Changing Roles in Law Firm Information Governance with Patrick Barnum, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

Description: 

The discipline of information governance (IG) in law firms has developed from a back-office function, mainly managed by a Records Management department, into a dynamic, data-driven, and developed function managed by legal operations experts with a diverse skill sets. This session will discuss how law firms have transformed their IG programs to align with business objectives, client needs, and regulatory requirements to foster a collaborative and cross-functional approach which works across multiple administrative departments. Attendees will learn about how IG practitioners are more frequently asked to be experts in training, business analytics, governance, and data science and provide some tips on how we can all approach these changes to prepare our existing teams and recruit elite talent to our IG programs.

About the Speaker: 

Patrick Barnum is an experienced Director of Information Governance Operations currently at Kirkland & Ellis. He has over 25 years of experience in information governance and other risk management roles having previously worked at several law firms with a large Chicago presence including Jenner & Block, Seyfarth Shaw and Jones Day. His work is focused on fostering relationships, encouraging development, and keeping his eyes on the future regarding information governance roles. When not trying to solve the daily challenges in BigLaw information governance, Patrick can be found at home with 10-year-old son, 4-year-old labradoodle and 2-year-old goldendoodle and enjoying every minute of it. There is no such thing as a dull moment in his life!

Patrick is a co-author of “Changing Roles in Information Governance” which was written in collaboration with other IG professionals for Iron Mountain’s Law Firm Information Governance Symposium (LFIGS). This paper frames the conversation about staffing through the lens of how the roles within IG have evolved since the days when we were Records Management. This evolution requires an advanced skillset, technology awareness and ability to react quickly as new trends emerge. Patrick will discuss the state of IG today, the foundational roles in IG, and then dive into where IG roles are headed to mitigate risk, protect sensitive information, and foster a compliant environment within our organization.