Managing Service Provider Relationships: From Research and Selection to Renewal

Date: March 25
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Sponsored by: Social & Digital Media SIG, Marketing Technology SIG
Domains: Marketing Management and Leadership, Technology Management
BoK Competencies: Budgeting, Consultant and Vendor Management, Client and Relationship Management, Communications Software and Platforms

Law firm marketing and business development teams are constantly evaluating new platforms—from CRMs and social media tools to website and analytics solutions, and not to mention everything AI these days. Beyond choosing the right technology, we are also tasked with maintaining productive vendor relationships, from first outreach through long-term adoption and renewal.

This roundtable will take a practical, vendor-neutral look at how legal marketers can run a smarter, more efficient selection process and move confidently from initial conversations and demos to purchase, implementation, and everyday use. Designed for professionals who regularly engage with marketing technology providers, this discussion will cover what effective buyers do differently, common pitfalls in the RFP and demo stages, and how to set clear expectations that lead to stronger vendor-client partnerships. Whether you’re evaluating a new tool or reassessing an existing one, this session will help you approach vendor selection with confidence and clarity.

Note: This is a combined Social & Digital Media SIG and Marketing Technology SIG event!

Learning Outcomes:

• Define a clear, repeatable framework for managing the full vendor selection lifecycle—from initial research and demos through purchase and user adoption.
• Discuss proven relationship management best practices, including strategies for successfully inheriting existing vendor relationships when stepping into a new role.
• Explore how to be a well-prepared, strategic buyer, and equip team/firm leadership with the insights needed to make informed purchasing decisions that benefit the entire team.
  
  

Presenters:

Laura H. Finkle, Founder & Consultant, Pennington Solutions. Laura is a global marketing and technology strategist with over 20 years of experience driving innovation in professional services. As the Founder of Pennington Solutions, she helps organizations in the legal, accounting, and healthcare sectors maximize their CRM and data investments


PJ Sawchuck, Principal, Epic Solution Partners. PJ is a co-founder and partner at Epic Solution Partners, an IT advisory firm helping organizations make confident, strategic technology and vendor decisions. While PJ began his career in the legal industry—spending 15 years as both an in-house Director of IT and with a legal CRM software company—his work today spans a wide range of industries and organizational models.