ILTA Awards

Finalist / T R A I L B L A Z E R O F T H E Y E A R B u c h a n a n 's p u r s u i t o f A I - e n h a n c e d d o c u m e n t a u t o m a t i o n , a s p a r t o f t h e i r o v e r a r c h i n g BuchananInnovate program, led to early adoption of NetDocuments' PatternBuilder and AI App Builder. 3545 Consulting's tailored training approaches included training for client teams, workshops for demo apps, and bulk app creation services, bringing vital change management and user adoption strategies to the endeavor. Buchanan, NetDocuments, and 3545 Consulting established a strong foundation of trust, approaching the project as a strategic partnership. Regular check-ins, transparent communication, and an agile approach allowed quick decision-making and course correction. 3545 Consulting brought extensive knowledge of law firm workflows, change management, and cloud-based technology adoption, helping bridge the gap between Buchanan's legal teams and NetDocuments' technology capabilities. Instead of implementing PatternBuilder in one firmwide initiative, the project launched in phases. The team began with controlled pilot groups, allowing them to test functionality, identify potential challenges, and refine workflows before broader deployment. This launch strategy minimized the i m p a c t o f u n fo r e s e e n i s s u e s a n d p r ov i d e d r e a l - w o r l d validation. The project focused on incremental wins, starting w i t h s p e c i f i c u s e c a s e s s u c h a s a u to m a t i n g ke y l e g a l document workflows. Buchanan quickly saw measurable benefits, leading to firmwide adoption. NetDocuments and 3545 Consulting refined their approach based on real-time feedback, ensuring continuous improvement. Managing risk as an early adopter requires a structured yet flexible approach. The team employed key risk management techniques, including a phased rollout approach, stakeholder Buchanan Ingersoll + NetDocuments & 3545 Consulting alignment, and executive sponsorship. They conducted process evaluation and optimization before automation and designed a scalable framework for future expansion. Early engagement and use case demonstrations, collaborative workflow redesign, incremental wins, and ongoing training and support helped shift the mindset from traditional document creation methods to an automated, standardized approach. B u c h a n a n c o l l a b o r a te d w i t h N e t D o c u m e n t s a n d 3 5 4 5 Consulting to integrate AI-powered tools into their operations, enabling them to automate complex legal workflows with AI, including one use-case which is saving the firm ~1500 legal assistant and paralegal hours annually. This partnership, built on proactive engagement, deep expertise, and iterative innovation, produced awe-inspiring results. The project reinforced the idea that technology should be a catalyst for transformation, not just a tool for replication. Future projects will benefit from smoother adoption and faster paths to measurable success by refining how automation is introduced and emphasizing process improvement. PROJECT Buchanan Innovate BuchananInnovate is a digital solutions center aimed at driving innovation through AI, automation, and data analytics. ILTA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2025 5 9

• Cover