Internal investigations in corporations are typically conducted by the human resources (HR) department, internal compliance teams, and/or the IT department. Some cases may also require the involvement of outside third parties like forensic experts, consultants, law or accounting firms, or security experts.

These are often complex matters from a legal, process, and technical perspective. Depending on the nature and extent of the potential misconduct, the stakes can be very high, with risks that include legal jeopardy, large fines or damages, negative publicity, and damage to company culture and morale. Speed and efficiency are vital: organizations need to understand the extent of the problem and act immediately to prevent further damage.

To read about the key phases of an internal investigation and best practices, click here to access the article on Help Net Security.

There have been so many approaches to legal tech pricing over the years: a la carte, bundled, on-prem, and in-the-cloud. We’ve seen all of the different pricing models, and arguments can be made for each one. From our experience, we have found that eDiscovery users benefit the most when they have transparency into what they are being charged for.

It’s common for the unexpected to occur in litigation – cases often grow, which produces larger data sets and an increase in custodians. When planning for the unexpected, it’s comforting to know that you have the ability to control your costs and know exactly what to expect. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from our clients on the benefits they’ve experienced from having a transparent pricing model.

Casepoint’s Approach to Pricing

We take our pricing model a step beyond predictable – we make sure you’re in the driver’s seat. Casepoint’s focus is to ensure your eDiscovery technology costs are transparent and in your control. We give you the ability to take full control of your costs every step of the way and provide transparency into everything that you do.

We have found that this approach gives customers the ability to make decisions that are best for them. Think of it like ordering and paying for a dozen muffins. There are a number of ingredients that go into baking muffins – there’s the sugar, flour, eggs, milk, butter, and perhaps blueberries or nuts. Each of these ingredients has a cost associated with it. But let’s say you don’t want the nuts or blueberries, or maybe even the sugar. You can opt-out of paying for these small parts of a greater whole. 

Clients reap the benefits of using our eDiscovery solution while being able to pick and choose what they are paying for, which gives them control. Everything comes built into the system, but if you’re not using something or don’t need to use it, you’re able to see a breakdown in pricing very clearly to decide what you don’t want to pay for. This transparency allows you to save money while still having the great experience of using cutting edge technology. 

Anything Else is Window Dressing

From our 12 years of experience and innovation, we have found this to be the best approach to supporting our clients. Be wary of pricing structures that seem too good to be true. Some eDiscovery technology companies claim they only will bill you for the data you give them, but as you read the terms and conditions closely, nothing is clear about what that actually means. We don’t beat around the bush and we definitely do not incorporate hidden fees in the terms and conditions. Casepoint ensures that you are in the driver’s seat and have full control over your costs, all the while having complete clarity and insight into what you’re being charged for. Check out this eDiscovery Buyer’s Guide to learn about other components of legal technology that can affect your costs. 

Law firms are facing challenges and should take a hard look at how costs, business processes, and technological infrastructure intersect as they search for new efficiencies and smarter workflows. Casepoint’s David Carns says doing so will allow them to protect profit margins in the short term and scale much more quickly when the economy improves.

David Carns is the Chief Revenue Officer of Casepoint. He joined Casepoint as a Director of Client Services in 2010, rose the ranks to Chief Strategy Officer until his most recent promotion in 2019. In addition to being a recovering attorney, David possesses a lifelong passion for technology and its advancements. His career has always found him at the intersection of technology and the legal field given his intimate knowledge of both. Today, David leads Casepoint in its global sales and marketing strategy with foresight. In addition to business development strategy, David is very well-versed in Casepoint’s solution and technological prowess. David is attuned with the Casepoint application and its development since inception. He has also been on the client-side of the Casepoint application in his previous positions. Prior to joining Casepoint, David Carns’ positions included Director of Practice Technology at a premier global law firm, Technology Consultant, and Director of Technology. Carns holds a Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School and a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from DePauw University. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.

Cost recovery is a sensitive topic, but a necessary one. There are a number of reasons why some lawyers are reluctant to address it outright, especially since they don’t want to ruffle any feathers both within their firm and with their clients. Understandably, many law firms struggle with how to appropriately, reasonably, and ethically manage the costs of a modern, robust eDiscovery technology solution. However, the majority of modern, forward-thinking law firms have found that innovative technology routinely saves their clients money and produces better outcomes. And there are multiple ways for firms to ensure they cover their own costs while providing these benefits.

