SRC  today revealed that it has been chosen to implement the SRC WinScribe digital dictation solution to more than 350 users at Top 100 law firm, Macfarlanes. The SRC WinScribe solution was chosen because of the ability of WinScribe’s advanced workflow to reduce document turnaround times. Selection was also based on the system’s  ability to support mobile working, enabling authors to complete dictations through standard and mobile telephones coupled with a very easy to use Blackberry device interface.

“With any technology we adopt the principle aim is to enhance the service we provide to clients, the SRC WinScribe solution allows us to do this by enhancing the author secretary relationship and at the same time improving document creation times,” said Maurice Millen, Head of IT at Macfarlanes. “We have outgrown our existing analogue system and it was crucial that in today’s economic climate we work more efficiently as a team by using the best available digital dictation solution. We are excited by the opportunities the SRC WinScribe solution offers now and in the future.”

The contract was competitively tendered by the leading digital dictation suppliers. However, the combination of WinScribe’s innovation in advanced workflow and remote working capabilities coupled with SRC’s approach to delivery were deciding factor for Macfarlanes. “SRC have a very good reputation as a leader within the legal market, which was confirmed by peers that we have spoken to about digital dictation. We liked the way they work. They are client-focused and combine exceptional expertise with a straightforward approach,” added Maurice Millen.

According to the London based legal firm existing staff and new joiners are keen to start using the new solution, which will be fully implemented and supported by SRC, including the provision of end-user training.

Macfarlanes authors will capture dictations using Philips SpeechMike IIs when in the office and Olympus DS4000s when out of the office. For additional remote working, authors will be able to dictate using standard and mobile telephones and using WinScribe’s new Blackberry dictation module.

Speaking about the Macfarlanes announcement, Chris Hart, CEO at SRC said: “This is a great win for SRC and demonstrates our focus and dedication to the legal market. We look forward to working with Macfarlanes and are delighted that another Top 100 law firm saw SRC as the natural choice to meet their challenging dictation requirements. Macfarlanes will benefit from advanced workflow, which brings greater efficiencies to authors and secretaries, while management will be able to see in real-time the volume and pattern of dictations across the firm.”

SRC have announced it has been selected to roll out the WinScribe digital dictation solution to rapidly expanding law firm Southerns.

The solution enables the firm to automatically distribute, manage and prioritise dictations, which will accelerate document creation times.

Copitrak Systems has announced that leading London law firm Wedlake Bell has gone live with its eClipse cost recovery and cost management solution. The implementation saw the introduction of eClipse terminals to the firm’s MFDs as well as a number of eClipse interfaces hosted on existing eCopy ScanStations, so minimising hardware levels. The practice is also currently trialling LaserTrak print management software with a view to a practice-wide roll-out later in the year.  

Wedlake Bell opted for Copitrak after a thorough scout of the market looking for a replacement for their ageing cost recovery system. As Head of IT Linda Webster explains, Copitrak stood out. “There was a strong product fit in that the eClipse system did exactly what we wanted and it also gave us a perfect platform for future development. As a firm, we’re interested not just in recovering and charging back costs but in cost management, in capturing and analysing what it costs us to do a particular job. The Copitrak product set affords us plenty of scope for introducing new functionality to support that process.

We were also impressed with the quality of the company in terms of its implementation skills, project management and customer focus. There is a refreshing transparency to their approach, which is complemented by a likeable, professional and highly competent team. As a result, we’re confident that we have the right IT partner on board to help us drive forward in this crucial area of business control.”

The new solution immediately slashed the amount of administrative time previously taken up with downloading and rekeying all copy costs into the firm’s practice management system. With eClipse, all costs are automatically fed into the PMS and posted against the respective matter or client number, minimising effort and maximising accuracy.

Stewart Hadley, Copitrak’s managing director, is delighted with the Wedlake Bell win. “This is further evidence that there is clear differentiation between suppliers and that law firms are attracted by an offering that combines technical and service excellence. It’s also significant that cost management as opposed to cost recovery is continuing to grow in importance and our product set reflects that change. For those firms keen to enhance both cost disciplines, Copitrak is the supplier of choice.”  

It was a case of 'who' would acquire Axxia rather than 'when', but now we know. The formal statement from LexisNexis is attached below.

Formal statment from LexisNexis regarding the acquisition of Axxia:

LexisNexis, a leading global provider of business information solutions, today announced the acquisition of Axxia – a leading provider of back-office and integrated solutions in the mid-law segment in the UK.

The acquisition of Axxia enables LexisNexis to offer a full suite of practice management solutions to the UK mid-law sector. Medium sized law firms can now rely on LexisNexis for both content and complementary IT infrastructure enhanced with workflow solutions.

The Axxia acquisition is a further step towards LexisNexis’ goal to be a comprehensive solutions business by combining local and global strategic acquisitions with existing content products. This move also complements the acquisition of Visualfiles in 2006 that provided a market leading case management front-end solution for the mid-law market. The addition of Axxia enables LexisNexis to offer fully integrated workflow-based solutions enhanced with relevant content for the mid-law market in the UK, building on the heritage of LexisNexis Butterworths publishing and understanding of the information used within law firms.

LexisNexis has also implemented a global reorganisation which sees the appointment of Kate Holden as Senior Vice President of Global Practice Management Solutions to oversee the development of solutions to meet local and global customer needs.


“LexisNexis offers customers integration of front and back office, with all the resulting benefits, such as improved efficiencies with seamless movement from one application to another, and relevant content automatically pre-populating searches and check lists. This one-stop-shop offering helps our customers to maximise productivity and profitability, reduce malpractice risk, enhance client interaction, and make well-informed case and matter decisions,” said Kate Holden, Senior Vice President of Global Practice Management Solutions, LexisNexis.

“LexisNexis already offers a Practice Management Total Solution in the US and we are keen to bring this successful approach to the UK,” adds Josh Bottomley, Managing Director, LexisNexis UK.

“We have seen this comprehensive business solution bring tangible benefits to clients integrating everything they need to excel in the business and practice of law - from calendaring and time management to legal research, case assessment, document drafting and client relationship management, and it means one point of contact to resolve any integration issues rather than a panel of suppliers.”

Stuart Holden, Managing Director, Axxia comments, “Although both businesses serve similar organisations, the product portfolios at Axxia and Visualfiles are extremely complementary. Both Visualfiles and Axxia hold leading positions with their respective offerings. Visualfiles has a first class reputation for its case management software and Axxia’s key strength lies in integrated front and back office solutions. With both Visualfiles and Axxia in the LexisNexis stable, we can offer our customers an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and experience across a broad range of markets. This will significantly strengthen our ability to deliver the leading portfolio of integrated and open solutions that satisfy the widest range of customer needs.”