Innovation

Mr. Harrison elaborates on the firms Adroit model saying, “it allows us to analyze a particular legal task and then make sure that it's done in the most efficient way possible. It's designed to take work streams and analyze them and deconstruct them so you can deliver that in the most efficient repeatable way.” In order to satisfy the increasing client demand for similar services, a group of project managers and lawyers worked together to form the management and legal aspects of BLG Adroit. With both groups contributing to the project the finished technology was able to analyze and deconstruct how the legal services could be carried out to maximize the benefit for the consumer. The BLG Adroit is an addition to expanding CSR within the company by strengthening communication with consumers and making sure all their needs are being met through the transaction.

Inspiration

Throughout BLG’s history, the company had formed a strong sense of corporate social responsibility when dealing with clientele and those affected in the local community. The company had existed through the hardest of economic times, especially through World War 2. The pre-merged firm known as Borden and Elliot played a crucial role in the war. One of the founders, Henry Borden, was appointed as the chairman of the War Time Industries Control Board to assist in the war. This showcases the duty towards the community that the founding fathers of the firm have exemplified in previous generations. This created a resilient company with one defining goal: To maximize process efficiency and project management for clients. This inspired the innovation of the BLG Adroit model which utilizes advanced process and management methodologies “to create maximum value, efficiency, consistency, predictability, and transparency [for clients]."

In the merger of 2000, Borden Ladner Gervais had become the second largest law firm in Canada. BLG continually acquired smaller companies in the following years after 2000. Moreover, this created a new culture behind BLG. A culture of constantly expanding the brand to meet the needs of equally large corporate firms. These corporate firms require extensive support for “business and legal drivers, project objectives, and outcomes.” This was the purpose behind the innovate model of BLG Adroit and was purely motivated by the demand of large corporate firms.

Overall impact

Not only was BLG Adroit made to maximize the benefit of consumers it also has a positive impact on the firm itself. The core principle behind the development of the model was to provide more legal services to the growing demand from clients. Since being introduced the model allows BLG employees to provide clients with efficient and controlled services. To expand on, a specific benefit of the model is the repetitive nature it provides. The project management component of the BLG Adroit model improves as similar legal tasks are run through it, meaning employees utilizing it are also constantly learning up to date project management methods. Secondly, the model also acts as a learning tool for BLG employees that wish to focus on understanding ways that pricing can be lowered for future legal services, this providing a new method of executing mandates that previously was not brought into perspective. Furthermore, when a legal transaction can be accomplished more swiftly and with consistent results the society which it operates within benefits from these disputes being settled. While carrying out transactions that consumers can fit within their own budget all parties present are satisfied when consumer benefit is being maximized, when asked how the firm modelled BLG adroit to cater towards their clients, Mr.Harrison concluded “I think that our clients being our consumers benefit from greater predictability and lower pricing and more efficient service delivery.” The innovation continues to be highlighted on their website so that potential consumers seeking out legal services from the firm can inquire about the model and see if their demands meet the requirements to use it.

Business benefit

The business benefits that are drawn from BLG Adroit would be increasing the supply provided to consumers while indirectly rising consumer demand by efficiently increasing the turnover rate of providing the company’s legal services. Since BLG Adroit can help solve business problems between parties, there is a secondary benefit from corporations that show economic growth from solving such conflict.

Social and environmental benefit

By providing consumers with greater predictability and lower pricing with more efficient service delivery, the firm’s innovation is achieving both 8 and 16 of the United Nations Sustainability Goals. To expand on, BLG engages in the resolution of disputes between parties, business/corporate law, and copyright issues, all of which are valuable contributors towards economic growth within a market. By providing legal transactions to consumers through the BLG Adroit model, the firm is ensuring the continuation of economic growth and satisfying the SDG's 8th Goal of Decent Work and Economic Growth. Moreover, SDG 16 of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions is being satisfied by BLG making sure corporate conflict is resolved and protecting the copyright and intellectual property rights of clients. Therefore, it is ensuring that the laws that clients work within are being enforced.

Interview

Andrew Harrison, Regional Managing Partner