When law firms talk about “digital transformation,” it often sounds like consultant-speak. But in the case of UK-based Howes Percival, the move is concrete: the award-winning firm is doubling down on its partnership with NetDocuments, the cloud-first document management system (DMS) widely regarded as a leader in the legal tech space.

The expanded agreement is part of a broader business transformation strategy that leans heavily on workflow automation and secure collaboration. For a firm recognized for its “world-class” workplace engagement, it’s not just about keeping up with digital change—it’s about freeing up lawyers to do more actual lawyering.

From Three Hours to 30 Minutes

The firm plans to apply NetDocuments’ document automation across its legal templates and processes, promising speed gains that matter in the trenches. For example, drafting power of attorney documents—a task that previously took three hours—will soon take just 30 minutes. In the world of billable hours, that’s not just an efficiency boost; it’s a competitive edge.

And it’s not all behind the firewall. With NetDocuments’ integration into Microsoft Teams, client and third-party collaboration gets a security-first upgrade—crucial in an era where breaches and compliance headaches haunt law firms.

A Tighter Tech Stack, Not a Bigger One

Lee Killner, IT Director at Howes Percival, summed up the firm’s approach bluntly: “Too often, IT teams default to buying new software, creating complexity and distracting from client service.” Instead, the firm is paring back to a tighter set of core apps, with NetDocuments at the center.

That mindset—fewer, smarter tools rather than endless add-ons—is gaining traction across industries. It reflects a broader trend in legal tech, where the focus has shifted from adopting flashy solutions to making core systems smarter and more user-friendly.

Why This Matters

NetDocuments isn’t the only player in the DMS space—rivals like iManage and Worldox have long vied for dominance—but its cloud-first, automation-driven positioning seems well-timed. As more firms confront client demands for faster turnaround and cost transparency, shaving hours off routine tasks isn’t just operational efficiency; it’s survival strategy.

Kerri Dearing, VP of International Business at NetDocuments, put it more diplomatically: “By driving innovation through the apps legal professionals use every day, law firms can be confident they are empowering their teams to do their best work.” Translation: this is as much about retention and morale as it is about efficiency.

The Bigger Picture

For Howes Percival, with more than 250 partners and fee earners on the roster, scaling automation could mark a pivotal moment in its modernization journey. But the ripple effects extend beyond one firm. If document drafting can be slashed from hours to minutes without compromising compliance, it resets expectations for clients—and puts pressure on competitors still relying on manual-heavy workflows.

The broader takeaway: legal tech’s “boring” tools—document management systems, automation engines, collaboration integrations—are quickly becoming the real battleground for differentiation. And in that fight, NetDocuments just secured another loyal ally.

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