Harking back to the very earliest days of the Orange Rag, every newsletter will have a legal tech clinic, where end users submit their conundrums for expert opinion and advice.
This month, our expert legal tech clinic panellist is Paul Longhurst, founder and director of 3Kites Consulting. The issue is one that many firms of 50-250 seats are trying to solve for, and their question can be summarised as follows:
“In a market where private equity acquisitions and mergers are resulting in consolidation across the sector, what are the options for firms like ours which want to retain their independence but need to invest in ever more expensive technology just to keep up with the competition ?”
Paul says:
“Over the last 20 years, 3Kites Consulting has worked with almost 200 clients of all shapes and sizes, from sub 20 seats to Magic Circle, global US firms and everything in between. Over time, we have seen a significant increase in the number of mergers and acquisitions, in some cases driven by the recent influx of private equity funds to our sector. Many firms that we speak with have a strategy that includes growth but, for some, this excludes becoming part of a larger firm or PE entity, not least because such a move will usually result in a loss of independence.
Those who have worked hard to build a business, a brand, a reputation, often want to continue the journey. However, the financial challenges for smaller firms are only increasing and much of this due to the cost of technology. The direction of travel for most software suppliers is moving to the cloud with SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions that boast ever-greater AI capabilities. On the one hand, this presents an opportunity for small law firms which lack the resources to create their own AI tools – aligning with an appropriate vendor allows lawyers to benefit from tech research and investments beyond their own means. On the other hand, this comes at a cost which usually exceeds (sometimes greatly) a firm’s existing IT investment.
Firms in this position have a number of options…”
To read the rest of Paul’s response on page 4 in the latest edition of the Orange Rag, click here: https://www.flipsnack.com/86D6B577C6F/the-orange-rag-january-2026-vcj2p9m1ci/full-view.html
If you would like to be on the panel or have a question you need answering, please contact: [email protected]
The post Orange Rag Legal Tech Clinic: “How do we retain independence but invest in tech?” appeared first on Legal IT Insider.