Carla Goldstein Email & Phone Number

United States

My time is my own.

United States

United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Professor for Center for Practice Engagement and Innovation Client Strategies course.

United States

Greater Chicago Area

As leader of BMO's external counsel program, I assisted in the ongoing implementation and development of an eBilling system, rationalized the Preferred External Counsel Panel and moved the fees for delivery of outside legal services off of the billable hour to value based billing. Since BMO first started this program, we moved from 0% to 40% value based billing with the hope of achieving 100%. I provided training and 1:1 assistance to our lawyers in this new approach to working with our law firm partners. This enabled BMO to receive the value expected for the appropriate fee. I also worked with our law firms so they priced their services in a way that better aligned with the goals and objectives of the bank. This initiative entailed extensive change and communication management programs to ensure this new way of selecting, engaging and managing outside counsel was embraced by all stakeholder groups.My responsibilities also included training and support to bring innovative thinking to the Legal Corporate and Compliance Group (LCCG) at BMO. We developed the Innovative Team Challenge that inspired many members of LCCG to create cross border and cross functional teams to define and execute on projects that resulted in efficiencies, risk mitigation, and enhanced BMO customer experiences. All members of LCCG were enthusiastically engaged in this program and the culture changed from "This is how I have always done it" to "How can I do it better".

Greater Chicago Area

Responsible for developing and growing SeyfarthLean Consulting LLC, a Seyfarth Shaw subsidiary, utilizing the SeyfarthLean methodology. Lead client engagements under the consulting business to bring the SeyfarthLean methodolgy to in-house legal departments. Engagements included created more efficient and effective processes for litigation management, contract management and facilitated the development of an outside counsel program and a decision tool for the selection of an approved panel of law firms. Continued to assist attorneys with their approach to clients and the incorporation of SeyfarthLean into their practice.Spoke at conferences and provided media interviews to educate the marketplace about SeyfarthLean.

Greater Chicago Area

Oversaw a staff of 10 made up the project managers in the PMO and the practice management managers in the practice management function. Oversaw the strategic restructuring of the law firm from an office centric structure to one of department centric. Initiated strategic planning by each department and practice group to support the evolving new culture and law firm structure. Founding member of SeyfarthLean (Seyfarth Shaw firm-wide methodology which incorporates the essential elements of Lean Six Sigma and Project Management) steering committee. Part of the inner working group that created the SeyfarthLean methodology. Created strategies to continue integration of the methodology within the attorneys’ legal practice as well as the firm’s back-end infrastructure. Strategized new innovations to expand the offering and overall program. Presented the methodology to client engagements as well as to the legal industry.

Greater Chicago Area

Created and grew Seyfarth's project management office which was a stand alone function outside of the IT department. The first such department in a US law firm. Initially management firm-wide projects with large end-user impact. Eventually the PMO integrated into the Seyfarth Lean initiative at the firm.

Greater Chicago Area

Oversaw the design and implementation of an improved and more streamlined conflict system. Designed and oversaw the development and implementation of the firms first internal web portal, which included Investigating and selecting a software platform and developing the process for how it was to be used by all members of the law firm. Developed and implemented the change management program to move the end users to the centralized on-line portal to enable them to efficiently obtain all administrative and legal information housed by the firm.

Greater Chicago Area

Managed all administrative aspects of the law firm including facilities, HR, benefits, and oversaw the administrative staff of 50. Brought technology and innovation to the back-end functions of the law firm. Designed and implemented a more robust and inclusive bonus structure for the staff. Managed the office move to a new building which included all technology, furniture and people over one weekend. Managed the administrative and cultural integration of the merger of D'Ancona's into Seyfarth Shaw.

Greater Chicago Area

Worked on general corporate work for small and medium size companies, merger and acquisition transactions and trademark prosecutions.

Greater New York City Area

Designed a line of porcelain cookware that was produced in Japan and sold nationally in department stores and small specialty stores

Mba, Business

Jd, Law

Bachelor’S Degree, Fine Arts- Ceramics