Initiative to Update and Internationalize the UTBMS FAQs

1. What is UTBMS? The Uniform Task-Based Management System is a budgeting and billing system designed to provide clients and law firms with meaningful cost information on legal services. It was created in the mid-1990s by a large group which included the ABA and ACCA and organized by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PwC). More information can be found on the ABA website.
2. What are the main goals of the initiative?
1. Maximize opportunities for broad industry input
2. Update the UTBMS code sets to address existing weaknesses and make them more useful
3. Make the codes useful in an international context
4. Add at least an IP code set, but also address industry-specific needs (like financial services) where possible
5. Get endorsement of the new work from the ABA, ACC, and IBA.
3. Who’s behind this? The initiative was launched in March, 2005 by Jeff Hodge of DataCert, who is coordinating start-up activities. Jeff was at PwC when the original UTBMS was formed and also initiated the LEDES standardization efforts at PwC. Brad Blickstein of Blickstein Group has agreed to share organizational responsibilities, and the group is welcoming volunteers to assist. So far, representatives of more than 20 law firms, corporate law departments, consultants and vendors, from the US, UK and Europe, have joined in, including Jon Bellis, who was one of the creators of the original UTBMS, and Harry Payton of the ABA Section on Litigation.
4. Why is the initiative being launched? The industry has for some time recognized that the original codes, while useful, needed to be modified to more accurately reflect the work being performed. In the interim, the legal industry has seen a huge surge in demand for e-billing and spend-management systems. It is these systems which make the most use of the codes and their original intent. Those that have joined the initiative recognize that the codes must evolve if they are to be useful to the evolving legal industry.
5. Who are all the members? The list of everyone who has agreed to get involved in the Initiative so far can be found at our website www.utbms.com. We will frequently update this list.
6. Can others join the Initiative? Absolutely. Our goal is broad industry input and we are interested in recruiting anyone from law departments, firms, consultants or vendors who may be interested and helpful. Please contact Jeff Hodge at jeff.hodge@datacert.com or Brad Blickstein at brad@blicksteingroup.com anytime with recommendations
7. What has happened so far? So far, we’ve been gauging interest, building consensus, taking names and developing plans. The only two decisions that have been made so far are to schedule some meetings and to broaden the scope from the original mission of internationalization.
8. If the scope has been broadened past internationalization, what is the scope now? Based on our early feedback, we’ve concluded that simply internationalizing the codes is not enough. The marketplace has voiced that an intellectual property codes set is overdue, and that we should, where necessary, update the original code sets to create even more use and value. The financial services industry, for instance, has also expressed an interest that the codes should better meet their particular transactional needs.
9. When are the meetings? The kickoff meeting, which was scheduled when the mission was simply internationalization, is in Paris on May 11, 2005. If you are interested in attending Paris or in the internationalization component, please contact Jeff Hodge at jeff.hodge@datacert.com. Meetings have also been scheduled for June 21, 2005 in Chicago (one day before the Corporate Legal Times SuperConference) and around October 17 in Washington, DC (to coincide with the ACC Annual Meeting). More details about Chicago and Washington will be coming shortly, but these two meetings will be more broadly focused on updates, IP and other industry-specific concerns raised.
10. What if I can’t make the first meeting? Don’t worry. The objective of this first meeting in Paris is really to gather facts and gauge specific interest around the internationalization effort. We’ll be continuing to do this even after the meeting. Whether or not you attend, you will have every opportunity to have your voice heard and get involved in a meaningful way. By the time of the Chicago meeting, we hope to have a plan outlined, subcommittees identified, etc. We will more formally kick off the broader initiative there.
11. Haven’t some companies already developed an IP code set for their own use? Yes, there are currently at least two prototypes, one being tested by some DataCert clients, and one being developed by a small group of other law departments, including DuPont and Intel. The objective of the initiative is a standard set of codes. We feel urgency to bring everyone who has been working on this into the tent and are working hard to do so. Domenic Leo, DataCert’s Vice President of IP Business Development, has volunteered to organize this effort.
12. Is this a DataCert initiative? While it’s true that Jeff Hodge of DataCert initialized this effort, our objective is to create standards that all firms, departments, and vendors can use. Representatives from all major e-billing and matter management companies have been invited and most have already agreed to participate. Leadership roles are for whomever is interested in volunteering. The model is being very closely based on the highly successful LEDES standard effort and the spirit of partnering to address an industry need exhibited there.
13. Will there be a central location that we can go to get the most up to date information, see drafts, etc? Yes. We have built a website at www.utbms.com to store and communicate this type of information. Currently, the site is technically a blog, which is particularly well-suited to easily storing written information, but we will likely change format and “pretty it up” soon, especially if some member is willing to volunteer as webmaster.
14. How can I find out more about UTBMS? There is some great information at the ABA website. Our own website, www.utbms.com has some links to some more good information.
15. Who should I contact for more information? Feel free to contact Jeff Hodge at jeff.hodge@datacert.com or Brad Blickstein at brad@blicksteingroup.com anytime. Jeff is based in London and Brad is based outside of Chicago.