FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
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Migrating on Our Own Terms: A Finance System Conversion
by Frank Schipani of Gilbert LLP
Migrating on Our Own Terms:
A Finance System Conversion
Many law firm CFOs and COOs say they are struggling with their
financial management systems. The normal cycle of upgrades every
few years is being disrupted by vendor consolidation and changes
to vendor offerings. The three big companies in law firm financial
soware –– Thomson, Lexis and Aderant –– have each acquired smaller
companies, but they are not necessarily giving those acquired products
as much aention as their customers would like. In some cases, they
have ended development of the acquired products. As a result, more
firms than ever are looking at the future of their financial management
systems and making changes –– my firm among them.
Dwindling Offerings in a Growing Market
According to the latest ILTA technology survey, about 60 percent of
responding firms and 91 percent of large firms (over 150 aorneys) use
Aderant Expert or an Elite product. Smaller firms report more variety,
with Juris, Rippe and Kingston, ProLaw, Omega, Rainmaker, Tabs3, and
Orion reported by at least one percent of responding firms.
Aderant has purchased many smaller packages, such as Omega,
Rainmaker and Javelin. Lexis and Thomson own Juris and ProLaw,
respectively. The overall market continues to be dominated by
Aderant Expert and Elite (Enterprise or 3E). Thomson is ending
development of their Elite Enterprise product and encouraging their
customers to migrate to Elite 3E, but many are now looking at less
expensive alternatives.
With Juris, ProLaw, Omega, Javelin and Rainmaker now part of
larger companies, customers wonder how well they will be supported
going forward. Will the products still be developed and supported?
Juris continues to be supported and developed by Lexis, and ProLaw
