Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Professional Activities
Certification
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic
Colette Schuler

Colette Schuler

Chicago,IL

Summary

Senior Knowledge Operations Lead with 21 years at BCLP, specializing in developing, managing, and executing knowledge management initiatives, systems, and processes across global operations. Management professional with over 30 years of experience in litigation, risk management, analysis, project management, product development, and deployment. Proven track record in leading technology adoption, driving operational excellence, and delivering strategic knowledge management solutions that enhance firm-wide efficiency and client service.

Operations professional with strong grasp of process optimization, strategic planning, and project management. Known for effective team collaboration and delivering consistent results in dynamic environments. Adept at improving operational efficiency, managing cross-functional teams, and adapting to evolving business needs. Recognized for leadership, problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior Knowledge Operations Lead

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP)
Chicago, IL
02.2005 - Current
  • Responsible for developing, managing, and executing the department's initiatives, systems, and processes, leading project teams and resources within Knowledge Management through planning, organizing, and controlling projects and initiatives from start to finish.
  • Strategic Leadership & Technology Adoption:
  • Spearheaded participation in LEAP Taskforce, contributing strategic insights to firm-wide knowledge management transformation initiatives and future-state planning
  • Led pilot programs for cutting-edge AI technologies including CoCounsel/Westlaw AI, Wexler, and vLex (Vincent AI), evaluating functionality, measuring adoption metrics, and developing implementation roadmaps
  • Drove implementation and adoption of Discover knowledge management system, increasing user engagement through targeted training, change management, and stakeholder collaboration
  • Championed Legora platform integration, optimizing workflows and enhancing knowledge accessibility across practice groups
  • Project & Program Management:
  • Managed technical and business projects and initiatives spanning across the Knowledge Department and firm-wide
  • Delivered full project life cycle ownership including planning, development, implementation, and closeout for one major or several minor initiatives simultaneously
  • Managed all aspects of multiple related projects/initiatives to ensure overall program alignment with strategic objectives
  • Reported on project success criteria results, metrics, and analysis to senior leadership
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration & Change Management:
  • Provided leadership for teams and resources by building and motivating them to meet departmental goals, adhering to responsibilities and department milestones
  • Provided status reporting regarding department milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks, and issues, communicating across leadership
  • Participated in establishing practices, templates, policies, tools, and partnerships to expand and mature capabilities for the department and firm-wide
  • Participated in and drove vendor selections and proposals for evaluation
  • Process Optimization & Training:
  • Developed and delivered comprehensive training programs to drive adoption of knowledge systems and AI tools across global offices
  • Worked creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment demonstrating teamwork, innovation, and excellence
  • Developed and delivered progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations to various audiences including project teams, resources, CKO, and key stakeholders

Senior Project Management Consultant

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP)
08.2015 - 04.2023
  • Advised and assisted clients, lawyers, managing lawyers, practice group leaders, firm leaders, and administrators, listening to and understanding their expressions of business problems and opportunities, and helping guide them towards sound operational practices. Areas of expertise included practice economics, project management, budgeting, fee structures including alternative fee arrangements, strengthening client relationships, profitability, and process improvement.
  • Client & Matter Management:
  • Led multiple legal matters simultaneously in conjunction with legal teams
  • Ensured good financial management of legal matters including reviewing work in progress, managing disbursements/external costs, regular monthly reporting to clients and associated billing, and scope management
  • Managed key matter stakeholders including clients, external expert witnesses, local and other counsel, and other parties to the matter
  • Prepared plans and schedules for matters ranging in duration from weeks to many years, and forecasted legal spend in upcoming periods and up to the whole life of a matter
  • Innovation & Process Improvement:
  • Exercise judgement and recommended new approaches to the delivery of legal services to strengthen client relationships and enhance practice profitability
  • Exercise judgement whilst collaborating with legal teams on continuous process improvement methods to reduce client costs whilst maintaining or improving quality
  • Utilized the firm's innovative matter pricing and reporting dashboards and alerts to ensure matters of all sizes and shapes were supported with effective financial management data
  • Participated in the creation and implementation of technology tools to support legal project management
  • Training & Development:
  • Trained and supported all staff to ensure deep understanding of the principles of project management and how they applied to the management of legal matters
  • Developed project management and process improvement training programs for lawyers and paralegals, and clients where required
  • Key Projects & Achievements:
  • Managed West Pharmaceuticals project, improving the process by creating an Excel database called 'Project Tracker' to track global allocation of agreed fixed fees, invoice details from local counsel, business unit/org unit information, and developed process and procedures documentation for use in the business
  • Served as Project Manager for Kevin Fischer's practice, process mapping and putting processes and procedures in place for overall practice including matter management, billing, collections (A/R), client and budget reporting, analyses, and other ancillary action items
  • Continued project management for Bank of America client (5th year), managing Management Status Calls (two per week), managing all budgeting for Litigation Drivers, Quarterly, Phased, and Appellate matters, and managing approximately 10-15 rolling reports annually
  • Served as Project Manager for several innovation/automation projects including Low Income Housing Tax Credit, Emerging Companies Toolkit, and Bankruptcy Proof of Claim Automation, managing status calls, demos, and training regarding progress
  • Managed Chemring Insurance Recovery project, managing all reporting required to client regarding status of insurance recoveries (fees and settlements), maintaining and updating insurance recovery database, and communicating with insurers regarding payment requests and status
  • Completed full-day training for Tableau Software I certification, establishing project to migrate and utilize internal data sources to be used across all clients and determining repeatable and consistent reporting to be presented to attorneys/clients

