Mattern Establishes Information Governance Program and Restructures Off-site Records Storage Contracts to Ease Destruction and Improve Costs for a 28% Savings
Headquartered in the Midwest, this 193-attorney law firm with 9 offices had just completed a
conversion to Thomson Reuters’ 3E. The next hurdle for firm leadership was the deployment of an
Information Governance (IG) program addressing both their paper and electronic records as well as
improving the firm’s off-site records storage contract. After meeting Rob Mattern at an industry
show and attending a number of Mattern information sessions focusing on implementable IG
polices and retention schedules, the firm selected Mattern to lead the analysis.

BACKGROUND
Headquartered in the Midwest, this 193-attorney law firm with 9 offices had just completed a
conversion to Thomson Reuters’ 3E. The next hurdle for firm leadership was the deployment of an
Information Governance (IG) program addressing both their paper and electronic records as well as
improving the firm’s off-site records storage contract. After meeting Rob Mattern at an industry
show and attending a number of Mattern information sessions focusing on implementable IG
polices and retention schedules, the firm selected Mattern to lead the analysis.
PROCESS
Mattern began the project by assessing the firm’s current workflow, document management system
(DMS), and gathering locations of both paper and electronic records. In addition, Mattern
consultants conducted interviews with a cross-section of roles across the firm from top leadership to
legal administrative assistants to office managers.
Also, as part of the initial evaluation, the firm’s off-site holdings and annual spend were
benchmarked against the market with the aim of reducing their overall spend in off-site records
storage and improving the terms and conditions, while consolidating their contracts.
Here, Mattern recommended a competitive RFP process to the three incumbent service providers to
drive the best overall pricing and terms, and to include shredding in the RFP.
RESULTS
Using Mattern’s experience and knowledge of information governance (IG) best practices, current
data regulations, and risk mitigation, Mattern consultants made the following recommendations
based upon the thorough analysis of the firm’s IG needs:
• Identify IG Steering Committee members to review, fine-tune, and endorse IG policy
components.
• Appoint an Executive Sponsor to approve the policy with information retention and
compliance measures
• Consider 3rd party retention schedule research/subscription services
• Update language in client engagement and matter close letters
• Assign file naming convention project to select Steering Committee members and/or practice
group representatives to standardize nomenclature
• Update end user resources in support of IG policies and sanctioned use of firm systems in
training collateral
• Formally market and launch new IG framework, expectations, and incentive program
For the firm’s off-site holdings, after reviewing responses and conducting interviews with all the
service providers, the firm elected to renew its off-site storage agreement with the incumbent for a
10-year term and expand this partnership to include inventory in two of their satellite locations.
The results were an overall reduction in costs of 28%, fixed pricing, minimum storage requirements
that allow for destruction and a defined account termination process.
The firm’s Information Governance Manager gave Mattern an NPS score of 10 and commented:
"The review and recommendations that Mattern provided are very helpful and will help my
firm drastically improve our information governance policies, procedures and practices. I
look forward to continuing to work with Mattern on the actual implementation of those
recommendations."
Mattern Leads Strategic Outsourcing for AmLaw 25 Firm, Lowering Costs and Enhancing Services Copy Copy Copy
To elevate service quality and secure more competitive pricing, this global AmLaw 25 firm needed to refresh more than a decade-old outsourcing model across multiple administrative and support functions. Mattern partnered with the firm to restructure leadership, optimize staffing, and integrate technology, ultimately delivering savings of more than 10% and reducing off-site facility costs by 71%—all while strengthening vendor accountability and aligning operations with the firm’s long-term strategic goals.
A PilotLegis Member Firm Streamlines Off-Site Records and Establishes Firmwide Information Governance
This PilotLegis member firm engaged Mattern to address two interconnected risks: a growing off-site records footprint and the absence of a firmwide information governance framework. By pairing a historical records cleanup with practical IG policy development, the firm took a disciplined approach to reducing legacy paper risk while establishing clear, defensible practices for the future. The result was a coordinated strategy that delivered immediate cost and risk reduction while setting the foundation for long-term governance maturity.
Mattern Revamps Nonprofit’s Off-Site Records Program, Cutting Storage Costs by 82%
There is a way out.
Typically, Mattern works with law firms but when a former client called from their new role at a nonprofit and asked for help with a long-troubled off-site records program, Mattern didn’t hesitate. The nonprofit organization had tried for years to improve the situation without success. Mattern stepped in to deliver clarity, competition, and control.
Strategic Scanning Initiative Enables Seamless Office Move for National Law Firm
A national law firm preparing for a major office relocation needed a structured, defensible way to reduce its physical records footprint without disrupting attorney workflows. Mattern designed and managed a comprehensive scanning initiative that aligned with the Firm’s information governance objectives and ensured all work was completed before the move. The result was a streamlined transition that strengthened long-term records management practices.
Future-Ready Legal Operations: How Mattern Helped a Leading Law Firm Optimize Outsourcing, Technology, and Governance
To stay ahead of shifting demands, this California-based NLJ 500 firm needed to align its outsourcing, equipment, and information governance practices with a hybrid work environment. Mattern helped the firm optimize operations, strengthen policy, and secure long-term stability across 12 offices—all while recovering the full cost of the engagement.
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