Perfect Portal

Process apping

How are SME law firms preparing for future client demands?

FEATURES


ISSUE IN BRIEF

Autumn has dropped and it’s time to dust off those jumpers for pumpkin season. With a lot on the horizon, October may feel like the calm before the storm. But in the meantime, LPM checks in on law firm and client technologies. In this increasingly on-demand world of consumer behaviour, Jem Sandhu investigates what apps SME law firms are using for internal and external work and use of client portals (p18).

Following its recent announced merger with Gross & Co, Ellisons chief operating officer John Turner gives some key considerations when going through a merger (p7).

For part two of LPM’s glimpse into law firm life in different cities, we stop in Manchester. Hear about how Manchester’s history has influenced its law firms, interesting stories of Chinese investment and more on p22.

APT APPS

Clients increasingly want law firms to provide dedicated apps and portals – not only to keep track of their legal matters, but to provide business and legal services. In other words, Amazon-style delivery. And law firms are taking notice, with client portals being one of the top-three technologies on law firm wishlists this year.

POWERHOUSE PLAYERS

No single industry can be said to truly dominate in Manchester – a fact reflected in the diverse client base of the law firms we spoke to. Over recent years, Manchester has rapidly evolved into a global economic powerhouse. Jem Sandhu spoke with four very different Manchester firms to lift the lid on what’s happening in the city

NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS

Like many other SME firms in recent years, Seddons aims to streamline its processes using technology. To achieve this, says Seddons’ COO James Temple, the firm chose to, following an extensive selection process, partner with cloud and managed services provider CTS.

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

Good data and financial information have always been an integral part of running a business, but in recent years the necessity to pull out business intelligence and management information quickly and drill down into data to gain insights has been on the rise, especially in the legal sector.


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