When Robins Kaplan LLP set out to elevate its use of data and intelligence, Philip So saw an opportunity to do more than improve reporting — he redefined how intelligence fuels strategy across the firm.
As the firm’s Business Development and Marketing Strategist, Philip transformed intelligence from a back-end function into a core driver of growth. His approach stands out for its practicality and impact: rather than layering on new tools, he focused on embedding intelligence into the firm’s day-to-day workflows, ensuring adoption and real-world application.
A key example is his leadership in implementing Leopard Solutions across Business Development, Research, Recruiting, and other functions. By integrating relationship mapping and alumni intelligence directly into pitch development and client targeting, Philip replaced manual, time-intensive research with real-time insights that teams now rely upon daily.
He also reimagined the firm’s business planning process, an area often seen as administrative rather than strategic. Today, approximately 90% of partners submit business plans that are centralized in a structured, searchable dashboard. By standardizing and organizing this data, Philip created visibility into shared targets, client relationships, and growth opportunities, enabling better coordination across practices and eliminating duplicative outreach.
The impact extends to how the firm measures success. Philip expanded revenue tracking beyond traditional RFPs to capture a broader range of business development activity, including marketing-driven conversions, pricing proposals, and proactive outreach. This more comprehensive model gives firm leadership a clearer understanding of what drives revenue, and where to invest for growth.
Equally important is how this work enhances client experience. By combining internal data with external sources, Philip delivers curated intelligence alerts that keep attorneys informed about key client developments, from leadership changes to market activity. Armed with these insights, attorneys can engage clients in a more timely, relevant, and strategic way.
Philip’s innovation also extends to talent strategy. His development of a data-driven lateral partner model, leveraging multiple intelligence platforms to evaluate candidates, has introduced a more rigorous, evidence-based approach that can be scaled across the firm.
For LSSO members, Philip’s work offers several clear takeaways:
embed intelligence into everyday workflows to drive adoption;
structure data to unlock collaboration and opportunity;
and broaden how success is measured to better reflect how business is actually won.
By turning intelligence into action, Philip So has created a model for how firms can leverage data not just to inform decisions, but to drive smarter strategy, stronger relationships, and sustained growth.