By adopting a cloud first strategy, this cloud-centric, modern desktop approach has created a modern, secure and collaborative workplace.
Founded in 1881, W H Matthews & Co is a London based solicitors with offices located in central London and Sutton. The firm offers a variety of legal expertise and services including property conveyancing, wills and probate, civil and criminal litigation, and family law.
This medium sized law firm was working with a remote desktop solution and underlying infrastructure heading towards the end of support. The incumbent case management system needed updating to the latest version and required further infrastructure investment. The finance and billing solution was running on a different system and the team of around 30 staff was using Microsoft Office for day-to-day operations.
Whilst the firm was able to function perfectly well, the entire IT environment needed modernisation if the Partners were to see any improvement to their IT systems.
Based on a recommendation from Howell Jones Solicitors LLP, an existing AspiraCloud customer, along with a further audit, W H Matthews & Co approached AspiraCloud for advice how to modernise and secure a better IT environment across the practice.
We reviewed the existing environment, taking time to understand their digital strategy and future plans for this law firm, so we could formulate a comprehensive plan: A cloud first strategy.
Our digital transformation proposal recommended a cloud-centric, modern desktop approach using Microsoft 365. This would entail migrating to Exchange and moving files to SharePoint and Teams. We also introduced the firm to one of our key partners, LEAP, a cloud-based practice management and accounting software provider specifically designed for law firms, to modernise their legacy apps.
We brought in our network specialist to update the network infrastructure and using our preferred partnership with Dell, we were able to source discounted hardware, laptops and desktops to replace kit where necessary and complete the hardware refresh. These devices were preconfigured using AutoPilot and ready to use, and any remaining kit was configured using Intune to be compatible with the new applications to minimise down time.
The cloud migration project took just one month to complete, including the move of over 1.2 terabytes of data into SharePoint. AspiraCloud experts spent two days on site to manage the go live at the two offices and be available to address any potential issues.
W H Matthews & Co now operates a modern, secure and collaborative workplace.
The implementation of device management with Microsoft Intune has simplified and secured how both users and devices connect with applications and the network. User-friendly Microsoft 365 applications are in use for day-to-day operations and security is addressed with Microsoft Defender. And by leveraging technologies such as LEAP and Intune, fee earners can enjoy hybrid working with fully enabled laptops, sharing data safely and driving productivity.
The adoption of LEAP’s integrated case management and finance application has streamlined applications across the business. With this cloud-based solution, lawyers can more easily produce documents, work remotely, organise files, record time and manage client accounting and billing from any location using any device.
With no in-house IT team, W H Matthews & Co has adopted our customised Cloud First Support service, offering reactive online IT support from our team of specialists when required. We will also proactively support the practice with a monthly onsite visit from a senior AspiraCloud team member to regularly review the environment and ensure it remains running at optimum efficiency.
“AspiraCloud took care to understand our business needs from an IT perspective,” Alex Tribick, Partner at W H Matthews & Co explains. “They listened, they understood, and they delivered a modern IT solution that will allow us to effectively support our clients in an increasingly competitive legal marketplace. It’s what we exactly needed.”
“This has been a major digital transformation project for this SME law firm,” concludes Adrian Edgar, Managing Director at AspiraCloud. “As their strategic partner, we proposed key recommendations and introduced relevant technologies, hardware and services to evolve the practice. Available at every step of the way, AspiraCloud has worked hand in hand with the W H Matthews team, to ensure the successful delivery of this modernisation project and support the business on their digital journey.”
The firm is considering the deployment of Microsoft Teams to drive collaboration and replacing their analogue telephone system with Teams Phone to introduce further modern working practices as well as cost savings.
AspiraCloud is also delivering a series of proactive security and anti-phishing training sessions to ensure all members of staff can confidently protect the business from the risk of hacking and cyber-attacks. We will also be providing advice on modern dictation services.
If you want to find out more or do the same for your business, simply get in touch.