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The DataCert Collaboration Module excels beyond basic delegation of data entry to law firms to support true collaboration between corporate legal departments and their outside counsel firms and vendors. DataCert understands the business needs underlying the exchange of timekeeper, accrual, budget, and matter-related data with outside counsel and has uniquely designed collaborative tools that not only streamline the capture of this data, but also provide the legal department with end-to-end support for key business processes, maximum control over data integrity, and richer data for analysis and reporting. And, unlike traditional ASP models, the DataCert Collaboration Module leverages DataCert's ShareDoc^® network and the use of X.509 certificates to securely transmit data between corporate counsel and the legal department, ensuring firms never have direct access to the department's confidential legal database and maximizing data security.

Timekeeper Collaboration - Take control of cumbersome timekeeper rate reviews and more effectively evaluate outside counsel.

• Manage the exchange of timekeeper data from start to finish, including annual rate review processes, with tools that support the legal department and its outside counsel firms each step of the way:
  • Efficiently initiate bulk rate requests, route submitted rates for review and approval, evaluate rates against historical data, and communicate rate decisions to outside counsel
  • Law firms and vendors quickly bulk upload timekeeper data in the client's specified format using export/import features
• Use of the LEDES TK XML format and client-configured templates makes it easy to enforce the consistent capture of desired timekeeper data, such as rate, classification, demographics, education, and expertise, for all timekeepers across all firms and vendors
• Enhanced timekeeper data supports diversity initiatives and enables more effective timekeeper evaluation, peer group analysis, and rate negotiations

• Easily request, receive, review, and report on work-in-progress estimates for fees/expenses from outside counsel law firms and vendors
• Export/import capabilities make it simple for law firms and vendors to load estimates for multiple matters
• The scheduling feature further streamlines monthly or quarterly accruals processes by automatically sending routine requests to designated law firms and vendors

• Streamline the request, receipt, and review of matter budgets from outside counsel law firms and vendors
• Capture quarterly, yearly, fee/expense, phase, and life-of-matter budgets to enhance planning and spend management capabilities and support firm performance evaluations
• Request budget updates throughout the life of a matter to avoid surprise variances

• Efficiently request and report on matter status updates and capture matter narratives from outside counsel firms and vendors
• Quickly access a consolidated view of a matter's progress throughout its lifecycle