Litigation & Billing Roadblocks Don’t Have to be Roadblocks

When it comes to cost recovery options, there are a few basic roadblocks that give attorneys pause. For one, attorneys speculate and have an underlying fear that clients might reject getting billed for new charges. The fear is especially great when considering long-lasting clients that have been loyal for years. Attorneys don’t want to anger them or worse, lose them. However, by implementing cutting-edge technology, firms are actually adding value and bolstering their position to win cases for their clients. The use of technology actually increases accuracy and efficiency during discovery. From a holistic standpoint, a robust eDiscovery solution is a way of giving armor to litigators to help them stand out in the competition as an effective lawyer, which ultimately benefits clients and helps them succeed. Not to mention, the efficiencies and added value result in cost savings long term for both the firm and the client.

Attorneys also fear that their competition’s lack of cost recapture policies will appeal to their existing clients. There’s a common misconception that the majority of law firms aren’t implementing cost recovery models when it’s simply not true. The majority of modern, forward-thinking law firms have already done so and have seen immense benefits and cost savings that they then pass on to their clients. Cost recovery is a win-win for firms and their clients. 

The Importance of Educating Attorneys and Clients about eDiscovery Billing 

When implementing cost recapture models, the key is to educate attorneys within the firm and consequently educate clients. It’s important for clients to understand how they are benefitting from these new changes. When a firm has never charged clients for eDiscovery technology before, they need to get buy-in from their attorneys internally and educate them on the importance of doing so. Both management and attorneys are responsible for building their business and client base. By supporting and educating your clients with the best technology that’s out there, it strengthens your ability to represent them, and it bodes well for both the firm and the attorney. Getting buy-in from clients gives attorneys an opportunity to show them how they can help them win.

What are my Cost Recovery Options?

There is more than one way to recover the costs generated by new technologies. Refer to this comprehensive white paper for an in-depth look into the different cost recovery models that are being used by modern law firms today. 

I spoke with Haresh Bhungalia, the CEO of Casepoint, a provider of e-discovery software. We discussed the genesis of Casepoint, how it has adapted to the challenges presented by COVID-19, ways that legal technology companies can manage the current uncertainty and continue to generate momentum, how companies can use data-driven forecasting and precise cost modeling to guide them as the market shifts, and what can legal providers do to prepare now for the expected increased demand in litigation.

Listen to the full podcast on Reinventing Professionals!

On June 17, WashingtonExec will be virtually celebrating the most impactful and innovative C-suite executives in government and industry. These chief officers work in technology, security, data, operations, finance, business, and more, excelling on both sides of the government contracting sector. Our team of judges has chosen the finalists for the inaugural Chief Officer Awards, so before we announce the winners during the event, we wanted to get to know the finalists a bit better. This Q&A series highlights their careers, successes, proud professional moments, and notable risks.

Vishal Rajpara is the chief technology officer at Casepoint and a finalist in the Private Company CTO Award category.

Click here to read Vishal’s entire interview.

Casepoint has received Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program certification for a cloud-based eDiscovery technology designed to help public sector customers manage electronically stored information for legal proceedings.

The Casepoint Government platform has been certified at the FedRAMP moderate baseline to support data discovery in litigation, compliance, investigation, assessment, and Freedom of Information Act processes, the company said Monday.

“By achieving this authorization, we are able to help the federal government leverage artificial intelligence and advanced analytics-based tools that are built into our eDiscovery technology in order to stay ahead of the evolving legal, regulatory, business and technology landscape,” said Amy Hilbert, vice president of Casepoint’s public sector business.

To read the full article, please visit ExecutiveBiz.com.

TYSONS, VA, June 1, 2020, PRNewswire via COMTEX — Enterprise eDiscovery technology leader Casepoint announced today that Casepoint Government, an eDiscovery and litigation support platform specially configured for government clients, has achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. Casepoint achieved this significant milestone with the sponsorship of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC recently selected Casepoint’s technology to pilot moving their eDiscovery to the cloud. With this new authorization, other public sector clients can benefit from Casepoint’s fast, powerful, and easy to use eDiscovery solution for their litigation, investigation, examination, compliance, and FOIA needs.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, known as FedRAMP, is one of the federal government’s most rigorous security compliance frameworks.

To read the full article, visit MarketWatch.