Client Service Strategist (Account and Project Management)

Bryan Cave LLP (now BCLP)
02.2005 - 08.2015
  • Served as Account and Project Manager involving Products Liability, Commercial Liability, Environmental, and Real Estate Management. Responsibilities included managing budgeting for large banking institutions, managing Aviation Products Litigation claims and databases, providing up-to-the-minute status of claims as related to various outside entities, and providing accurate reports to clients.
  • Financial & Data Management:
  • Conducted financial analysis of claim status of matters to ascertain and project future costs to clients for purposes of setting reserves and allocation of funds
  • Developed and maintained comprehensive databases for tracking aviation products litigation claims, insurance recoveries, and financial data
  • Technology & Process Innovation:
  • Collaborated with Client Technology Group to establish and develop an external website to accommodate numerous entities involved in aviation products claims, providing a central location where confirmation of information was stored enabling clients to make informed decisions based on housed data, providing a streamlined, accurate account of each claim
  • Created custom Excel databases and tracking tools to improve operational efficiency and client reporting
  • Stakeholder Management:
  • Served as liaison between the client and various brokers and insurance companies (and various third parties) ensuring proper fiduciary and financial data for each claim, including developing and maintaining trust funds, as well as distribution and collection of funds
  • Collaborated with the NTSB/FAA to obtain necessary documentation such as Blue-Ribbon report preliminary/factual and probable cause reports; communication to the FAA for FOIA requests and responses in complex aviation litigation claims
  • Involved in special projects firm-wide, using expertise in analysis capabilities, client presentation, and process improvement tools
  • Key Clients:
  • The Boeing Company, Bank of America, U.S. Cellular, Florida State University, BBA Aviation, The Riverstone Group, Standard Aero, Chemring, Walgreens, Akorn, Continental Motors, Zodiac Aerospace, East Chicago Brownfields, Kimberly Clarke, and Coach

Education

Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship

DePaul University
Chicago, IL

Skills

  • Knowledge Management: Strategic Planning System Implementation User Adoption Change Management Knowledge Operations
  • Legal Technology: Discover Legora CoCounsel Westlaw AI Wexler vLex (Vincent AI) Tableau HighQ Elite Ringtail
  • Project Leadership: Full Life Cycle Management Stakeholder Engagement Cross-Functional Collaboration Vendor Management Risk Mitigation
  • Process Optimization: Six Sigma Methodologies Process Mapping Workflow Automation Continuous Improvement Data Analysis
  • Technical Proficiency: Advanced Excel PowerPoint Visio MS Project Word Data Analytics Reporting Dashboards
  • Professional Skills: Training & Development Client Relationship Management Budgeting & Forecasting Strategic Communication

Professional Activities

  • Assigned as a LEAP (Legal Evolution AI Program) Taskforce Member in June 2025 at BCLP; LEAP is a cross-functional team that drives BCLP's legal AI strategy by identifying use cases, managing pilots, ensuring governance and compliance and coordinating change management to accelerate AI adoption and deliver client value.
  • Panel Participant for KM Legal in 2023 where Colette spoke on implementation stories and legal technology adoption, spefically on BCLP's Legal Smart Search platform, Discover.

Certification

  • Certified Six Sigma Blackbelt through Juran Institute
  • Certified PMP through PCI Global
  • Certified in Tableau

Affiliations

  • National Association of Professional Women | Member
  • Professional Photographers of America | Member
  • Women-For-Women International | Contributor & Mentor

Timeline

Senior Project Management Consultant

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP)
08.2015 - 04.2023

Senior Knowledge Operations Lead

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP)
02.2005 - Current

Client Service Strategist (Account and Project Management)

Bryan Cave LLP (now BCLP)
02.2005 - 08.2015

Business, Finance, Entrepreneurship

DePaul University
Colette Schuler