Modernising tradition: how Hunters Law embraced the cloud
Arif Kamal, chief finance and operations officer at Hunters Law LLP, outlines how the firm has transitioned from outdated infrastructure to a fully cloud-based environment thanks to Extech Cloud
With a legacy dating back to 1715, Hunters Law LLP has long been leading legal excellence in central London. The firm’s reputation is built on over 300 years of delivering expert legal services across property, business, charity, family, and private client sectors.
However, even institutions steeped in tradition must evolve — and in 2020, Hunters Law embarked on a digital transformation that would redefine its operations for the modern era.
At the heart of this transformation was Extech Cloud, a strategic IT partner that helped Hunters Law transition from outdated infrastructure to a fully cloud-based environment.
Time for innovation
The firm faced a critical juncture: its servers were over five years old, its Citrix virtualisation software licence was up for renewal, and many of its PCs were still running Windows 7, which had reached end-of-life. Moreover, Hunters Law had been told by previous IT providers that the firm’s legacy applications couldn’t be moved to the cloud, pushing it toward a hybrid solution that would lock it into a single data centre provider.
Determined to avoid vendor lock-in and embrace a more flexible, future-proof solution, Hunters Law turned to Extech Cloud. “We embarked on a complete review of our IT infrastructure with the focus on a modern workplace where our staff could work from anywhere,” said Arif Kamal, chief finance and operations officer at Hunters Law LLP. “We chose Extech Cloud as it was able to demonstrate it could pull all of our technologies together properly to make us more efficient, while saving us significant capital expenditure and licensing costs.”
A careful and thorough approach
Extech Cloud began by auditing the firm’s entire IT infrastructure and setting a new strategic direction. The goal was clear: create a modern, cloud-first workplace that would support remote work, streamline operations and reduce costs. More than 100 user devices were upgraded, and Windows Autopilot was deployed to ensure a seamless rollout of new machines. Staff could begin working immediately, without the usual delays associated with hardware upgrades.
The transition to the cloud was carefully staged alongside the existing Citrix environment. Initially, some legacy applications remained outside the cloud, but Extech Cloud’s use of Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) soon changed that. Applications such as Tikit Partner 4 Windows (P4W), CCH Central, CCH Trust Accounts, and BigHand were re-engineered to run as cloud-based apps. The result? Dramatically improved performance, and what once took 40 seconds to load, now opens in under five — even from home.
This shift also brought operational efficiencies. Application updates no longer need to be installed on every workstation, and staff can access systems via web browsers and tablets. The firm now benefits from the full capabilities of Microsoft 365 and Azure, with enhanced security and performance.
Extech Cloud continues to provide day-to-day support, managing the cloud infrastructure and offering guidance on emerging technologies and compliance. Importantly, Hunters Law only pays for the services it uses, thanks to a flexible monthly billing model.
A timely transition
The timing of the transformation proved critical. In March 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic forced businesses into remote work, Hunters Law was ready. “We have been undergoing a complex IT transition to move all our systems and applications from running on our legacy Citrix platform to Microsoft’s Cloud services,” said Kamal. “It has been a complex project, coordinating and managing a number of application vendors, and re-engineering systems to work out of Microsoft’s private cloud services.”
Despite the challenges of lockdown, where all collaboration had to be remote, the transition was largely seamless. The rollout of new workplace devices was completed just before lockdown, enabling the firm to leverage tools like Microsoft Teams to maintain communication and productivity.
“Without these changes, the impact on our ability to work and on the firm would have been very significant,” Kamal added.
Today in 2025, many law firms are still yet to update to the cloud. But the reluctance isn’t necessary. Hunters Law LLP’s journey is a great example of how even the most established institutions can embrace innovation without compromising their core values. With Extech Cloud’s expertise, the firm has not only modernised its operations but also positioned itself for continued success in a digital-first world.
To find out more about how Extech Cloud can support you with your firm’s digital journey — including cloud migration, modern workplace solutions, and AI for business — visit extechcloud.com, call 01444 443 200 or email Info@extechcloud.co.uk