FedRAMP Authorization validates Casepoint’s leadership in security for eDiscovery and clears the way to providing cloud services to other agencies across the federal government

Tysons, VA — June 1, 2020 — Enterprise eDiscovery technology leader Casepoint announced today that Casepoint Government, an eDiscovery and litigation support platform specially configured for government clients, has achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. Casepoint achieved this significant milestone with the sponsorship of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC recently selected Casepoint’s technology to pilot moving their eDiscovery to the cloud. With this new authorization, other public sector clients can benefit from Casepoint’s fast, powerful, and easy to use eDiscovery solution for their litigation, investigation, examination, compliance, and FOIA needs.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, known as FedRAMP, is one of the federal government’s most rigorous security compliance frameworks. FedRAMP provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used in federal agencies. This approach applies a “do once, use many times” framework that reduces the cost, time, and staff required to conduct agency security assessments. Government data is extremely sensitive, and agencies must follow strict requirements for data integrity and defensibility. FedRAMP authorization is mandatory for federal agency cloud deployments.

“FedRAMP Authorization for Casepoint will allow us to support federal agencies that must meet the demands of increased litigation, growing data volumes, and the need to comply with strict security requirements,” said Amy Hilbert, Vice President, Casepoint Public Sector. “By achieving this authorization, we are able to help the federal government leverage artificial intelligence and advanced analytics-based tools that are built into our eDiscovery technology in order to stay ahead of the evolving legal, regulatory, business, and technology landscape.”

As Casepoint’s cloud security framework was already mature by industry standards even before it sought the FedRAMP designation, it was able to secure sponsorship from the SEC and take a faster path toward authorization via FedRAMP’s Agency Authorization Process. Once designated “In Process,” it only took a few months for Casepoint Government to become FedRAMP authorized. Casepoint is now one of only a few eDiscovery vendors to have fulfilled all the criteria for FedRAMP Authorization, which applies to every application in its fully integrated, end-to-end eDiscovery platform.

“We are thrilled—not only to have achieved FedRAMP Authorization with the SEC’s sponsorship, but also to have completed this rigorous process so quickly,” said Sundhar Rajan, Casepoint Chief Information Officer. “Casepoint has accomplished in a year what it takes many vendors several years to get done. That’s a testament to the rigor and culture of security that has been embedded in our company from the beginning. Our goal has always been to provide both public and private sector clients with stringent security standards within a fast, scalable, and flexible cloud computing environment.”

Since its inception, Casepoint has made data security a top priority, subjecting itself to strict approval processes and independent third-party auditing requirements for ISO 27001:2013 certification, as well as SOC 1 Type I and SOC 2 Type II attestations. These and other measures are part of a formal security program at Casepoint that operates continuously at the company level, the data center level, and the web application and database level.

Based on 12 years of innovation in the industry and broad experience in the public sector, Casepoint Government provides agencies with a scalable, secure, and customizable computing environment. When Casepoint designed the architecture for the latest version of Casepoint Government, it proactively built in new capabilities for meeting FedRAMP requirements, which included more than 300 different security controls. The company also made organizational and process changes to its support, operations, and maintenance functions to ensure all data managed in the platform would remain in the US—an important FedRAMP provision. In addition, Casepoint hired consulting firms to help them prepare for and navigate the FedRAMP authorization process, including a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) to conduct testing. Casepoint Government is designed to meet the government’s strictest security requirements while providing 100% US-based hosting, maintenance, support, and services.

For more information about Casepoint’s comprehensive security program, click here. To learn more about how Casepoint is transforming legal technology, visit casepoint.com.

About Casepoint
Casepoint empowers legal departments, law firms, and public agencies by providing smarter legal technology combined with award-winning client service. Casepoint eDiscovery is the fast, enterprise-class, and next-generation eDiscovery suite from Casepoint, based on more than 12 years of innovation in the industry. It is built upon Casepoint Platform, a highly scalable, secure, and configurable application environment that meets the demands of sophisticated clients within eDiscovery and beyond. Whether SaaS, on-prem, or hybrid, Casepoint eDiscovery features cloud collections, data processing, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, review, and production – all in an easy-to-use web interface. Casepoint customers benefit from the ability to support sophisticated workflows across millions of documents and hundreds of users, with custom reporting and data management tools built-in. Simple, elegant, and intuitive, Casepoint represents the next generation of litigation technology that will empower your global legal team.

