Podcast Episode 42: Making the Right Tech Decisions in Legal Innovation with Matthew Dunne & Andrew Sprogis

Matthew Dunne & Andrew Sprogis

In this episode, Ted Theodoropoulos sits down with Matthew Dunne (Sr. Innovation and Data Science Manager, Katten) and Andrew Sprogis (Chief Innovation Officer, Katten) to explore the latest in legal tech innovation, AI integration, and strategies for operational efficiency. Together, they delve into critical topics like the build-versus-buy decision for legal tech, the responsible adoption of generative AI, and the role of firm culture in tech uptake. Tune in for expert insights into optimizing legal workflows and making informed, risk-aware decisions in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Matthew and Andrew’s insights cover:

  • Assessing whether to build or buy technology within legal practices
  • Balancing cutting-edge tech with foundational knowledge management (KM)
  • Introducing generative AI thoughtfully within law firm settings
  • Measuring ROI effectively for innovation initiatives
  • Enhancing operational efficiency with tailored technology solutions

Key takeaways:

  • Law firms should begin with lower-risk, business-oriented AI use cases before applying them to client-sensitive data.
  • Generative AI can be implemented without flawless data, but maintaining basic data hygiene and selecting the right documents is crucial.
  • Innovation in law firms often reflects the organization’s culture and leadership’s risk tolerance.
  • Building proprietary tools is typically only advisable if they deliver a unique competitive edge, as maintenance and support costs are frequently underestimated.

About Matthew Dunne:

Matthew combines several areas under the umbrella of “innovation.” This
includes data science, management consulting, implementing legal tech software, and creative
strategic thinking. He leads Katten’s DataLAB which provides legal data science services
including custom Gen AI applications for lawyers. Matthew holds a MS in Applied Data Science
from the University of Chicago and a JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He is
also licensed attorney.

About Andrew Sprogis:

Andrew Sprogis is Katten’s Chief Innovation Officer. Andrew and his team enable the firm’s attorneys and business professionals make the most of opportunities to improve and add value to client service delivery. This includes process improvement and integration of software into Katten’s practices. Moreover, his team includes a client-facing data science offering (through Katten DataLAB) as well as the Library/Research group. The combination of the Innovation Team’s mission with these internal teams allows Katten to partner with clients to be efficient and provide unique value propositions.

Andrew earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA from Northwestern University, which he attended on an Evans Scholarship.

“It’s the interaction of the technology plus the people and process part that leads to the ultimate outcome.” – Matthew Dunne

“One of the challenges with the innovation space in general, and I think it’s going to be this way for Gen AI, is that different people at different arcs of their careers are going to have different motivations to do things.” –Andrew Sprogis

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