LexisNexis

Midsize Law Firm, Sussman Shank, Selects InterAction for CRM

Unmatched Outlook integration seen as critical to encourage lawyer participation and firm wide implementation success

OAK BROOK (IL), 24 January, 2005. LexisNexis and Interface Software announced today that the midsize Portland, Oregon based law firm of Sussman Shank has selected InterAction® as the organization's CRM solution of choice. The 29-lawyer firm is integrating InterAction with Microsoft Outlook® to provide lawyers and staff seamless access to Relationship Intelligence directly from their email environment. Interface Software recently was acquired by LexisNexis, a leading provider of legal, news and business information services.

"Our strategy was to find a system that would allow everyone to share and access Relationship Intelligence on a firm wide basis without forcing lawyers to leave their familiar Outlook environment," said Steven Seguin, Sussman Shank's executive director. "InterAction provides the most function-rich Outlook integration of any CRM solution we looked at while also providing full-featured, front end Windows and Web applications for management and other power users."

For ten years Sussman Shank had been using LegalEase, a contact management system from Cole Valley Software, which provided the functionality needed to execute mailings and perform other marketing functions. However, the firm's strategic vision evolved and management knew that continued success in the highly competitive legal market would require lawyer participation in a full-featured CRM system that facilitated sharing of Relationship Intelligence firm wide. "As our needs progressed it became difficult for professionals to share information in the manner we needed," commented Greg Rotvik, Sussman Shank's IT Director. "Our lawyers live in Outlook and email, so we needed to deliver full CRM functionality to them in that environment."

Seguin admitted that early on in the software selection process he thought InterAction would be too big a system for a firm Sussman Shank's size. However, after exploring other options he concluded that it was the only CRM solution that could meet the firm's long-term strategic needs. "We initially thought that InterAction was just for firms much larger than ours, but that was not the case," said Seguin. "InterAction is an excellent product at its core, and it allows us to add on functionality as our needs evolve. So, small firms can benefit immediately from the system and grow with it over time."

While price was an important factor in the buying decision, Sussman Shank learned that in the realm of CRM software, you get what you pay for. "If you buy a bad product at a good price, you haven't spent your money wisely," said Rotvik. "We believe that while InterAction was more costly up front, it will actually be less expensive in the long run because of its ease of maintenance, modular design and ability to accommodate future growth. It will help us remain competitive and stay on the leading edge of our market."

"Failure was not an option for Sussman Shank, so they did their due diligence to determine which CRM solution would provide the greatest likelihood of success and ROI," said Barry Solomon, Interface Software's executive vice president. "We are delighted they selected InterAction and are confident that it will play a key role in advancing their strategic growth and profitability objectives."

About LexisNexis and Interface Software
LexisNexis® (www.lexisnexis.com) is a leader in comprehensive and authoritative legal, news and business information and tailored applications. A member of Reed Elsevier Group plc [NYSE: ENL; NYSE: RUK] (www.reedelsevier.com), the company does business in 100 countries with 13,000 employees worldwide.

Interface Software, recently acquired by LexisNexis, is the leading provider of CRM solutions enabling professional services firms and similar relationship-based organizations to create the Relationship Intelligence they need to generate new business and enhance client service. Its flagship product, LexisNexis Interface Software, is a flexible and uniquely designed platform that delivers this Relationship Intelligence throughout the organization, quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. Relationship Intelligence is a firm-wide asset that reveals the unique and complex connections between people, companies, relationships, experience and expertise, empowering professionals to leverage who and what they know to uncover new revenue opportunities, differentiate themselves from the competition and enhance client service. InterAction is internet-enabled, allowing professionals to view information however they choose—through knowledge management platforms, corporate portals, intranets, extranets and wireless devices. Interface Software has received numerous accolades, including the Inc 500, the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 for Greater Chicagoland, the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 and the Upside Hot 100. For more information please visit Interface Software's website at www.interaction.com.

About Sussman Shank
Sussman Shank LLP is a mid-size law firm in Portland Oregon with attorneys admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington and California. We have a general, civil and trial practice in state and federal courts. Areas of practice include bankruptcy, creditors' rights and corporate reorganization, corporate law, general business, business organization and succession planning, banking and finance, exempt organizations, commercial and business litigation and alternative dispute resolution, contracts, real estate, construction, environmental, intellectual property, employment law, including sexual and other forms of workplace discrimination, professional liability defense, taxation, probate, pensions, estate planning, planned giving, and employee benefits.

 
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