The legal world isn’t known for moving fast. But in the Asia-Pacific region, one technology shift is accelerating faster than precedent-heavy industries typically allow: AI-driven document management.

NetDocuments, widely regarded as one of the most secure and trusted intelligent DMS platforms in the legal field, has announced 72% year-over-year growth in APAC. That’s a staggering number for a sector where digital transformation often resembles cautious tiptoeing more than rapid adoption.

More than 20,000 legal professionals across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan now rely on NetDocuments—not just for storing documents, but for using generative AI, workflow automation, and embedded legal intelligence to get work done faster and more securely.

NetDocuments’ rapid expansion points to a broader trend: law firms in APAC aren’t just warming up to AI—they’re actively operationalizing it.

Why APAC Law Firms Are Choosing NetDocuments Over “Upgrade-Only” DMS Projects

For many firms, the original plan was modest: update the document system, modernize storage, check a box, move on.

But once firms start evaluating NetDocuments, the scope typically expands.

That’s what happened at Norman Waterhouse. IT Manager Frederik Schwim explains it plainly:

“We were planning a DMS upgrade as an isolated project—then we realized NetDocuments came with far more functionality. We achieved several tech goals with a single implementation.”

Instead of separate projects for document automation, AI insights, contract review tools, or judicial trend analysis, NetDocuments bundles these into an integrated platform.

This isn’t just a DMS anymore—it’s an intelligent legal operations layer.

AI Where Lawyers Actually Work: Inside ndMAX

The star of NetDocuments’ APAC growth story is ndMAX, the company’s AI and workflow automation suite. Where many legal AI tools sit outside standard workflows—requiring uploads to third-party systems or new interfaces—NetDocuments brings AI directly to the heart of everyday legal work.

ndMAX Legal AI Assistant

Lawyers can ask questions across the entire document corpus and get instant, context-aware answers. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, responses stay fully contained within the firm’s DMS—critical for maintaining privilege and confidentiality.

Agentic Editing in Microsoft Word

This is where things get interesting. Instead of switching apps or relying on an assistant tool, lawyers can request edits from inside Word:

• Ask for restructuring

• Generate suggested revisions

• Apply edits automatically

• Turn insights into actionable changes instantly

For legal professionals drowning in version control and document markups, this is a productivity lifeline.

ndMAX Studio

A collection of pre-built AI apps for common legal workflows, including:

• Document classification and profiling

• Contract review against playbooks

• Judicial decision trend analysis

• Automated document assessments

These aren’t “experimental features”—firms are already using them to build consistent, repeatable workflows across practice groups.

AI App Builder

NetDocuments gives firms the flexibility to customize the out-of-the-box apps or build their own. For APAC firms seeking tailored automation—rather than one-size-fits-all AI—this is a key differentiator.

Secure AI: The New Battleground for Legal Tech

While AI enthusiasm is high, legal skepticism is higher—especially around confidentiality, data exposure, and compliance.

APAC firms routinely cite security and control as the biggest hurdles to adopting generative AI. That’s where NetDocuments stakes its strongest claim: AI is embedded in the platform itself, never requiring lawyers to copy, paste, or upload sensitive content into external systems.

Ron Dutta, Director of IT at McCullough Robertson, summed it up:

“For all the excitement around AI, it brings concerns around integration and confidentiality. NetDocuments’ integrated approach eliminates the risks of external AI tools.”

In other words: AI that stays inside the firm’s security perimeter is AI lawyers feel comfortable using daily.

A Region Ready for AI—But Cautious About How It’s Delivered

APAC law firms aren’t simply adopting NetDocuments because it’s an AI-enabled DMS. They’re choosing it because it aligns with their practical, long-term technology strategies.

Take McInnes Wilson, whose CIO Robyna May emphasizes the importance of both capability and responsibility:

“Our focus is making AI a natural, accessible part of everyday legal work. NetDocuments’ strategy aligns with ours—and lets us deploy AI safely and responsibly.”

This theme repeats across the region:

• Legal teams want more automation.

• They need AI that’s embedded, not bolted on.

• They prioritize secure, compliant systems that maintain client trust.

• They want tools that reduce friction, not add steps.

NetDocuments checks all these boxes—explaining its accelerating adoption curve.

Why APAC Is Becoming a Hotbed for Legal Tech Innovation

APAC firms are moving faster than many expect. While U.S. and U.K. firms often dominate legal tech headlines, APAC’s transformation is uniquely compelling.

Three forces are driving it:

1. Rapid modernization cycles

Many firms are shifting from legacy, on-prem systems straight to cloud-native, AI-ready platforms—skipping the half-measures common in older markets.

2. A strong focus on operational efficiency

APAC firms face competitive pressure to deliver high-quality work at scale, especially in fast-growing markets like Singapore and Australia.

3. A cultural emphasis on secure innovation

APAC firms want cutting-edge tools—but not at the expense of confidentiality or client obligations. NetDocuments’ embedded-AI approach fits that mindset.

The Bigger Picture: The Legal DMS Is Becoming the AI Hub

Historically, a DMS was just… a repository. A necessary but unexciting piece of infrastructure.

But with generative AI’s rise, the DMS becomes something entirely different:

• a training ground for firm-specific insights

• an engine for workflow automation

• a secure environment for AI content generation

• a central hub for drafting, reviewing, analyzing, and updating legal documents

NetDocuments’ APAC growth reflects a broader shift: law firms no longer see the DMS as storage. They see it as the core of their AI strategy.

And in a profession built on written work, that shift is monumental.

NetDocuments’ Path Forward in APAC

For Head of APAC Jennifer Cathcart, the momentum is clear:

“Legal technology innovation in APAC is thriving as firms embrace AI. Our Intelligent DMS vision is helping legal teams focus on serving clients—not wrestling with workflows.”

With demand rising for integrated AI systems—and concerns growing about fragmented third-party tools—NetDocuments is well positioned to continue its APAC expansion.

If the current trajectory holds, 72% YoY growth may soon look conservative.

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