"Anecdotes Are Not Data"

If "three anecdotes constitute a trend," as journalists say, then I'm here to report an optimistic development.  First, as my friend Denise Howell reports, her firm, Reed Smith, announced yesterday the formal launch of "ComplianSeek"™.  I'll let Denise explain it: ComplianSeek is

"aimed at helping investment advisors effectively search their email — which, like it or not, has become a de facto record repository for these and all modern businesses — to help identify and keep track of items that constitute "books and records" under the Investment Advisors Act."

Secondly, Denise reminds us of an earlier Reed Smith technology/compliance initiative, which I have been derelict in not bringing to the attention of "Adam Smith, Esq." readers, the 50 State HIPAA Privacy Study—a web interface to decoding and understanding the notoriously complex HIPAA rules.  For example, search "New York State/Doctors/Security," and the federal and state rules pop up.  Beats taking a legal pad to the library.

Third, albeit in a slightly different dimension, Ron Friedman notes that a somewhat cryptic—but thoroughly intriguing—ad ran in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal announcing O'Melveny & Myers is seeking a "Director of Practice Development [so far so tame] and Market Information," which got Ron's attention—evidently, the ad expressly mentioned "experience working with CRM systems."   Could law firms finally be seeking competitive intelligence?  It certainly looks that way.

So what's the "trend," you ask?  Law firms adopting technology to serve their clients better, while advancing their own business interests in the bargain.  High time.