Three engagements, one clear progression
Each Cogwood engagement is designed to stand alone or connect to the next. Start with the diagnostic if you need an honest assessment. Move to the taxonomy build when you are ready to act. Add the curation cohort to build a team that maintains what you have built.
← Back to HomeHow we approach every engagement
Every engagement begins with an intake conversation to understand the team's current situation — which repositories exist, who is responsible for them, whether any tagging or naming conventions are in use, and what the main pain points are. This scoping conversation shapes the engagement that follows.
We do not apply a standard taxonomy template. Legal knowledge structures vary significantly between practice types, team sizes, and jurisdictions served. The taxonomy we design reflects the actual shape of a team's work, not a vendor's categorisation model.
Quality assurance runs throughout: draft taxonomies go through working sessions with designated curators before being finalised; migrated materials are spot-checked for accurate classification; and the 30-day post-launch review catches filing patterns that suggest the taxonomy needs adjustment.
Intake & scoping
Structured conversation about current repositories, team structure, and knowledge priorities.
Audit & inventory
Systematic review of existing repositories, filing patterns, and gap areas.
Design & iteration
Taxonomy drafted, revised in working sessions with curators, finalised by agreement.
Implementation & training
Configuration in system, material migration, curator playbook delivery and training.
Post-launch review
30-day review session to assess adoption and adjust the taxonomy where needed.
Knowledge Inventory & Diagnostic
A focused engagement to inventory the team's existing knowledge repositories — shared drives, wikis, document management systems, email archives — and produce a structured diagnostic of overlaps, gaps, and curation practices. The output is a written memo with a draft taxonomy, a list of priority repositories to consolidate, and recommendations for ongoing curation roles.
What is included:
- Intake interview and repository access scoping
- Structured audit of all named repositories
- Written diagnostic memo with findings
- Draft taxonomy structure for the team
- Prioritised consolidation recommendations
- Curation role recommendations
Best for
Teams who have never formally assessed their knowledge repositories, or who suspect there is significant duplication and inconsistency but have not yet mapped the extent of it. The diagnostic is also useful before a system migration or a firm merger, when understanding the existing material landscape is a prerequisite for any consolidation work.
Best for
Teams who have completed a diagnostic — or who have a clear enough picture of their existing situation — and are ready to design and implement a working taxonomy. The build engagement is appropriate when there is at least one designated curator who can commit to weekly working sessions for two to four months.
Taxonomy Build & Implementation
A multi-month engagement to design the team's working taxonomy, configure it in their chosen system, migrate a defined set of priority materials, and train designated curators on the working ritual. Includes weekly working sessions, a curator playbook, and a 30-day post-launch review.
What is included:
- Weekly working sessions with designated curators
- Full taxonomy design and iteration
- System configuration (iManage, SharePoint, NetDocuments, etc.)
- Migration of agreed priority materials
- Curator playbook — full written guide
- 30-day post-launch review session
Curation Coaching Cohort
A small-group programme for newly designated knowledge curators across teams or practice groups. Six sessions over three months, covering taxonomy maintenance, tagging discipline, retirement of stale materials, and lightweight review cycles. Includes a curator workbook and a peer-review forum for the duration of the cohort.
Session outline:
Best for
Firms that have recently implemented a taxonomy — whether through Cogwood or independently — and want to build a team of capable curators who can maintain it. Also appropriate for firms with existing knowledge management infrastructure where curation practices have become inconsistent or have stalled.
Which engagement is right for your situation?
| Diagnostic HKD 1,400 |
Taxonomy Build HKD 7,800 |
Curation Cohort HKD 3,200 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| You don't know what you have | |||
| You need a working taxonomy configured | |||
| You need curators trained on maintenance | |||
| You want a written diagnostic memo | |||
| You want a written curator playbook | |||
| Short engagement, quick output | |||
| Suitable as standalone or follow-on |
Protocols that apply to every engagement
Confidentiality agreement from day one
A mutual NDA covers all engagements before any client materials are shared or discussed. Client documents are not retained after delivery.
Named consultant throughout
The same senior consultant runs every stage of the engagement. No handoffs, no junior substitutions partway through the project.
Written scope before work begins
Each engagement starts with a written scope document that defines deliverables, assumptions, timeline, and fee. Nothing is added without written agreement.
PDPO-aligned data practices
Our handling of any personal data in client repositories follows Hong Kong's Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Data minimisation is applied throughout.
Client owns all work product
Diagnostic memos, taxonomy specifications, and playbooks become the client's property on delivery. We do not retain proprietary rights over any deliverable.
Iterative, not prescriptive
Drafts are shared and revised in working sessions with the client's team. We do not produce a finished taxonomy and hand it over without iteration.
Fixed fees, clearly stated
All prices in Hong Kong Dollars. No time-and-materials billing; no retainer required.
Knowledge Inventory & Diagnostic
HKD 1,400
per engagement
- Repository audit
- Written diagnostic memo
- Draft taxonomy
- Consolidation recommendations
Taxonomy Build & Implementation
HKD 7,800
per engagement
- Full taxonomy design
- System configuration
- Material migration
- Curator playbook
- 30-day post-launch review
Curation Coaching Cohort
HKD 3,200
per cohort
- Six sessions over 3 months
- Curator workbook
- Peer-review forum
- Up to 10 participants
Not sure which engagement fits your situation?
Most enquiries start with a conversation about where the team stands. Contact us to discuss the options and we will help you identify the right starting point.
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