Video | Protiviti Legal Perspectives With Vice President Tom Frohne In this episode of Protiviti Legal Perspectives, host Chad Volkert, Global Solutions leader at Protiviti, sits down with Tom Frohne, senior vice president of Protiviti’s Legal Consulting practice, to discuss the evolving landscape of complex litigation management. With over 25 years of experience spanning both law firm operations and legal consulting, Tom provides invaluable insights into the challenges law firms face and how strategic collaboration with legal consulting firms can enhance efficiency, reduce costs and drive better litigation outcomes.Large-scale litigation matters are becoming increasingly complex, and corporate clients are demanding greater efficiency, cost control and innovative solutions. Tom explores the key concerns keeping law firm partners up at night, from ensuring top-tier client service to maintaining associate engagement and differentiating their firm in a competitive market. He highlights how constrained budgets are pushing corporate legal departments to scrutinize expenses, creating an opportunity for alternative legal-service providers (ALSPs) like Protiviti to deliver tailored solutions that maximize value. Topics Legal Litigation Artificial Intelligence The discussion delves into the power of collaboration between law firms, in-house counsel and legal consulting firms. Tom breaks down the benefits of a three-pronged approach that integrates law firm expertise, corporate oversight and external consulting support. From project management to e-discovery and document review, he showcases how Protiviti’s services help law firms and corporate legal teams optimize their litigation strategy while freeing up resources for higher-value tasks.Real-world success stories illustrate the impact of engaging legal consulting expertise early in the litigation process. Tom shares a recent case where Protiviti started with forensic data collection but quickly scaled its involvement — bringing in data scientists, hosting and managing terabytes of data and deploying document-review teams — to support eight law firms handling a complex matter. The result? A streamlined, cost-effective process that enabled the legal teams to focus on strategy and advocacy while meeting tight deadlines.Timing is everything when it comes to legal consulting. Tom explains why leading law firms and corporate clients involve Protiviti early in the litigation lifecycle — sometimes even before a formal complaint is filed. By leveraging expert project management, technology-driven discovery processes and strategic oversight from the outset, legal teams can significantly reduce costs — by 30% to 70% in many cases — while improving outcomes.Tom also addresses common misconceptions about partnering with legal consulting firms. Protiviti is not a law firm; rather, it operates in close collaboration with law firms, enhancing their capabilities rather than replacing them. He highlights how firms of all sizes, including boutique practices, can leverage Protiviti’s expertise to compete with larger firms, manage heavy caseloads and navigate litigation without the overhead of an in-house support team.Finally, the conversation turns to the future of litigation management, with a focus on emerging technologies. Tom emphasizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and advanced analytics in e-discovery and case strategy. While some legal teams remain hesitant, he explains how these innovations are already transforming the industry — helping firms reduce document-review volumes, identify key case themes faster and make more data-driven decisions. With the legal tech landscape evolving at an unprecedented pace, firms that embrace these tools will gain a significant competitive edge.Whether you’re a law-firm partner, corporate counsel or legal-operations professional, this episode offers critical takeaways on optimizing litigation management, enhancing collaboration and leveraging technology for better results. Tune in now to hear expert insights on how Protiviti is helping law firms and corporate legal teams navigate the complexities of modern litigation with confidence.Want to learn more? Listen to our other episodes from the Protiviti Legal Perspectives podcast to stay up to date on the latest trends and insights shaping the legal industry. For more information about Protiviti’s services, visit our website.
