rapidly deployed extranets. This collaboration is also augmented by video conferencing and online, real-time meetings between lawyers and clients using MS Net Meeting. We use leading-edge applications such as RightFax, InterWoven's WorkSite, the MS Office suite of applications, and other tools to further teamwork throughout the firm.

Doing Business on the Internet

E-business and e-commerce are not just buzzwords to McGuireWoods. We practice what we preach. In addition to connectivity applications like McGuireWoods Connect (see below), we actually do business on the Internet. We can provide clients with electronic invoicing, real-time access to financial information, and, through affiliated partners, valuable electronic content such as online sexual harassment training for employees and supervisors.

The World Wide Web has allowed us to communicate and collaborate with clients and potential clients through our current generation Internet site, serve and work in partnership with existing clients through our extranet services, and share information firm-wide through our intranet site.

McGuireWoods Connect

McGuireWoods Connect, our extranet development service, takes typical attorney-client collaboration a step further. The concept is very simple: give lawyers and their clients a secure, easily accessible electronic forum where they can share documents, access resources, and exchange information. McGuireWoods Connect does that by providing a secure site for the organized storage and retrieval of documents and electronic group discussions. The service requires minimal training and users need only Internet access to benefit from it.

Document Management

Our immense experience in handling large document matters brings value to our clients. With our systems for document collection, ordering and analysis, our lawyers can control, organize, access and share critical documents firm-wide.

For larger litigation matters, such as class actions, we create databases containing descriptions and images of relevant discovery documents. The systems allow lawyers to search for specific documents directly from their desks, without having to spend the time looking through many boxes of paper. In addition to the reduced risk of misplaced documents, and the cost of retrieving and re-filing documents, this method can reduce copying costs and efficiently position the client for summary judgment, settlement or trial.

Case Management

To ensure effective time and resource management, we have an internally developed case management system to plan and schedule activities related to upcoming case events. This product allows us to maintain, organize, and cross reference relevant case information, such as witness identities, key issues, upcoming deadlines and tasks to be completed. When one lawyer updates the system, all lawyers have access to the information immediately. This saves time and money, and keeps all attorneys current on their cases. 

McGuireWoods uses advanced deposition and trial transcript management software, giving all lawyers on the system access to relevant transcript files, which can be searched by keyword and annotated electronically. Critical testimony can be quickly copied and inserted into court papers, status letters, or other firm-generated work product, again reducing unnecessary duplication. Other new technologies are in place in the firm that provide our attorneys the upper hand in the courtroom. These technologies include products from inData which allow the presentation of videotaped depositions, photographs, documents, and other exhibits from a central, attorney-directed console. New exhibits can be easily added and the entire case outline can change based on new information.

Billing Systems

Effective billing systems are the cornerstone of a positive business relationship. The firm uses the Elite Financial Management System and has developed custom billing templates to meet client requirements. To accommodate special requirements we have developed customized bill processing and formatting techniques designed to combine timely response with clear and concise explanations of time spent on behalf of the firm's clients. The Elite system allows us to transmit bills and statements electronically in a form that suits each client's needs.

An Ongoing Commitment

We do not stand still in our commitment to use the best resources, technological and otherwise, to serve our clients. We constantly evaluate new technologies to increase our efficiency and enhance our responsiveness. We constantly test, evaluate, adopt and even develop software applications to augment our excellent client service. Our Knowledge Management strategy ensures that we have both the vision and the focus to operate with maximum efficiency and accuracy in the digital age.