Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - 12:45 PM - 1:455 PM

Top things to consider when doing Strategic Planning for Legal

Panelists will discuss approaches to strategic planning, keys to success, external as well as internal information to consider, how you know if it is successful, how is it perceived by the legal team or broader company, and more. 

ACC Legal Ops Strategic Planning Interest Group

Aaron Van NiceDirector, Legal OperationsBaxter Healthcare Corp.

Aine LyonsVice President and Deputy 

General Counsel,Worldwide Legal Operations

VMware, Inc.

Bob TaylorVice President, Senior Counsel

Liberty Mutual Group

What does Strategy (strategic planning) mean to you and why should a Legal Department do it?

Speakers: Aine Lyons, VMware; Robert Taylor, Liberty Mutual; Aaron Van Nice, Baxter

Holistic & integrated view of legal function

Alignment with goals and priorities

Well articulated focus areas

Longer term time horizon

Changing environment 

Pressures – costs, resources, delivery mandates

In‐house legal is a business

When doing Strategic planning where are some places to Start? 

Information sourcesQuestions to think about

Time horizon Costs to implement

Pace of change in organizationRisk assessment

Speakers: Aine Lyons, VMware; Robert Taylor, Liberty Mutual; Aaron Van Nice, Baxter

Data

Business priorities

How do you measure success of your strategic plans?

Speakers: Aine Lyons, VMware; Robert Taylor, Liberty Mutual; Aaron Van Nice, Baxter

Milestones, Metrics & KPIs

Corporate success factors

Longer term view

Industry benchmarks

Client Surveys

How often should you update your plan? 

Speakers: Aine Lyons, VMware; Robert Taylor, Liberty Mutual; Aaron Van Nice, Baxter

Major changes in company

Major changes in legal dept.

Dynamic, nimble approach 

Revisited each year

What are the important things to consider when doing a strategic plan for a Legal Department?  

Speakers: Aine Lyons, VMware; Robert Taylor, Liberty Mutual; Aaron Van Nice, Baxter

Funding

Business alignment Prioritization

Risk mitigation

Define and measure success

Drive accountabilityChange management

Why

Can you describe a situation where there was a significant change and how did you manage the plan? 

What are some key differences or considerations between an enterprise strategic plan and the Legal Department plan? Similarly, difference between Legal Department plan and Legal Ops? 

Who should own the Strategic Planning Process?

Bonus Questions:

Speakers: Aine Lyons, VMware; Robert Taylor, Liberty Mutual; Aaron Van Nice, Baxter

Appendix:

1) Graphics – e.g. Legal Ops Focus areas2) Corporate or Legal dept. goals template or sample3) Technology4) Suggested reading 

Suggested Reading

• Strategy That Works: How Winning Companies Close the Strategy‐to‐Execution Gap‐ by Paul Leinwand, Cesare R. Mainardi

• Porter, M. E. "What Is Strategy?" Harvard Business Review 74, no. 6 (November–December 1996): 61–78.

• CEB Materials / ACC Law Department Management

Strategy in Legal Operations Management

Strategy in Legal Operations Management

Technology and

Automation

Efficient Resource Allocation

Vendor Cost Mgmt.

Knowledge Mgmt.

Professional Development Comms

Data and Business

Intelligence

Strategic Business Planning

Continuous Imprvmnt.

People

Legal Ops Focus Areas

Efficient Operations &

Scale

Objec

Enab

Focu

FOC

US

& S

CAL

E

VMware Legal Operations Overview 2016

Copyright © 2015 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.

Budget PlanningBudgetHeadcountInternal / External Spend

echnolo

Milestones Achieved

Align legal department budget and goals to drive enablement of business priorities Focus Area: Strategic Business Planning

Copyright © 2015 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.

Improve operational metrics to drive better reporting, forecasting and strategic decision-Focus Area: Data and Business Intelligence

Copyright © 2015 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.

Legal: Strategic Focus Areas (2018)

CONFIDENTIA

ImpactPublic Policy

MRE

ire plia

acy

Support Bookings & Revenue

Build Patent Arsenal

D Operat

Effici

Xx

VMware Legal: 2018-2020 Strategy

7

▪ Xxx

Xx ▪ Xx

Strategic Business Support Templates

The strategic business support templates were created to track Legal goal performance against defined success metrics. We report metrics and savings atquarterly & annual business reviews.

Sample Templates: ▪ Focus Areas & Goals▪ Plan on a Page ▪ Governance Process

Copyright © 2015 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.

CEO Priorities Goals Measurements

H1 FY18 Focus Areas and Goals: Legal Mission: Lead with strategic solutions, Inspire an ethical culture and Drive VMware’s success

Support Financial Plan

Completed On Track Issues Get Well Plan

2017 Plan on a Page: Initiative/Goal Description:

Q1 Deliverables Q2 Deliverables Q3 Deliverables Q4 Deliverables

Key Success Metrics:

Current Statu

Legal QBR Meetings Legal QBR Decks Due Functional Plan & Priorities eStaff QBR Meetings Talent Review “ Person on Page

Legal Governance Process