ADVOS legal & ADVOS Pro

Modernizing Legal Practice with ShareFile

With ShareFile software, ADVOS legal and ADVOS Pro:

• Automated their client onboarding journey, saving over an hour of manual work per client
• Expedited and eliminated shipping costs and overhead related to handling paper documents for document retrieval and signature
• Added tremendous value and stickiness to the client relationship with online client data rooms

Gwen Griggs and Whitney Harper joined forces in 2015 to form ADVOS legal, combining their extensive experience and knowledge. From the outset, they recognized that a successful firm relies on strong client relationships and trust. To foster this, they moved away from the traditional hourly billing model, instead building their firm on a deliverables-based pricing model that they created, called the P3 Method. This foundational pricing shift eliminated the adversarial friction that existed between the lawyer and client in the hourly billing model and instead created radical alignment between the lawyer and client – and allowed the firm to scale profitably while also delivering increased value to its clients.

To scale their firm effectively, Whitney and Gwen knew they needed transformative technology to automate processes and streamline operations to match their innovative firm. Drawing on their prior experience, they selected Progress® ShareFile® software as their solution for client collaboration, onboarding, e-signatures, document and file storage, client data rooms and secure file sharing.

“From the start, we knew we needed a really solid tech stack. The functionality, security and ease of use of every piece of tech is critical – that’s central to enabling us, as a small law firm, to move fast and deliver high-volume, high-quality client work. With that in mind, we went to work to evaluate all the options and found some best-in-class solutions, one of which is ShareFile.” -Whitney Harper, Co-Founder, ADVOS legal & ADVOS Pro

Consistent and Automated Client Onboarding

At ADVOS Legal, client relationships begin with a seamless onboarding experience. With ShareFile software, they’ve implemented a scalable and efficient process. When a prospective client is identified as a good fit, they are sent a link to sign the membership/onboarding and non-disclosure agreement via a ShareFile document template integrated with e-signature. Once agreements are signed and payment is processed, a client portal is set up with a custom folder template that integrates directly into ADVOS’s project management system. Within minutes, all documentation is stored in the portal, with security features in place and permissions configured for both staff and clients.

“We’re not shoving paper into an envelope and hoping that they sign and send it back to us. We’ve built an e-signature template in ShareFile so that I can just send a link while I’m talking to a prospect – nothing easier than that, for us or for the client.” -Whitney Harper, Co-Founder, ADVOS legal & ADVOS Pro

Streamlined, Reliable File Sharing and Versioning

As ADVOS legal’s client base has grown, the ShareFile product has proven indispensable for managing secure document storage, exchange and collaboration needs. The software supports distinct areas with different access controls, ensuring no crossover for sensitive data.

In the firm’s practice as outside general counsel, they understand the value that a well-kept data room can add to a company – both in the everyday operations of the company and in the event of a sale transaction. ADVOS legal uses ShareFile software to create a client data room for each client, using folder templates to create consistent structure. Clients and the ADVOS team can easily add signed agreements and other key documents and data to the Client Data Room, and grant access to other advisors, as well as potential acquirers or investors. The ability to grant access to specific folders or subfolders and to define the type of access granted makes this tool a great fit for clients who wish to allow access to certain types of documents, while restricting access in other areas. Upload and download activity alerts and activity reports allow for key insights in a due diligence and transaction process.

“We wanted something that would facilitate the relationships, that would give our clients value-added access to their own portal, allow them to give third parties access, while allowing us to have some control and visibility into how it was used – all in a cost-effective way.” -Whitney Harper, Co-Founder, ADVOS legal pllc & ADVOS Pro

Internally, the firm’s work product often involves complex documents, typically with multiple versions and layers of internal and external feedback. ShareFile’s file versioning, Microsoft 365 integration and integration with Mac’s Finder app allow the team to collaborate, edit and share documents efficiently, all within a familiar interface – and without the risk of loss if a laptop goes down or there is a transition in personnel.

Given that ADVOS legal was designed with remote work in mind (the team has historically had members in various cities, and now the entire team works remotely 4 days per week, with 1 day in-office together), their technology needed to perform seamlessly both in-office and on the go.

As a Mac-based firm, the ShareFile for Mac desktop app has been critical, enabling easy access to files from anywhere. “I so appreciate that everything shows up natively in Finder, eliminating the need to download and upload files – and allowing us to access the full functionality of Microsoft Word to do our work,” Whitney noted.

Without ShareFile for Mac, our work experience would be clunky at best – but because of the integration with Finder, our documents are easily accessible no matter where we work.” -Whitney Harper, Co-Founder, ADVOS legal & ADVOS Pro

Creating ADVOS Pro

By 2020, Whitney and Gwen had built a thriving firm known for thrilled clients, a thriving team, and operational efficiency. That year, they launched ADVOS Pro, an advisory company aimed at helping other law firms build healthy, sustainable, impactful and profitable practices. ADVOS Pro coaches law practice owners on its P3 Method for deliverables-based billing and uses its Path to PROmance curriculum and content to help law practice owners leverage business model design principles to create a practice they love, that loves them back. Often, that means helping other lawyers identify and leverage the right technology to achieve success. ShareFile software remains central to these recommendations, particularly for e-signatures, templates, secure file sharing and workflow automation.

“ShareFile has helped ADVOS Pro look good. It’s powerful technology that is easy to use and doesn’t require a huge effort to implement – all while delivering big wins in efficiency and functionality, which small and mid-size firms desperately need.” -Whitney Harper, Co-Founder, ADVOS legal & ADVOS Pro

Building on Momentum

For the team at ADVOS legal and ADVOS Pro, technology is central to supporting the way they serve clients. ShareFile software enables them to create secure, replicable workflows that streamline onboarding and client service and support long-term growth. Inspired by the results they’ve realized at ADVOS legal – a practice that delivers outsized results including thrilled clients and a thriving team, Gwen, Whitney and their team are now helping other firms transform their practices while continuing to expand their own businesses through meaningful, efficient client interactions.

Learn more about ADVOS legal and ADVOS Pro—and how ShareFile software can help support your organization’s workflow.