Meet Chris Egan
Chris Egan
President & Founder, Celeritas Associates, Inc.
1. How did you start working the legal industry?
I started as a client services representative for a litigation support company in 1997. In 2001, I created Datum Legal, an eDiscovery company that was acquired in 2008 by Integreon, a Legal Processing Outsourcing company. In 2011, I founded Celeritas, an executive search and recruiting firm focused on the legal and professional services market. My first experience working with a law firm business development team was in 2010 with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. I worked closely with a senior business development manager and two partners on an initiative called PEARL™ (Pillsbury’s E-Discovery Alliance of Resource Leaders), a transformative single-source integrated discovery management solution for general counsel. Jointly working on the initiative afforded a unique opportunity to see how law firms can attract new business.
2.What advice would you offer to someone new to the industry?
Constantly look for ways to improve your knowledge about the business of law. Attend industry events and webinars. Consume relevant news. Focus on areas that genuinely interest you and specialize in a segment. Research what is important to the firm’s clients and provide your attorneys with market trends and insights that make them better informed about what’s important to their clients. Corporate legal departments increasingly want to work with legal teams that understand their entire business, not just a particular area of law.
3. Why did you join LMA and is it the same reason you are still a member?
LMA is a great way to network with legal marketing professionals from all over the country. I’m still a member because the programs help me better understand the profession. I was fortunate to attend the LMA-LA CME all-day program earlier this year. The sessions were practical, informative and fun. A client interview provided insight into what a GC expects from outside counsel. There was also a fantastic session on crisis management, and another focused on practical approaches for getting attorneys to use a pipeline to grow their business.
4. What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I am originally a New Yorker.
5. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not at work?
Enjoy all the San Diego has to offer. Surf, bike and spend time with my family and friends. Watching or helping coach my kid's soccer and lacrosse teams.