Media Contact

Shana Graham
206-661-6336
shana@plat4orm.com

Businesses are likely still in the process of evaluating the long-term impact that COVID-19 will have on their legal spend budgets, and what that means for their interest in legal technology or relationships with alternative legal service providers (ALSPs). But decisions may ultimately depend on a simple calculus made by each organization: Does the comprehensive range of services offered by many ALSPs trump the return on investment offered by purchasing a piece of legal tech for in-house use?

To read the full article, visit Law.com.

Seasoned Financial Executive Mohit Manocha Joins Casepoint as Company Experiences Continued Growth 

 Award winning enterprise eDiscovery technology leader, Casepoint, announced today the appointment of Mohit Manocha as Vice President of Finance. This appointment comes as the company experiences a sustained growth and user adoption surge following the recent transformative upgrade of its cloud-based software-as-a-service solution, Casepoint eDiscovery. Mohit Manocha’s appointment is one of many activities that indicate the financial and operations maturity of Casepoint–a privately funded company.

The addition of Mohit to the Casepoint team is the latest in a series of organizational developments to sustain the company’s accelerating growth projected to be 30% year over year, after taking into consideration impacts of COVID-19. As a company, Casepoint has increased in size from 370 employees in 2015 to more than 550 today. Customer adoption of Casepoint eDiscovery is up 453% from the previous year. Casepoint has been able to sustain its complete workforce without layoffs or furloughs the past three months. In step with this growth, Mohit Manocha’s appointment will bring necessary focus in the Finance department.

“We are delighted to welcome Mohit to our team at this exciting point in the evolution of our company,” said Haresh Bhungalia, Casepoint’s Chief Executive Officer. “Mohit’s experiences showcase his strategic financial leadership. He has demonstrated success in both establishing and sustaining the financial maturity of companies in a growth surge.”

Highly accomplished and experienced, Mohit Manocha will bring a strong focus on operational excellence, aligning operational execution with strategic vision. Mohit holds degrees from Northwestern University and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He led CollabraLink Technologies’s Finance department  for a decade before transitioning to Casepoint. Mohit has deep expertise in financial planning and analysis, management reporting, and finance IT systems.

About Casepoint

Casepoint empowers legal departments, law firms, and public agencies by providing smarter legal technology combined with award-winning client service. Casepoint eDiscovery is the fast, enterprise-class, and next-generation eDiscovery suite from Casepoint, based on more than 12 years of innovation in the industry. It is built upon Casepoint Platform, a highly scalable, secure, and configurable application environment that meets the demands of sophisticated clients within eDiscovery and beyond. Whether SaaS, on-prem, or hybrid, Casepoint eDiscovery features cloud collections, data processing, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, review, and production – all in an easy-to-use web interface. Casepoint customers benefit from the ability to support sophisticated workflows across millions of documents and hundreds of users, with custom reporting and data management tools built-in. Simple, elegant, and intuitive, Casepoint represents the next generation of litigation technology that will empower your global legal team.

This week’s guest on the Innovation In Compliance podcast is Amy Hilbert of Casepoint. She joined Casepoint to help build out their services for federal, state and local, and international government agencies, and to help ensure that the company had the right people, processes and contracting methods in place. She chats with Tom Fox about Casepoint’s services, and what they can do for compliance professionals.

Click here to listen to the full podcast with Amy Hilbert and Tom Fox.

This “new normal” has brought about many changes in various industries. There has been a mindset shift when considering the need to work remotely on a grand scale. Organizations that had not implemented cloud technologies prior to the stay-at-home order, may have experienced challenges when transitioning to work from home. For those that have had access to cloud technologies during this time, have been able to witness the benefits that the cloud provides. It’s clear that the cloud is instrumental to productive and effective remote working. The new processes and infrastructures that are materializing in response to the pandemic are going to persist and affect our routines in the future. This virtual reality is going to carry on well after we venture outside to our offices, so the need for cloud technology is greater now more than ever.

There are 5 things to keep in mind as this mental shift takes hold, and as working remotely becomes more accepted. These components make working from home a viable option for our present-day and post-pandemic future.

1. Cloud-based Technology is the Future

Prior to the requirement to work remotely, a number of organizations questioned whether or not cloud-based solutions would be a good fit or would fill their needs. It is becoming obvious now that cloud-based technology is essential – it can solve issues as they arise while simultaneously keeping teams connected.

