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IT Specialist of the Year

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 15, 2009//

IT Specialist of the Year

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 15, 2009//

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IT Specialist – Award Winner

Jim Desing
Litigation Software Specialist, Foley & Lardner LLP

When a computer hard drive crashed during the middle of a trial, a lawyer’s worst nightmare, Jim Desing worked through the night to fix the problem, and the litigation team was able to proceed with their presentation the following day. Foley Managing Partner Nancy Sennett says that tackling that job without complaint is just one example of his strong work ethic and attitude.

As Litigation Software Specialist, Desing is responsible for maintaining all litigation support software, consulting with case teams and project managers on database design, managing all phases of electronic discovery, and troubleshooting litigation databases, among other things.

Desing, who has been at the firm for a decade, says he loves that problem-solving aspect of his job. “Trying to figure out solutions to things is the most fun,” he says, noting that he “just kind of fell into working with law firms.”

After graduating with a degree in business and computers, he went to work for a consulting firm and he ended up working with litigation support software. When he joined Foley, it was the only firm in town providing this type of litigation support, Desing says, adding that it remains a leader in that area.

When he’s not working, he enjoys sports, such as playing baseball and basketball. Not surprisingly, the Marquette alumnus is a big MU basketball fan.

“Jim, for the last nine years, has been our expert steward of the IT systems that are essential to litigating in this age of electronic discovery and computerized case management. As such, he is the person our litigators go to with their most challenging IT problems. … Jim, no matter how difficult the problem, without exception, can be depended upon to find and quickly implement a pragmatic, effective solution, and explain it in plain English,” writes Nancy J. Sennett, Managing Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP.

IT Specialist – Honoree

Kevin Hood
IT Director, Habush Habush & Rottier, SC

“Kevin is one of the most kind and generous souls I know. Besides participating in the American Cancer Society events and helping fit bike helmets on children at a helmet give-away safety program sponsored by the firm, he is always available 24/7 for us at Habush. He works tirelessly to accomplish all his tasks and more. He is a real ‘unsung hero’ in Milwaukee,” writes Donald H. Slavik, Partner, Habush Habush & Rottier, SC.

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