Transformation

As organizations evolve and new technologies emerge, they can redefine their role and purpose.  They can add significant value and develop operations that are more efficient, effective, and agile. 

Consequently, operating models are evolving. Governance and oversight are becoming increasingly important. The push to use AI and data to create insights and drive efficiencies is growing.  

Rethinking how business and support functions can advance their organization's strategic goals is a challenge Consulting by A&O Shearman is well-equipped to address. 

We have extensive experience in transformation across a range of industries and jurisdictions. Our team has an extensive track record of helping organizations transform their legal, compliance, risk, data strategy, and business operations. 

Our services include: 

• Assessing the function's current state 
• Defining vision, strategy, and purpose 
• Advising on best practices and providing benchmarking across sectors 
• Piloting new approaches 
• Simplifying and improving processes through the strategic use of technology and data 
• Implementing new solutions that embed lasting change 
• Adapting and aligning in-house business and support functions with wider business strategy 

In return, our clients receive customized solutions with results that include: 

• Alignment of strategy, vision, and purpose, rethinking how the function can support business colleagues and achieve priority enterprise-wide goals 
• Current state operational assessments and gap analyses, including technology, process, and people models to drive greater efficiency and solve problems in new ways 
• New target operating models tailored to our clients’ needs using data to enable insightful transformation, reporting, and decision-making 
• Project planning and design/implementation/change leadership 
• C-suite and senior leadership advisory services 
• Terms of reference 
• Metrics and KPIs programs 

Representative matters 

Consulting assisted a national central bank in modernizing its legal function to align with its organizational objectives amidst evolving market conditions, regulatory demands, and heightened risks. Our team crafted a comprehensive legal strategy and a supportive operating model, complete with a three-to-five-year transformation roadmap. Through in-person stakeholder workshops, we identified critical gaps and built a compelling case for change, ultimately facilitating the bank's significant growth.

Our team delivered integration consulting and project management to expedite post-acquisition integration across various groups, addressing risks identified during due diligence. Collaborating with leadership, we developed a target operating model for legal and compliance, aligning with the company's strategy. This enabled the company to realize acquisition synergies and establish frameworks for managing future acquisitions and a potential IPO.

Aligning and integrating the in-house legal function with the wider organization. We delivered monthly advisory and coaching services to support a general counsel in their new role with a leading U.S. clean energy company. We developed a practical and comprehensive set of guidelines to define the scope, purpose, authority, and responsibilities of the legal function.  Assessing the legal function's current mandate, we developed bespoke terms of reference to clearly articulate its role. We defined processes to carry out legal tasks within the organization and now provide legal function advisory services on a rolling basis, covering a variety of topics as dictated by the general counsel.

Consulting provided ongoing advisory and coaching services to a new general counsel at a top U.S. clean energy firm, helping to align the legal department with the broader company. Our team crafted a detailed framework outlining the legal function's scope, purpose, authority, and duties, and established clear terms of reference to define its role. We also set up efficient processes for legal operations and continue to offer tailored legal advisory services to meet the evolving needs of the general counsel.