Legal management platform

A large, established legal firm faced significant challenges managing case communications, document storage, and deadline tracking, resulting in security risks and lost time. Empathy Technologies delivered a dedicated, secure collaboration platform using Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Power Automate, and Microsoft 365 Copilot tailored for legal workflows. Each case received a secure Teams channel with integrated, role-based SharePoint file storage and calendar sync for court dates and deadlines. Power Automate enabled workflow automation, such as automatic reminders and streamlined channel setup for new cases. The firm saw improved training and adoption thanks to detailed user guides and on-demand Teams support. The project resulted in a 40% reduction in case resolution time, secure and compliant file sharing, and substantial savings of lawyers' billable hours. The digital workspace enhanced accountability, transparency, and client service quality.

After COVID-19, DLA Piper urgently needed to enable secure, remote collaboration for thousands of legal professionals worldwide. The firm's existing Microsoft 365 environment was sprawling, with insufficient control over workspace creation, permissions, and lifecycle management. Sensitive legal data required advanced governance beyond default Microsoft capabilities, especially for privacy regulations and client confidentiality. DLA Piper selected AvePoint Cloud Governance, integrating it with Teams, SharePoint, Yammer, and Groups. Automated provisioning and recertification workflows replaced manual, error-prone processes, and MyHub gave IT administrators an overview and fine-grained control. The automation cut active collaboration sites from over 2,000 to about 400, reducing compliance risks and freeing up IT resources for more strategic work. AvePoint and DLA Piper implemented tailored security protocols for client-facing and administrative sites, automated 90-day site renewals, and ensured only authorized users accessed sensitive workspaces. The successful deployment laid the foundation for future secure external client collaboration.