In further significant consolidation within the UK practice and case management sector, Solicitors Own Software (SOS) has been acquired by PracticeEvolve Group, which this year also acquired SOS rival Linetime as the market shifts heavily towards demanding SaaS solutions.
SOS has delivered practice and case management software and services to law firms across the UK since 1987 and has over 17,000 users. Graham Colbourne, managing director, said: “SOS is a wonderful business and to continue to scale and offer what the market requires, it was clear the time is right to come together with the partner who clearly have their sights on the future for the mid-tier market and the cloud.”
He added: “We have witnessed the recent successes of Linetime and observed the changing dynamics of the market. Cloud solutions, support, service, usability and simple payment models are being demanded by clients ushering in a new era of technology. With PracticeEvolve having a clear pathway to the cloud, exceptional success in Australia and the UK and a committed focus in service and support, it is clearly a winning combination for us, but more importantly, our client base. We are delighted to now be part of the PracticeEvolve group who are simply delivering what the market is demanding.”
PracticeEvolve continue to grow their list of clients which include Setfords and Lanyon Bowdler.
David Boland, global CEO of PracticeEvolve comments “Acquiring SOS, with their well-known brand and strong client base, is a signal to the market. Both PracticeEvolve and SOS recognise firms are rightly demanding more from their legal tech providers. We believe perfection will never be good enough and to be the cornerstone of the mid-tier market, we must dedicate ourselves to constantly innovating and evolving solutions for the future. I appreciate this is a bold claim but, in our opinion, the market has been stymied by legal tech providers reducing investment, lacking ambition and offering minimal service and support.”
We revealed on the front page of the February Orange Rag that PracticeEvolve was acquiring Linetime – you can read that story here.
Speaking to Legal IT Insider ahead of the Linetime announcement, Boland said: “We’re looking at a new age in the UK and the products we compete with were designed in a different era. What we see with Linetime is a product and client base that would take us 10 years to achieve.”
He added: “The legal market represents one of the most dynamic and exciting opportunities in the global technology today.”