Ron Friedmann

SUMMARY

Lawyer with extensive experience in technology, software business, legal market, and knowledge management. Strong ability to translate business needs into technical solutions. Excellent people, analytic, writing, presentation, and communication skills.

EXPERIENCE

Prism Legal Consulting, Inc. (Arlington, VA) 2002-Present

Founder and Principal

Use technology to create strategic and competitive advantage in the legal market.

· Advise Law Firms/Departments: Provide advice on strategic technology planning, knowledge management, litigation/practice support, and serving clients more effectively with technology.

· Advise Legal Market Vendors: Help legal market software companies develop and position products and formulate marketing strategies.

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo PC (Washington, DC and Boston, MA) 2001-2002

Chief Information Officer

Developed client-facing technology strategy and managed IT department for firm of 500 lawyers.

· Initiated Strategic Projects: Built and market tested online legal services. Rolled out portal with expertise database and content management. Created knowledge management strategy. Developed plan to enhance use existing infrastructure.

· Managed Information Technology Operations: Supervised IT department of 50+ staff with a $15 million budget.

iLumin Corporation (McLean, VA and Orem, UT) 2000-2001

Vice President, Corporate & Strategic Development

Planned alliances and strategy for online signing (digital signature) software company.

· Set-Up Alliances, Managed Beachhead Account, Structured Software Licenses: Identified potential partners and initiated discussions. Managed relationship with lead customer from inception through beta testing. Negotiated and drafted agreements and revised pricing schedule.

Jnana Technologies Corporation (Arlington, VA and New York, NY) 1998-2000

Director, Legal Applications Division

Brought Web-based expert system software to market.

· Developed the Legal Market: Identified law firm/department prospects for using self-service expert systems to improve client service. Explained benefits, maintained pipeline, and closed deals. Created sales materials, presented at conferences, and wrote white papers. Helped customers (e.g., GE and Davis Polk) gain favorable publicity for their use of Jnana software.

· Provided Knowledge Management and Product Consulting: Built online advice and knowledge management systems. Taught customers to build their own. Installed product and integrated with databases and XML stores. Wrote documentation and trained application authors.

Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (Washington, DC) 1989-1998

Director of Computer Applications

Pioneered and managed the use and development of technology to improve lawyer effectiveness.

· Identified Business Problems and Obtained Buy-In to Solutions: Identified how to use technology to create competitive advantage and reduce costs. Developed proposals and budgets, presented the business case to management, and won approval to develop solutions.

· Initiated/Supervised Productivity and Knowledge Management Projects:

Intranet: Supervised creation of first firm-wide Intranet in 1996.

Work Product: Built work product retrieval systems.

Litigation Support: Created integrated full-text, database, and imaging system.

Colleagues’ Exchange: Co-developed the idea for pre-Internet professional community.

Other: Created pre-Web hypertext reference system. Co-designed virtual library.

· Hired Staff, Prepared Budgets, Negotiated Contracts: Interviewed and selected staff for technical, library, and legal assistant positions. Prepared an annual technology budget of $2 million. Negotiated contracts for software purchases and online legal research.

Bain & Company (Boston, MA) 1986-1989

Consultant

Created corporate strategies for Fortune 500 clients of this strategy consulting firm.

w Identified $50 million in potential profit for a national consumer brand.

w Designed a sales force compensation plan for a direct marketing firm.

w Created strategic pricing plan to counter falling prices for medical supply company.

Data Resources, Inc. (New York, NY and Stamford, CT) 1979-1983

Consultant and Team Leader

Provided consulting support and customized financial/economic analysis for many large companies.

w One of two people to open a new office in Stamford.

w Built and managed a consulting team.

w Developed an investment screening system, M&A model, and product line forecasts.

PROFESSIONAL

· Co-Founder and organizer, Law Practice Technology Roundtable: Co-founded a group of lawyers and legal technologists that meets regularly to discuss the impact of technology on the business of law. Plan agendas, identify speakers, and organize meetings (19 since 1991).

· Published Numerous Articles: Wrote many articles published in legal periodicals. Topics include knowledge management, e-mail, litigation support, and e-commerce for law firms.

· Frequent Presenter at Conferences. Presented at Legal Tech, ABA Tech Show, PLI, ABA, and other seminars and conferences targeted at lawyers and legal technologists.

· Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management. Inducted in 2002 into this society that honors achievement in law practice management.

EDUCATION

New York University School of Law, JD, Cum Laude (Rank: 3^rd out of 375) June 1986

Oberlin College, BA, Honors in Economics (Phi Beta Kappa) May 1979