In addition to investing in good quality and reliable hardware, investing in reliable technology solutions and virtual infrastructure is even more fundamental. Cloud-based SaaS solutions can improve workflows exponentially. They allow for flexible and easily accessible directories. With the cloud, all your files can be accessed from anywhere, any device, any time. For remote employees, this easy access can improve productivity and efficiency. To use Casepoint as an example, the switch to 100% remote was a smooth transition for us, and it was because we had cloud infrastructure in place. Casepoint employees were able to flawlessly resume ongoing projects. 

2. Safe & Secure in the Cloud

Security is always of the utmost importance, especially when it comes to working remotely. When working with a cloud-based solution, it’s important to know that the provider implements policies, technologies, authentication, and encryption that strengthen your security position. Cloud solutions have a team of experts that enforce best security practices to help protect your data and infrastructure from potential threats. Working with a cloud-based SaaS partner that is dedicated to protecting your data is an added security measure. 

Having third-party supervision and vigilance is beneficial for making sure your data is protected. Why allocate money, time, and resources on physical infrastructure to maintain when you can have a team of security professionals committed to maintaining the best security practices when monitoring your data? By using a cloud-based solution, extra security protocols are being outsourced to specialists who stay up-to-date with the complex and quick-changing landscape; they can help protect you from hackers and data breaches. 

3. Scalability is Key – Scale-Up to Meet Your Needs

The cloud is considered to be infinitely scalable given the flexibility to increase storage volume on-demand. Working in a cloud solution, sans physical infrastructure, can be easily managed thanks to its elasticity.  

One of the biggest advantages of cloud-based solutions is the ability to scale quickly to meet needs as they arise. Cloud technology allows for quick scaling of storage usage when needed due to its flexible nature. Being able to increase storage space for an urgent need is critical. Not only does it put one’s mind at ease knowing the availability is there at the drop of a hat, but it also helps to decrease expedited costs and enhances performance. Any process can be made more efficient with the on-demand capabilities the cloud offers. 

4. Speed, Speed, and More Speed – Get it Done in a Flash

Modern-day cloud solutions increase speed across the board and alleviate latency issues, and this is still the case even if data processing requirements increase. For any modern law firm or corporation, workloads are high – therefore the speed of execution is critical. With self-service features, computing resources can be administered whenever required, even sometimes within minutes. This gives organizations the ability to take control when it comes to planning for storage capacity. With the speed of the cloud, you’ll have more time for legal review or strategy rather than waiting for documents to load or process.

5. Easy as 1,2,3

Cloud solutions make working from home easier than ever before. Employees can not only access their files from anywhere, making it easy to work on projects and meet deadlines, but they can also easily collaborate in real time. As mentioned, users can add storage on-demand, they can share and access files easily, and tasks are completed quicker. Everything is made easy.

Cloud-based applications are made to be user friendly and easy-to-use. They give remote workers a fully unified and intuitive user experience. Everything is fully integrated and customizable. Any action is available at the click of a button, and the latest technology is available at the fraction of the time it would take with an on-premise solution. 

BONUS: More Reliable than an old Pick-up Truck

Working within cloud technology makes storage back-up and disaster recovery much easier and less expensive. Cloud-based solutions have the ultimate back-up system, and they prevent the possibility of file loss due to a lack of hardware failures. Data can be easily multiplied on a cloud provider’s network, which helps maintain business continuity for remote workers.

Conclusion 

The moral of this story is, the cloud is what modern, forward-looking organizations need in order to survive and thrive during a crisis of this nature, and even after it’s behind us. Based on these considerations, it’s clear that cloud-based solutions are future, and should not be overlooked. The cloud is capable of saving time, increasing efficiency, improving collaboration, upping security measures, all while being easy to use. For more information on the benefits of using cloud-based technology, take a look at this short brochure.

Given their proactive measures and potentially critical service offerings, legal tech companies are not yet receiving many requests for discounts or extended payment terms. But some caution it may be just a matter of time before more widespread disruption takes hold.

Outstanding invoices may be pilling up at an organization near you. Amid COVID-19 shutdowns and subsequent economic pain, client payment disruptions are becoming more prevalent across the economy. And with many law firms tightening their belts, those servicing the legal industry are likely receiving their fair share of requests for discounts or extended payment terms.

Just how much this is happening in the legal tech industry, however, isn’t entirely clear. But despite certain things in its favor, the industry is susceptible to such disruption, and there are signs that it is, for now, enough of a potential problem to motivate legal tech companies to take proactive measures.

