The Epiq global managing director talks about his move from practising the law to legal technology
Andrew Shimek is the global managing director of eDiscovery Solutions for Epiq Systems.
What was your route into the profession?
I was practicing law in the late 90s and fell into tobacco litigation. It pulled focus from an employment litigation and advising practice that I really enjoyed. Eventually I left the practice and joined a legal publishing company in what I envisioned would be a pit stop on my way back to an employment practice. When I got there it was like a light bulb went off that there was this entire cottage industry focused on leveraging technology to make the practice of law more efficient. I never looked back and never returned to the practice which still surprises me today. When eDiscovery took off in the US, it was instantly clear to me this would revolutionise the litigation process. I was there at the early stages and experiencing the industry’s globalisation first-hand has proved to be an invaluable learning experience.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Keeping pace with technology changes. It used to be that electronic disclosure was won or lost in email. That's rapidly changed as voice; chat and social media become critical data sources for reconstructing the story of what happened. Leveraging technology to provide one consistent workflow for review is an ideal we are committed to bringing to market. This has never been more difficult when you are integrating several data types and sources into a single review construct.
Which person within your profession inspires you most?
Keith Hawk who was a sales leader I encountered early on in my technology career. Keith understood that clear focus was the ultimate differentiator. At the outset of any meeting Keith led, he was careful to articulate the purpose, process and payoff for attendees. I have carried this lesson through the years as I work to build high performing teams and keep them on track. Ensuring everyone on the team understands what's in it for the client—the payoff—has made all the difference in the world.
What would you choose as an alternate career?
My decision to go into law was heavily influenced by watching too many legal television dramas as a child. The only thing that may have been better than becoming a lawyer would have been playing one on television or in the movies.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife. She illustrates an admirable balance of smart, tough and fair while never taking herself too seriously. She works well in the grey understanding that despite the natural human attraction to black and white, cases are won and lost in the grey. Alicia's fear is often her greatest asset when it's her catalyst to enter the eye of the storm or reinvent her career which she has done successfully multiple times over the series run.
What change would you make to your profession?
Creating a groundswell momentum for a greater emphasis on leadership development rather than process and buttons. So many electronic discovery providers struggle with the appropriate balance between technology and service. At the end of the day, it's all about service and nothing sets us apart more than having effective leaders at the helm. This takes time and requires contextual exposure to varied situations with room to fail. Too often, there has been a disproportionate emphasis on process and buttons over people. I often wonder where our industry would be had we flipped that on the head and spent an equal amount of time developing great leaders in the eDiscovery space.
How do you relax?
Running. Nothing clears my headspace more than a good run. The more stress I experience at work, the more careful I am to show up for running that week. When I start skipping weekly runs I know that it’s about to go off the rails including eating, sleeping and healthy work habits. When that happens, I know I am one good run away from getting back on track.
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