As one of the largest law firms in the nation, with offices and clients across the U.S. and in several countries, Dorsey & Whitney LLP has long viewed information and computer network technology as a key competitive advantage. With the help of its technology partner Rainier Technology, Inc.®, a Minneapolis-based Microsoft Solutions Provider Partner, Dorsey & Whitney undertook an aggressive deployment plan for Microsoft® Windows® 2000. Already, the law firm is benefiting from enhanced security for its sensitive communications, easier IT management, and productivity gains throughout the organization.
Customer Profile
The 25th largest law firm in the U.S., Dorsey & Whitney LLP has almost doubled in size over the last three years. The firm has more than 630 lawyers and 800 support staff working in 19 domestic and international offices. With a commitment to excellence in client services, Dorsey & Whitney maintains a network that serves 1,700 computers internally, as well as thousands of clients. Dorsey & Whitney strives for maximum mobility and client accessibility. Ninety-seven percent of Dorsey & Whitney attorneys have laptop computers.
"Dorsey & Whitney’s established commitment to innovative use of technology is evident: It has one of the largest installations of networked computers of any law firm in the world," said Bill Schiefelbein, Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Dorsey & Whitney. Microsoft Windows 2000 is helping to extend this commitment to technology leadership.
Enhanced Security, Especially for Mobile Users
Working with Rainier, Dorsey & Whitney succeeded in deploying Windows 2000 Professional on 1,000 desktops, across five cities in four different time zones, all within about a month. In addition, 650 lawyers and staff use laptop computers full time—in the office, traveling, at home, or on-site with a client. Windows 2000 Professional improves the remote connectivity and security for these mobile users, which directly improves the quality of work generated. Operating in a Windows 2000 environment even extends the battery life of laptop computers, making mobile users more productive for longer, without recharging.
With Windows 2000 Professional, Dorsey & Whitney can build password protection into specific documents, and users can encrypt their data to maintain security. Even if a laptop is lost or stolen, smart-card security can ensure that the firm’s documents remain secure. The operating system’s added security applies to both desktop and laptop systems, but is especially important for mobile systems.
Easier to Use and Manage Technology
Windows 2000 Professional, in conjunction with Microsoft Office 2000 and a custom intranet application designed to manage financial performance and client-billed hours, enables the lawyers and staff at Dorsey & Whitney to work easily in real time and across vast distances. The custom application helps the firm save on costly and cumbersome paper-based reporting, and it boosts productivity.
The firm uses Windows MediaTM Technologies, included in Windows 2000 Professional, for data conferencing and application sharing, multicast audio and video conferencing, instant messaging, and enhanced chat services. Windows 2000 Professional also promotes real-time collaboration, so Dorsey & Whitney lawyers and staff can form more efficient virtual teams, meeting and working on documents in spite of geographic boundaries.
"Windows 2000 is easier for our IT staff to manage, and its tremendous ease of use means that our lawyers aren’t pressured to also become IT experts," said Schiefelbein. "The greater network stability of Windows 2000 leads to fewer computer reboots, which saves time as well as frustration. We’re looking forward to cumulative benefits the longer we employ the new operating system."
