Is your claims litigation management strategy stuck in the Jurassic era? If you’re still relying on the same old methods of stringent guidelines and micromanaging counsel hours, I hate to break it to you, but you’re piloting a prehistoric beast in a world of modern marvels.

Let’s face it, folks. The approach to claims litigation management hasn’t seen a major evolution since billing systems were implemented over 25 years ago. For decades, we’ve been clinging to the same two strategies:

1. Implement ironclad litigation guidelines
2. Scrutinize every billable hour like it’s the Da Vinci Code

Sound familiar? I thought so. But here’s the kicker – these antiquated techniques aren’t delivering the stellar results you’re after. It’s time to shake things up and re-examine your approach.

3 Reasons Your Old-School Approach is Failing

1. It’s All Stick, No Carrot – Stringent guidelines and hour-by-hour oversight create an adversarial relationship with your counsel. Instead of fostering collaboration, you’re breeding resentment. And let me tell you, a resentful attorney is rarely a cost-effective one.
2. You’re Focusing on the Wrong Metrics – Obsessing over billable hours is like trying to lose weight by weighing yourself every hour. It’s the outcome that matters, not the minute-by-minute process. Your fixation on hours billed is blinding you to the bigger picture of case outcomes and total cost.
3. It Stifles Innovation – When attorneys are more concerned about adhering to rigid guidelines than finding creative solutions, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. The best legal strategies often come from thinking outside the box, not coloring inside the lines.

The New Era of Litigation Management

So, what’s a forward-thinking claims leader to do? It’s time to evolve, my friends. Here are three strategies to catapult your litigation management into the 21st century:

1. Embrace Outcome-Based Billing – Instead of nitpicking hours, focus on results. Implement a billing structure that rewards efficiency and favorable outcomes. When your interests align with your counsel’s, magical things happen.
2. Leverage Predictive Analytics – Use the wealth of data at your fingertips to predict case outcomes, optimal settlement points, and litigation costs. Let technology be your crystal ball, guiding your strategy from day one.
3. Foster True Partnerships – Treat your panel counsel as strategic partners, not adversaries. Regular strategy sessions, open communication, and mutual goal-setting can transform your relationship and your results.

Time for an Extinction Event

It’s time to face facts: your old litigation management strategy is a dinosaur, and the meteor is coming. You can either evolve or go extinct. The choice is yours.

Remember, in the world of claims, it’s not the strongest that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. So, are you ready to leave the Jurassic era behind?

What’s holding you back from evolving your litigation management strategy? Or if you’ve made the leap, what results have you seen? Share your thoughts in the comments below – let’s start a revolution!