Visit Law.com for the full article by Rhys Dipshan

How Advanced E-discovery Tools Can Help Simplify Information Gathering, Unify Disparate Information Systems, Standardize Workflows Across Departments, and Reduce Both Costs and Risk

The stakes in internal investigations can turn out to be very high. Companies can often respond effectively if they proactively plan for investigations and leverage technology that can comb through large amounts of data quickly at low cost.

No one welcomes the prospect of an internal investigation. Even a relatively narrow and focused investigation can feel like a distraction from day-to-day business. Broader investigations can become complicated exercises requiring investigators (and sometimes outside counsel) to work with multiple departments and stakeholders, struggle to manage disparate workflows, and sift through mountains of data to arrive at the truth.

While complaints to HR alleging discrimination or harassment based on race or gender are among the most common triggers of an internal investigation, other triggers run the gamut. They include whistle-blower complaints alleging compliance violations or corporate fraud, the loss or theft of physical assets, leaked or stolen data containing sensitive or personal information, and leaked or stolen intellectual property.

The stakes in these matters can turn out to be very high. A purely reactive approach to investigations can not only cause delays in determining the truth, but also increase the likelihood of runaway costs and damage to the company’s reputation. 

To read the full article by David Carns, visit Law Journal Newsletters.

The first half of 2020 so far has been tough to say the least. Globally, COVID-19 has been spreading, markets and employment numbers are down, and there is a general concern about how (or if) life will ever get back to normal. We cannot and should not underplay the significance and severity of these events. 

And yet, humanity is resilient; we already see signs that business is taking hold again. In the legal industry law firms, corporations, government agencies, and service providers have regrouped and are now effectively working from home. SaaS software has been the saving grace of nearly every industry. Whether Zoom, Microsoft 365, or Casepoint, SaaS software has enabled teams to work well together despite geographical boundaries. This crisis has certainly demonstrated that eDiscovery belongs in the cloud and is even thriving despite adverse circumstances. 

We are also seeing signs that litigation is about to grow significantly come summer and fall. Whether from inevitable contract disputes or class action concerns, the level of legal action is going to be substantial. The legal industry needs to prepare.

So what can legal providers do to prepare now for the increased demand and growth that is ahead? 

1. Move to the cloud. Cloud technology scales, is accessible from anywhere, and can already support your security requirements. 
2. Rely on companies who are staffed to work remotely and around the clock. You will need support to manage new matters and we know restructuring may have reduced onsite personnel who can help.
3. Ask about “playbooks” that a technology provider already has to quickly (and even more importantly effectively) onboard new customers. You need support and providers should already have that mapped out…especially if you are migrating from other legacy technologies. 

The reality is that while COVID-19 has caused months of turmoil, there is a growing demand to resolve disputes that have arisen as a result of the virus’s spread. The legal industry is the keystone to manage these disputes. Casepoint is prepared to help you prepare to face the growing demand. The time is now and it is easy to get started.

Check out this short white paper for more information on how cloud technology can benefit your organization now and in the long run.

Who will Lead, Who will Lag, and Who will Perish? – 

Casepoint’s Chief Executive Officer, Haresh Bhungalia, speaks with David Cowen about maintaining business continuity and being a reliable partner during the challenges faced by COVID-19, in addition to forward-thinking, post-pandemic strategies.

The current situation is real and serious. If we all focus on the things that are in our control, there is a path forward that can help the business community not only survive, but also thrive.

Every day you read a new headline that details the devastating health, economic, political, and personal impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on our way of life. As I write this, we are in the fifth week of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have all had to adapt to working remotely while we deal with the chaos of changing conditions and uncertain times.

The current situation is real and serious. If we all focus on the things that are in our control, there is a path forward that can help the business community not only survive, but also thrive.

Having successfully navigated my prior businesses through major challenges—such as the dot-com bubble burst, 9/11 and the Great Recession of 2008—I have made a number of observations over the years and learned some lessons I think can help us now. In light of the current crisis, I have also been reading current commentary on crisis management from some of our best business minds to divert my attention from the latest news cycles and focus instead on essentials like communication, employee needs, resilience, and being part of a broader solution. The lessons that follow may seem counterintuitive, but if followed, they may help your organization and our industry successfully navigate these difficult times and end up in a position of strength.

