Sullivan & Worcester, an NLJ 500 law firm with a commitment to innovation, successfully implemented SimplyAgree to streamline their signature and closing management processes. This case study examines their journey from traditional methods to a more efficient, technology-driven approach.
About Sullivan & Worcester
Sullivan & Worcester is a forward-thinking law firm known for its innovative approach to legal technology. With a strong presence in corporate and real estate practices, the firm constantly seeks ways to enhance efficiency and provide better value to clients. Thomas Monks, the Chief Information Officer, and Michael Isotti, the Director of Practice Support, play crucial roles in driving technological advancements within the firm.
The opportunity
Before adopting SimplyAgree, Sullivan & Worcester faced several challenges in their closing and signature management processes:
- Time-consuming manual processes for creating signature packets and closing binders
- Inefficient use of PDF editors, including printing and scanning physical documents
- High risk of missing documents in packages
- Difficulty in tracking signatures and managing large volumes of documents
As Michael Isotti noted, "We took a step back and saw attorneys and paralegals working late, struggling with tasks that seemed routine. We thought there must be a better way." This realization prompted the search for a more efficient solution.
The process
Sullivan & Worcester's journey to implement SimplyAgree involved several key steps:
- Identification of pain points users were experiencing in transactional practice groups
- Identification of a tool that could resolve those pain points
- Initial testing and adoption in the Real Estate and Corporate practice groups
- Gradual rollout and training, led by Michael Isotti and supported by the IT team
- Ongoing support and training, including one-on-one sessions, live transaction guidance with the SimplyAgree customer success team, and knowledge base resources
In choosing SimplyAgree as their closing and signature management solution, Sullivan & Worcester prioritized seamless integration with their DMS and user sentiment about the platform. A leading indicator that Michael and Thomas look for when implementing a new solution is whether or not an end user champion grows organically at the firm. If a user really loves a product enough to evangelize it to their colleagues, it’s a good sign that the tool will be successful. Michael and Thomas lean on these champions when they can to help drive adoption within the firm, and saw several arise when SimplyAgree was introduced.
The results
The implementation of SimplyAgree has yielded significant benefits for Sullivan & Worcester:
- Substantial time savings: Emily Brewer, a Real Estate Associate, reported that tasks that previously took 2-3 hours now take only 30 minutes, freeing her up to do more high-value work.
- Improved accuracy and reduced risk: The in-app compilation of signature packets and closing binders has minimized the risk of missing documents. Emily finds the signature tracking feature to be a critical value-add in her workflow.
- Enhanced user experience: Marisa Kugelmann, a Corporate Paralegal, finds SimplyAgree to be user-friendly and appreciates the continuous updates and improvements released by the product team. She finds that SimplyAgree is value-additive for both eSignatures and wet ink signatures alike.
- Increased efficiency: The ability to quickly update documents and automatically compile signature packets has streamlined workflows. Marisa particularly appreciates that others on the team can jump into a transaction when needed, compared to when things are stored locally or done by hand.
- Fast and empathetic support: Both Emily and Marisa noted that if they have a question or issue with SimplyAgree, the support team is quick to respond and resolve the issue with them.
Emily Brewer summed up the impact: "Having a database to keep track of the documents for a deal, then create packets and binders in two clicks is way more efficient. SimplyAgree is less buggy than PDF software and has significantly reduced the risk of missing items in packages."
As CIO, Thomas Monks is particularly concerned with ROI when implementing new tools. Because SimplyAgree has been widely adopted throughout the firm, Thomas sees outsized ROI as a result: "Cost and use go hand in hand. We want to control the cost of software licenses, but the more we use a tool that creates efficiencies for our attorneys and paralegals, the more opportunity we have to provide greater value to the client down the line.”
The success of SimplyAgree at Sullivan & Worcester demonstrates the power of innovative legal technology in enhancing productivity and client service. As the firm continues to leverage this tool, they look forward to expanding its use and further improving their closing and signature management processes.
