Transformation troubles: responding to a new era of change

LexisNexis uncovers the challenges facing SME law firms in its latest Bellwether report, outlining three major threats on the horizon in need of urgent attention.

|LexisNexis|

The post-lockdown boom has restored business confidence for small law firms. Many have seen their financial expectations met and have devised ambitious growth plans, with mergers and acquisitions becoming increasingly attractive.

But a new wave of change is on its way and small law firms will need to move quickly in order to stay afloat. Can small law leaders apply what they’ve learnt in the last 24 months to a new era of transformation? Or will an out-of-the-woods attitude hold them back?

In the tenth edition of the LexisNexis Bellwether report, we explore the triumphs and challenges facing small law firms and solo practitioners.

Shoosmiths and Avail: from manual review to 83,000 AI-analysed title registers

Steven Fahmy | Senior customer success manager, Avail | 30 April 2026
Early recognition of emerging technology can create lasting advantage, but the lessons don’t only apply to the largest law firms. Shoosmiths identified the potential of AI-driven title analysis early and embedded it across its real estate workflows. While Shoosmiths operates at scale, the challenges explored in this case study will feel familiar to many real […]

Using AI to ask difficult questions about AI liability

Thomson Reuters Legal Insights Europe | | 9 June 2026
The latest Future of Professionals report (2025) reveals a stark reality where 80% of legal professionals recognise AI as transformational, yet only 38% expect significant change in their organisations this year. This research exposes a critical disconnect between legal AI awareness and strategic AI adoption across the legal industry. Highlights from the report include: 80% of legal professionals see […]