Which firms are best prepared to keep pace with changes in the legal market? That was the question explored in a recent survey of U.S. and European law firms, the 2019 Future Ready Lawyer Survey, conducted by Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory. Among the findings: The firms that are best prepared for the future are those that already leverage technology.

In this episode of LawNext, I discuss the survey with Dean Sonderegger, who was recently named to lead Wolters Kluwer Legal and Regulatory U.S., the division of the global publishing giant that serves legal, corporate and compliance professionals in the United States. In a conversation recorded live at the annual conference of the American Association of Law Libraries, they also discuss innovation in the legal industry and the future of Wolters Kluwer.

At Wolters Kluwer, Sonderegger — whose formal title is senior vice president and general manager — is responsible for accelerating the vision and strategy for the business. He has a particular focus on rapid development of advanced digital products and services to enhance customers’ efficiencies and workflows.

Sonderegger is also a well-known speaker and thought leader on topics including artificial intelligence, blockchain, the evolution of the legal profession, and business transformation. He writes a regular column for Above the Law on the intersection of technology and the practice of law, and his commentary has appeared in several publications including Forbes, CFO Magazine and the ABA Journal.

A veteran of the information and software industries, Sonderegger joined Wolters Kluwer in 2015 as the head of legal markets and innovation. In that role, he is credited with spearheading customer-focused innovation. Earlier in his career, he was executive director of product management and marketing at Bloomberg BNA.

See also: Tech-Savvy Firms More Profitable Now, More Prepared for the Future, Finds Survey of U.S. and EU Legal Professionals.

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Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.