ADI Professional Experience Program · Phase 1

US Associate Coverage Register

The United States accounts for roughly a third of Saba IP's revenue. This project builds the first structured, verifiable record of the firm's US associate law firm network.

ObjectiveBuild the first structured register of Saba IP's US associate law firms.
MethodFacts first. Every entry traceable to a source.
OutputA reusable business asset, not a one‑time exercise.

Day 1

Welcome Letter

Dear Sari,

Welcome to Saba IP and to your professional experience placement.

During your time with us, you will contribute to a real business initiative designed to strengthen how Saba IP understands and manages its international referral network.

Although your placement is short, the work you complete will become part of a business asset that future team members can continue to develop.

More importantly, we hope you leave with a better understanding of how professionals approach business problems — with curiosity, integrity, and evidence.

Welcome to the team.

James Ratac
Analytics & Decision Intelligence · Office of the General Manager · Saba IP

Before you start

What is Analytics & Decision Intelligence?

In plain terms, before the formal brief.

Every company collects data. Most stop there.

The Analytics & Decision Intelligence (ADI) Unit's job is to turn that data into something people can actually use to make decisions. We ensure that all data we handle are accurate, organized, and traceable back to a real source.

We're not here to build reports and dashboards for their own sake. We're here so that when someone at Saba IP asks a real business question, there's a reliable answer waiting, not a mere guess.

Right now, that question is about our US Associate Law Firms. Soon, it will be something else. The skill you'll practice this week, collecting facts carefully and organizing them so others can trust them, is the same skill either way.

How ADI works

The ADI Principles

These principles are the foundation of how Analytics & Decision Intelligence approaches every project. While tools and technologies evolve, these principles remain constant.

  1. Facts before opinions.Always begin with evidence. Decisions become stronger when they are based on verified facts rather than assumptions or personal beliefs.
  2. Unknown is acceptable. Invented information is not.You do not need to have every answer. If information cannot be verified, record it as Unknown rather than guessing.
  3. Every fact has a source.Every piece of information should be traceable. If someone asks where a number or statement came from, you should be able to show the source quickly.
  4. If someone else cannot understand your work, it is not finished.Your work should be organized and documented so another person can continue where you left off without needing you to explain everything.
  5. Quality beats quantity.Ten accurate records are more valuable than one hundred incomplete or incorrect ones. Take the time to do the work properly.
  6. Improve the system, not only today's task.When you notice a better way of working, share it. Improving the process helps everyone who works on the project after you.
  7. Ask why, not only how.Understanding the purpose behind a task helps you make better decisions and recognize why your work matters.
  8. Technology supports thinking. Thinking comes first.Tools such as Excel, AI, or software help us work more efficiently, but good judgment, curiosity, and critical thinking remain the most valuable skills.
  9. Speed is appreciated. Accuracy is trusted.Working efficiently is important, but people rely on work that is correct. Build trust by producing work that others can confidently use.
  10. Every spreadsheet is temporary. Business knowledge is permanent.Spreadsheets, software, and systems will eventually change. The real value lies in the knowledge, structure, and understanding that the work creates for the organization.

Project context

Project Brief

About Saba IP

Saba IP is one of the leading Intellectual Property firms in the Middle East and Africa, providing Trademark, Patent, Copyright, Design, and related IP services to clients around the world.

A significant portion of Saba IP's business comes through international referral relationships with foreign law firms and IP professionals who rely on Saba's regional expertise.

About Analytics & Decision Intelligence

Analytics & Decision Intelligence is a capability under the Office of the General Manager focused on transforming data into decision‑ready information.

The purpose is not simply to create reports or dashboards. The purpose is to help management make better decisions by ensuring that information is accurate, structured, traceable, and meaningful.

Why this project exists

During the firm's review of its 2025 business performance, the United States accounted for approximately 34% of Saba IP's total revenue in 2025 — the firm's largest international market by a significant margin.

Although Saba IP maintains information about its associates in various internal systems, that information is spread across multiple sources. This project is Phase 1 of a strategic initiative to build a consolidated view.

The business challenge

Information about US associates exists in different places, including internal systems, billing records, contact directories, public websites, and professional directories.

These sources do not currently provide one unified reference that can easily answer questions such as:

  • Which US firms currently work with Saba?
  • Where are they located?
  • How large are they?
  • What services do they provide?
  • What is our current level of engagement?

Your contribution

Your role is to help establish the first version of the US Associate Coverage Register by collecting factual information from approved sources and organizing it in a structured and consistent manner.

What you will not be doing

You will not be expected to make business decisions, recommend which firms Saba should approach, estimate market potential, or draw strategic conclusions.

Your responsibility is to collect and verify accurate information. Business analysis will be performed later by the ADI team using the data you help create.

What success looks like

  • A well-structured US Associate Coverage Register.
  • A documented research methodology.
  • Consistent and verifiable records.
  • A business asset that future team members can continue expanding.

Research standards

Not all sources are equal. Prioritize in this order:

  1. Firm's official website — highest reliability.
  2. LinkedIn firm or attorney page — reliable, but verify against website.
  3. Professional directories such as Martindale, Chambers, and similar — cross‑check.
  4. Google AI summaries — verify before use; do not cite directly.
  5. LLM‑generated answers — never use as a source; verify independently.

Every entry in the register must be traceable to a source. If a fact cannot be verified, mark it as Unknown rather than estimating.

One firm, start to finish

ADI Research Workflow

  1. Assigned Law Firm
  2. Read Project Brief
  3. Visit Official Website
  4. Collect Required Facts
  5. Cross‑check with Secondary Source
  6. Record Source URL
  7. Update Workbook
  8. Self‑review
  9. Supervisor Review
  10. Completed

Working file

Workbook

The register itself. One row per firm, one column per fact, one cell per verified answer. Includes a Data Dictionary tab defining every field.

XLS 02-Workbook.xlsx Register + Data Dictionary ↓

End of day, 15 minutes

Daily Check‑in Log

Complete at the end of each day. This helps improve the program as much as it tracks progress.

Day 1

  • What did you complete?
  • What blocked you?
  • What surprised you?
  • What should we improve?
  • What would you do differently tomorrow?
  • Firms researched today: ___

Day 2

  • What did you complete?
  • What blocked you?
  • What surprised you?
  • What should we improve?
  • What would you do differently tomorrow?
  • Firms researched today: ___

Day 3

  • What did you complete?
  • What blocked you?
  • What surprised you?
  • What should we improve?
  • What would you do differently tomorrow?
  • Firms researched today: ___
  • If another student were starting this program next week, what advice would you give them?

Closing output

Final Presentation

Three slides. No more.

Slide 1

Project Overview

Objective, role, duration.

Slide 2

What I Completed

Firms researched, fields verified, sources logged, highlights.

Slide 3

What I Learned

About research, about ADI, about yourself.

PPT 04-Final-Presentation-Template.pptx 3-slide template ↓

Team rhythm · 3:00 PM daily

Daily Stand‑up

You will join the daily team stand‑up at 3:00 PM — a short check‑in on progress, priorities, and blockers. Prepare three short answers:

  • What did I complete?
  • What am I working on next?
  • What is blocking me?