Road to success
FEATURES
Vivian O’Brien, head of marketing at Clio, highlights the key questions that will help firms cut through the marketing hype and confidently choose legal technology that genuinely supports their work.
Harper James founder and CEO Toby Harper reflects on the secret ingredients to the firm’s continued success, and the key decision to embrace private equity investment and AI to drive future ambitions
AI notetaking can be a double-edged sword. While it takes on the burden of transcribing, it can leave a firm vulnerable to harms like inaccurate notes and data privacy violations: Lockton recommends risk-reduction strategies
ISSUE IN BRIEF
Welcome to LPM December!
2025 has been a big year, filled with lots of economic volatility, different market and regulatory changes and a greater focus on legal technology, which has continued to dominate this sector.
Given the festive season is upon us, it’s time we focus on the positives and end the year on a high note! Despite the many challenges, SME law firms have shown their adaptability in face of hardship and have boldly overcome these obstacles, and we want to celebrate this resilience.
This issue brings into the spotlight one such firm that has turned adversity into opportunity and success, and we explore key topics that law firms must be aware of to stay resilient and successful in the new year.
In this edition:
- Following a successful financial year for Harper James — which saw the firm’s revenue increase by 25% and sign new partnerships with private equity investor LDC, and Aston University to drive further growth and embed AI into the business — its founder and CEO Toby Harper talks about the secret ingredients behind the firm’s success, and the reasons behind these strategic initiatives.
- Dean Orgill, chief executive partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, reflects on the central role of modernisation, strategic expansion and sustainability in prompting record-breaking growth this year.
Plus:
- Amanda Hodson, finance manager at Slade Legal, discusses how Osprey Approach’s software platform has driven efficiency, financial control and client service excellence for the firm, and helped it reach new heights of success.
- Vivian O’Brien, head of marketing at Clio, highlights the key questions that every law firm should ask tech vendors before committing to a product switch.
- Aaron Woodley, head of customer success at Avail AI, outlines how firms can adopt legal tech and demystifies the metrics needed to assess its success.
- AI note-taking can be a double-edged sword. While it takes on the burden of transcribing, it can leave a firm vulnerable to harms like inaccurate notes and data privacy violations: Lockton recommends strategies to reduce these risks.
- Isabel Ramirez, marketing director at Actionstep, explains why effective risk management requires modern technology, strategic investment in automation and a proactive approach.
- Thomson Reuters highlights the domain expertise and advanced reasoning capabilities setting legal-specific AI apart from general-purpose AI when producing reliable, accurate and contextualised legal work.
- Head of product at OneAdvanced Emma Hatto says firms should engage with thoughtful, strategic and lawyer-centric AI solutions — rather than falling for superficial tech hype — to facilitate efficiency, reduce AI anxiety and position your firm as forward-thinking.
