Stephen Poor, Brett Bartlett Quoted and John Duggan, SeyfarthLean Mentioned in American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel
"On the Right Track"

Seyfarth Shaw Chair Stephen Poor and Atlanta partner Brett Bartlett were quoted, and senior project manager John Duggan was mentioned in the June issues of American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel in an article discussing the growing trend among law firms of employing project managers to increase efficiency in handling complex matters.

The firm was acknowledged as an "extra-early adopter" of the concept, and Seyfarth's utilization of the Six-Sigma approach to better serve clients while cutting costs and hours spent accomplishing legal work—SeyfarthLean —was noted. "We're really talking about a whole new mind-set and a way of doing business," Steve commented.

Brett brought up an example in which John designed a cost-effective plan to meet a tight deadline involving conducting 400 employee declarations for a massive wage-and-hour suit. "Had the attorneys been left to their own devices," Brett said, "it would have been almost impossible to do it efficiently."

Brett declared John "central to Seyfarth's efficiency drive," and said he has begun accompanying partners on key client pitches to help explain the SeyfarthLean process. As a result of one meeting, the firm was able to gain a major retail client that has since hired the firm to work on additional cases.

Though project management is practiced differently at different law firms, the article recognizes the increased acceptance of alternative fees and need for project management as something that, when utilized correctly, will greatly benefit firms on the front line.