Introductory Overview of Impact Legal Group
Impact Legal Group (ILG) was formed by the entry of two former private equity and M&A attorneys into the legal project management world. Their shared vision was to address a fundamental gap in the core design of the legal function at the largest law firms. As ILG grew, it was evident that this model was one that had universal applicability across the industry. Today it is the preferred fit for most corporations who desire the operational efficiency provided by ILG’s advanced processes, knowledge and experienced project managers.
Given ILG’s size and scale, the company can use its purchasing power with its outsourced service providers to offer rates that are not available from small and midsize firms. This differentiated offering is what gives ILG the ability to operate more efficiently – leveraging its people’s talent in a manner that minimizes overhead . It is this inherent structural efficiency that enables ILG to offer high quality signature legal work at a fraction of the cost of what similar services were billed at when Allen & Overy or Slaughter and May used to do the same work directly for ILG.
ILG is not a technology company. It is not a legal process outsourcer. And it is not a law firm. ILG was founded to tackle the growing mismatch between the scope and duration of modern legal work and law firms’ existing infrastructures. The company has grown rapidly to take on a range of different legal process management functions that free the lawyers at law firms from the burdens associated with timekeeping, work planning, document management, document review, and other tasks – it allows them to devote their energies to the finishing work of their practice – while directly allocating multiple lawyers to task management functions that are unique to each work package.
Areas in which Impact Legal Group Provides Services
Impact Legal Group, LLC is a firm whose principal focus is to reach and provide solutions to legal issues that could have ended up in litigation. Examples of issues that we work on are elder law, abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, premises liability and automobile insurance issues with a focus on collisions.
Working together as a firm we offer several different services. From simple wills to complex trusts, business formation, estate work, family law, probate, sales and real estate issues, landlord tenant disputes, rideshare driver mishaps, to Social Security Disability, we offer a range of different services and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. When necessary, we assemble a team or work with co-counsel to handle larger matters that require more than one attorney to achieve the best results.
One of the main goals of Impact Legal Group is to build relationships and trust with our clients so that when legal issues arise or an issue becomes complicated, our clients think of us first to provide a solution. We strive to build relationships so that together we can achieve a desired goal while reducing unnecessary stress and litigation. We genuinely believe that we build strong partnerships with our clients and getting to know them, their families, their lives, and how legal issues affect them is an instrumental part of what we do. We want to know our clients as they know us.
The Impact of Impact Legal Group upon its Clients and Communities
Impact Legal Group’s dedication to the three R’s of modern legal practice—relationships, responsiveness, and results—enables them to be a significant influence on their clients and in their communities. Impact Legal Group recognizes that it is the connections they have with individuals that allow their team to learn clients’ needs and provide proactive, responsive, and innovative strategies. The Impact Legal Group team takes the time to learn and understand each client’s goals. One example of how Impact Legal Group approaches their clients’ needs is when advising startups on the process of funding. Raising funds from affluent friends and family can be a daunting task for many startup founders. Impact Legal Group identifies investors’ needs and objectives and counsels their clients on methods of ensuring that wealth planning is appropriately addressed from the outset of the relationship. Impact Legal Group ensures that their clients and their network understand that there are creative ideas to fund an investment or startup without jeopardizing a client’s estate plans. Impact Legal Group’s clients appreciate being able to leverage Impact Legal Group’s deep-seated relationships with the clients’ trusted advisors, such as accountants and financial planners. Doing so gives the Impact Legal Group team the opportunity to craft unique solutions that best meet the clients’ objectives. Impact Legal Group sees their involvement with each community to be integral to who they are as an organization. They recognize that there is great power in collective action and enjoy getting involved with organizations that share their values. Several Impact Legal Group team members are active within organizations like Billings Clinic Health Foundation’s Gala Committee, The University of Montana’s Alumni Association and Law School, and the Billings Chamber of Commerce. They also support other organizations that align their values, such as Dress for Success and the START (Student Action for Refugee and Tenant) Project. Their participation in the Billings Chamber of Commerce New Faces program, which provides recent college graduates the opportunity to connect with established Billings leaders, demonstrates their commitment to building meaningful relationships in their community. Luxury cars or huge yearly bonuses are not necessary for a fulfilling career. Impact Legal Group has created a nurturing team atmosphere and values each employee as an essential factor in the firm’s success. The feedback from clients acknowledges these efforts, "Annie went above and beyond on this project, working nights and weekends to make sure everything turned out exactly right." They appreciate feedback that recognizes their impact on clients’ lives, "Erin’s attention to detail and quick response times were greatly appreciated while navigating this difficult process." Impact Legal Group’s hands-on and personal approach with the communities in which they practice creates meaningful and strategic relationships with their clients.
