Germany | Publication | Issue November 2022
Our clients benefit from customised technological solutions developed by NRF Transform, our global innovation initiative (see also www.nrftransform.law). Our German practice groups work closely with our global legal tech hubs in Newcastle and Houston in interdisciplinary teams, which enables them to identify different aspects at an early stage and take into account change requests of a technical or content-related nature. By using state-of-the-art software and agile working methods, we are able to develop award-winning legal tech products that are precisely tailored to our clients' needs, such as NT Analyzer, N-Accelerate or NRF Litigation Manager.
Until now, litigation management has been time-consuming and error-prone when dealing with large volumes of cases, especially with regard to the exchange of information with clients on changing claim statuses and associated litigation strategies. With the NRF Litigation Manager, it is now possible to significantly simplify the processing of large volumes of cases. This app, developed together with clients, transforms the traditional image of legal services and working in collaboration with clients increases the efficiency and the legal certainty of the technological solutions. Agile project management and the understanding of legal tech both play a significant role in our legal practice and form an integral part of the training of our associates for this reason.
Completeness through continuous data synchronisation
Clients provide the necessary case data, such as the amount of individual outstanding debts, via electronic means. This data is then synchronised with the law firm's own DATEV-compatible data systems by using a data interface, whereupon a fully automated file is created on NRF’s system and the lawyer handling the case is automatically notified. The data records or files can later be supplemented with accompanying documents and information. This ensures that all case-relevant information is available and that no decision-relevant data is lost.
Improved decision-making
The data on the procedural status of the individual case files is then integrated into a platform solution that sorts and consolidates the data sets and displays them in a userfriendly dashboard that can also be viewed via mobile app. Clients can thus obtain information on the current status of proceedings in real time (e.g. action filed, oral proceedings, judgment, execution) in compliance with all data protection and confidentiality requirements. Documents such as lawyers' pleadings or court titles are also available via the data interface. As both sides have an equally broad information base, it is possible to make more informed and, as a result, better decisions on a regular basis.
Timely corporate management
The app is characterised by its comprehensive information management. The available case data is visualised in an appealing way and gives the user an optimal overview of the entire proceedings. Data sets can be prepared and filtered with regard to various statistics in a user-friendly way. For example, an overview of the duration of the entire proceedings (from the first demand to the completion of enforcement measures) or of individual sections of proceedings (e.g. only enforcement measures) can be created. This provides the clients with transparent success statistics and enables them to adjust their receivables management and liquidity management in a timely manner.
Resource efficiency through automation
Valuable resources are saved by automating repetitive processes. With the help of fully electronic file management, document templates developed by NRF can be individualised error-free within seconds. Quality losses in the creation of standardised mass documents are avoided. The resources saved, especially in terms of personnel, are available for other tasks.
The NRF Litigation Manager is a good example of how NRF Transform is revolutionising existing mandate work in the field of lawsuits and bringing to light new, agile forms of collaboration in a digital world. The separation of standard and complex issues and the involvement of non-lawyers guarantees an optimal allocation of resources, better services, higher productivity and ultimately the best price-performance ratio. We don't just talk about legal tech, we live it. This is how we establish ourselves as a reliable contact for clients who increasingly rely on legal tech solutions.
NRF Transform combines the latest technology with the strong expertise of our lawyers so that we continue to actively shape the legal tech transformation of the legal market. In doing so, many other opportunities, particularly in relation to big data analytics and the use of artificial intelligence, are already available for use and are being developed on an ongoing basis. Norton Rose Fulbright is ready to serve as a supporting pillar in the management of legal risks by legal departments and, as a result, in ensuring corporate success by managements.
Publication
Miranda Cole, Julien Haverals and Emma Clarke of our Brussels/ London offices are the authors of a chapter on procedural issues in merger control that has been published in the third edition of the Global Competition Review’s The Guide to Life Sciences. This covers a number of significant procedural developments that have affected merger review of life sciences transactions.
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