Interested in legal project management? You’re not alone! Over 250 people registered for last week’s IILPM Live 2025, the largest annual international conference on legal project management and legal process improvement. The conference centered on the human side of project management: what are the roles of people vs technology, and how can people optimize their own performance. Here are the highlights. 

IILPM Global Survey on Legal Project Management 

The event started with Antony Smith (IILPM) reviewing the results of the IILPM’s global survey on the state of LPM, with a stellar panel:

Jacob Capleton, Senior Manager, Legal Project Management, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Mori Kabiri, Founder, Legal Operations KPIs
Johanna Nerona, Global Lead, CDG – Legal Project Management, Freshfields LLP
Maria Pedrosa Martínez, Head of NewLaw & Digital, Repsol

 Key Takeaways:

1. LPM implementation and adoption are increasing in law firms and in legal departments around the world. Clients and legal teams are seeing the benefits in terms of better scoping, accurate pricing, and improved collaboration, which translates into better results for everyone.
2. The impact of technology on LPM (and legal in general) has been transformational. Over 50% of respondents use some form of project management software and another 37% use a legal-specific project management platform.
3. Despite the importance of technology (over 35% of respondents use an AP platform) the panelists all confirmed that the human aspect of project management remains the most important. Clients want and need to speak to people on their teams, and the legal teams themselves value the nuance and expertise that only people can deliver. 

Stay tuned. The IILPM will be making the full survey results available soon, and we’ll share them with you right here! 

Time Management: Strategies for Hacking Your Brain

Next on the agenda was a workshop on how to work with your brain (not against it!), using neuroproductivity strategies that maximize your energy and productivity. In keeping with the IILPM’s international nature, Karen Dunn Skinner presented to one group in English while Anna Marra presented to a second group in Spanish. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Time is subjective. We don’t manage time, we manage our perception of time, and you can use your own perception of time to make yourself more productive.
2. When you include enjoyable or creative tasks in your day (I call these “time treats”) you boost dopamine, increase productivity, and keep the day from dragging. So go ahead and schedule a call with an inspiring friend or colleague, time for something creative, or anything you love. It will make you more productive afterwards.
3. Plan your days and weeks around your biological rhythms. Everyone has times when they are naturally more energetic and productive and times when they're not. It's related to the ultradian rhythms (the peaks and valleys we all have throughout each day). Put the deep work in those times and save the routine stuff for your down times. 

And finally: the winners of the annual IILPM Awards! 

The IILPM Awards recognize the outstanding work being carried out globally in the fields of Legal Project Management (LPM) and Legal Process Improvement. This year’s submissions highlight the evolution and growing maturity of LPM practices worldwide. 

1. LPM Project of The Year in a Large Law Firm or Alternative Legal Service Provider

Winner: Cuatrecasas Legal, SLP (Spain), an international law firm of over 2000 professional with 25 offices in 12 countries 

Cuatrecasas needed to evolve from a territorially divided structure into a unified global organization, with client orientation and specialization as its central pillars. At the heart of its transformation was its Legal Project Management 2.0 (LPM2.0) initiative, introducing a scalable digital framework grounded in Lean, Agile, and Visual Management principles to standardize task management across practices and jurisdictions, reduce inefficiencies, and foster consistency in the way lawyers work. 

2. LPM/LPI Project of the Year in a Small to Mid-Sized Law Firm 

Winner: Forte Workplace Law (Canada), a leading law firm with offices in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada specializing in all aspects of employment and workplace law. 

Forte Law applied Legal Process Improvement methodologies to transform client intake and consultation management into a more efficient, data-driven process. The project centralized information, standardized data collection, and uses business intelligence to generate actionable insights for both operational and strategic decision-making. 

3. LPM Project of the Year in a Large In-House Legal Department 

Winner: Repsol (Spain), a global energy company focused on offering current and future energy solutions. 

Repsol’s in-house legal department its legal function through a flagship legal innovation and transformation program called Protea, designed to create a highly efficient, innovation-driven legal department aligned with the company’s global strategy. Its ambition was holistic: to modernize every aspect of how the legal team delivers services, enhance collaboration with business partners, and share value with the broader legal community. 

4. LPM Project of the Year in a Small to Mid-Sized In-House Legal Department 

Winner: BLH ARG S.A.S. Biz Latin Hub (Argentina), an integrated legal, accounting, and recruitment company in Latin America and the Caribbean that support the business incorporation and expansion needs of its clients. 

Biz Latin Hub transformed its legal and compliance operations through a human-centered, digital-first platform that embeds compliance into everyday practice and enhances both efficiency and client service. 

5. LPM Project of the Year in Justice or Public Administration Organisation 

Winner: Legal Aid Society of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) 

The Legal Aid Society Of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) implemented a legal project management program that allowed it to develop scalable, holistic access-to-justice programs in Puerto Rico. Building on its award-winning Legal Assistance Program for Mental Health Processes (PALPSM), the Legal Aid Society provides legal and social support to nearly 5,000 individuals across more than 18,000 court hearings, ensuring constitutional rights are protected for vulnerable populations under Puerto Rico’s Mental Health Law. The program combines lawyers, social workers, and administrative staff to create a comprehensive support system that extends far beyond traditional legal aid. 

6. Special Recognition for Education Award 

Winner: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso de Chile (Chile) 

The university first developed its Legal Management Program LATAM in 2018. It’s become a groundbreaking and flagship initiative in Latin America. Now in its eighth year, this program stands as the most complete legal management training offering in the region. It remains unmatched in its blend of Legal Project Management and Legal Process Improvement, equipping legal professionals not just with theory, but with practical tools, methodologies, and certifications that are directly applicable in today’s complex and rapidly evolving legal landscape. 

The conference ended with words from each of the winners about their projects and their goals for the future. It was a fantastic ending to a great event, demonstrating not only the power of LPM and LPI to transform the lives of lawyers and clients, but also the global impact of these methodologies. 

Book Giveaway 

The event also included a draw. Ten lucky attendees won copies of either

1. LPM Bites: Purpose-Driven Management: A Humanistic Approach to Legal Project Management by Anna Marra
2. The Power Zone Playbook for Lawyers: Get out of the grind, focus on what matters, and finally have the freedom to enjoy your life, by Karen Dunn Skinner and David Skinner
3. Time Management for Lawyers: Making Every Six Minutes Count, published by Globe Law & Business

The IILPM’s annual conference demonstrated just how important legal project management is to clients and their law firms, no matter how big or small.

If you want to become a certified legal project manager, our online LPM certification program is on sale now until October 15. Learn more here and save 25%!