If You Take Care of Your People, They Will Take Care of You

Give careful consideration before making any staffing or salary changes during this time. The greatest resource a company has is its people. Employees represent a valuable investment of company time, money and resources. Whenever possible, your company should make the strategic decision to preserve that human and intellectual capital rather than laying off staff. While the common argument is to do more with less, that is not always sustainable over the long term. It can lead to low morale and burnout among your remaining employees. Keeping staff in place will also help you avoid “restart” time and be ready when business activity picks up. You will immediately be able to focus on generating new growth instead of having to recruit, hire, train and backfill old positions.

In addition, by supporting your people during this trying time, you will lift the cloud of anxiety that hovers over them while cultivating a deeper sense of loyalty and gratitude. Standing with your employees now will also pay dividends by allowing you to maintain your commitment to product and service innovation, which ultimately benefits your clients.

Focus on Operational Efficiency and Strategic Investments to Foster Scalability

This is a great time to dive deeper into business processes and systems to find ways to make our industry more efficient. Spend time with each department in your organization to uncover new ways to eliminate process redundancies and accomplish tasks more efficiently. For example, you can:

• Implement new systems that provide better operational and financial reporting.
• Revisit the roles and responsibilities of your teams to remove duplicative efforts—something that is often overlooked when a company is growing quickly.
• Continue to make strategic hires where there may be gaps while identifying broader hiring needs.
• Make additional investments in marketing and sales enablement.

Taking steps like these will allow your business to scale quickly and efficiently when the economy gets rolling again.

Focus on Accelerating Your Technology Product Roadmap to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Another key to surviving and thriving is staying ahead of the innovation curve. Despite trying circumstances, it is crucial to stay committed to your technology product roadmap and keep the momentum going as much as possible.

Continue to push out new code into production, even during these difficult times. When business is slower, we have a unique opportunity to focus on “nice to have” enhancements and new functionality that will help our clients produce better results. When you stick to your development timelines, your clients stand to benefit sooner as business picks back up.

Continue Fiscal Discipline

Strong operating margins are more important than ever today. You should always be looking for ways to streamline your current costs. When you are growing, it is easy to overlook expenses that may not be necessary. Now is a good time to take a closer look and eliminate excess.

Focus on improving your cash position by collecting on outstanding receivables and picking up strategic debits. This will allow you to weather this period and be on solid footing when the tide turns.

Even though it is easy to get consumed by the near term during a crisis, it is important to take the long view and be ready for what is to come. “Embrace the long view. Resilient leaders stay focused on the horizon, anticipating the new business models that are likely to emerge and sparking the innovations that will define tomorrow,” writes Deloitte Global CEO in “The Heart of Resilient Leadership: Responding to COVID-19.” Knee-jerk reactions today could have profound and negative impacts in the future. It will serve you well to find a balance between meeting the immediate needs of the current reality while looking to the horizon and planning ahead.

Support Existing Clients as They Navigate Through These Difficult Times

Remember that your clients, regardless of the industry they occupy, are likely facing difficulty during the pandemic, just as you are. Now is the time to stand with them and be the trusted partner they are looking for. Make sure to listen carefully and work closely with them to understand their business drivers and objectives. This will allow you to determine how best to add value today and as the relationship grows.

It is essential to be the bedrock that your clients can always rely on in order to help them succeed during these difficult times.

Guide Prospects and New Clients as They Modernize Their Operating Model

A recent article in Forbes argues that the legal industry’s transformation to digital will be turbocharged in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. If it was not clear before the coronavirus, it has become clear now that SaaS-based technology is a key component of a modern workforce. It is important for us all to recognize that the right technology can give us the agility we need to deliver to current and future needs and help our clients make this essential transition.

Humanity Is Resilient and We Will Be Ready for When the Tide Turns

Even though all of this may feel overwhelming today, it is important to remember that time and again humanity has persevered during challenging times. We as leaders have to be the steady hand that guides during times like this. The current situation is real, and the health and well-being of citizens around the world is at stake. It is our responsibility not to let a health crisis morph into a long-term economic and social crisis. We must and will maintain the speed of business.

Originally posted on Corporate Counsel on Law.com.

Haresh Bhungalia is the chief executive officer of Casepoint, a global legal technology leader with more than 500 employees today. As CEO, Bhungalia enables growth and market penetration with a core focus on implementing robust business development capabilities and a scalable operating model, as well as customer engagement. Since his appointment as CEO in 2012, Bhungalia has been instrumental in the rapid growth of Casepoint and its reputation for customer satisfaction. He can be reached at haresh@casepoint.com.