LG wins this award for its project to turn fee earners' BlackBerrys into 'pocket offices'. The aim of this project was to boost LG's competitiveness by allowing staff to undertake an array of tasks while on the move that they would normally only be able to complete easily in their offices. The key features of the firm's pocket office concept are:

- email (without a dependency on our exchange infrastructure);
- contact and calendar information;
- digital dictation;
- document review and management;
- instant communication with other staff members;
- access to news and business sector information without the need for a full web browser; and
- a time billing feature.

The project saw LG work closely with two suppliers, RIM and BigHand Digital Dictation. RIM has been a long-term supplier to LG and for this project the two parties worked closely together to secure the extension of key parts of the firm's office-based systems to its BlackBerrys. LG deployed the BlackBerry Enterprise Server with Microsoft Exchange for voice, mobile, email and calendar synchronisation.

For digital dictation, LG's IT director, Jason Petrucci, teamed up with BigHand. The BigHand Mobile system allows staff to upload dictations over the mobile network. LG was one of the early adopters of this technology and is currently one of BigHand's largest consumers.

The firm has also introduced several other applications designed to increase efficiency. These include Worksite Mobility, which allows for mobile document management, the Financial Times Business Application and the Dell Emergency Mail System for Exchange.

Later this year LG will also be improving audio conferencing facilities. It describes the pocket office as an integral part of its business that has increased the productivity of lawyers and support staff while reducing their dependency on laptops. Partner feedback, gained from a programme of interviews, has been positive.