The key to any complicated case is organization. From the moment the file opens, you begin to acquire data. There are witnesses to interview, documents to review, pleadings to file, and deadlines to meet. Staying organized is the name of the game. If you are on top of things and your opponent is not, you will have the early advantage.
Every new case begins with an electronic trial notebook.
Years ago, I would have been talking about a three-ring binder. Today I use a computer to do the job. Sadly, there is no single product to take the place of my paper-based system, but I can combine several software packages to do the same job. Think of it as a cookbook approach. My trial notebook begins with Ecco, an incredibly cheap outliner.