Who Comprises the Team of Impact Legal Group
Launched by Denver attorneys Dan Sangré and Jessica Fitzgerald, Impact Legal Group (formerly known as Axiom Law) specializes in providing superior legal services to clients operating in a variety of industries. Impact Legal Group primarily focuses on representing regulated organizations and companies involved in contract disputes, regulatory actions, real estate issues, complex transactions, employment matters, and worldwide operations.
Dan Sangré is the co-owner of Impact Legal Group. A well-known attorney in Denver, Mr. Sangré has been representing clients for over four decades. He regularly represents organizations facing complex legal matters. He also provides outside general counsel services for a variety of corporate clients. As of December 2018, Mr. Sangré is actively working with Palisade Corp., Radius, Kivavation, Labpartners, and Lockheed Martin. Since 2014, he has been the outside general counsel for a large heavy civil construction contractor. He also works with a number of commercial real estate developers, where he serves as their outside general counsel.
Jessica Fitzgerald, Esq. is the owner of Impact Legal Group. She is a seasoned attorney with a focus on corporate matters. Ms. Fitzgerald first started her career at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, where she initially worked as a summer associate before being hired by the firm full-time. At DGS, she represented a number of local, national, and international corporate clients. She worked extensively on all types of commercial transactions, as well as regulated industries. Ms. Fitzgerald also wrote numerous legal articles and white papers.
Emily K. Greathouse, ESS, MFA is the sixth member of Impact Legal Group. She serves as a business analyst for the firm.
Case Analysis: Successful Outcomes
Impact Legal Group is no stranger to handling complex cases and providing strategic counsel. Their portfolio of clients includes law firms, government entities, large corporations, and non-profits from a variety of fields. Some of their notable cases include: Represented a top tier medical malpractice defense firm in connection with trademark and cyber security issues regarding its name and website. Impact Legal Group assisted in a total risk assessment, including potential litigation and the availability of insurance coverage, as well as registering the client’s new name that satisfied the client’s internal needs for establishing an online practice manual without risking accidental disclosure. Represented a major health system (and its physician group) through the merger and acquisition of a foundation-related entity that provided substantial services to the health system. This matter involved practice transitions and compensation models, the purchase of real property and sale-leaseback , payer arrangements, physician employment agreements, and obtaining regulatory approvals from multiple taxing authorities and the United States Internal Revenue Service. Provided funding, creditors rights, environmental and general corporate representation to a solar energy company in connection with the purchase of property, sale leaseback, securing financing, and structuring equity transactions. Obtained free access to a global cartel settlement and the appointment of a federal monitor of a top two global player in an industry subject to acute scrutiny by multiple enforcement authorities. Successfully represented a well respected Scientifically Based Target Selection (SBTS) service company serving the law enforcement industry in suit against multiple defendants seeking to enjoin defendants from continued interference and to obtain damages for intellectual property infringement arising out of an asserted patent and trade secrets related to the automatic license plate recognition industry.
The Application of Technology at Impact Legal Group
Impact Legal Group also prides itself on an advanced technological infrastructure. The firm utilizes cloud-based technology that facilitates easy communication between their attorneys, paralegals, clients, and other parties in order to promote efficiency. From the comfort of their homes or anywhere with internet connectivity, attorneys are able to file pleadings and briefs with the Court, organize case files, correspond with clients, and record their time for billing purposes. Since most of this work can now be accomplished utilizing cloud computing, there is no need for attorneys to be physically present in the firm’s office. While having a home office can be advantageous for improving retention of associates, the flexible work schedule is among the primary reasons that senior attorneys at other firms usually become interested in moving to Impact Legal.
The Future Outlook of Impact Legal Group
The future plans of Impact Legal Group include continued advocacy for a more organized and structured approach to legal practices. The firm plans to implement more technology and artificial intelligence in their work, working toward a hybrid model in which paralegals and attorneys work in tandem with AI and other technological tools to produce the best possible customer service and legal strategies. One of the main difficulties they face is the expected increase in available data and potential clients as the years go on . They plan to tackle this problem by continuing to train their human resources and slowly integrating more AI into the mix. In accordance with their core tenets of transparency, value, and affordability, they will charge only for the most efficient services. They hope that this efficiency, when combined with the capabilities of AI and other forms of technology, will give clients the best possible service with the greatest affordability.