This year, the full-service Middle East law firm Al Tamimi & Company embarked on a significant transition from iManage to Epona365, a legal document and matter management platform designed natively on Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online. This move aligns with a broader trend in 2025, where firms are increasingly seeking closer integration with Microsoft technologies. Legal IT Insider engaged in a conversation with Al Tamimi’s Chief Information Officer, Colin Short, to explore the strategic rationale behind this shift and the insights gained so far.
Aligning with Microsoft
Al Tamimi had already invested in Microsoft E5 licensing, prompting the firm to consider leveraging Microsoft’s ecosystem more fully. Colin Short explained, “We started to ask if we could just take our data into Microsoft and use it there with all of the tools we already have and start to get ROI on the value of those tools, instead of having to buy extra.” The decision was made to align more closely with Microsoft, enhancing data accessibility for the user base and avoiding dependence on a single vendor.
Selection Process
Once the decision to integrate with Microsoft was made, the firm needed to select a suitable vendor for matter management. “We looked at various products including Intapp and MacroView, and obviously Epona, among others,” Short noted. The firm conducted a detailed proof of concept (POC) for each platform, involving secretaries and lawyers in the evaluation process. After a comprehensive assessment, Epona emerged as the preferred choice.
Collaboration with Epona
While iManage offers robust functionality, Al Tamimi faced challenges with its support model, which involved third-party intermediaries. Epona’s approach, on the other hand, is more collaborative. “Epona’s support is done by Epona, and we’ve been co-developing with them,” Short said. This partnership allows Al Tamimi to suggest new functionalities and actively participate in product development.
Change Management
Transitioning to Epona and Microsoft’s versioning necessitated adjustments for users accustomed to iManage. Epona provided support to ease this transition. Short reported improved compliance due to the system’s seamless integration with Windows, familiar to most users. “We’ve made it as easy as possible for people to use, and over the last six or seven months, we’re seeing a better uptake in usage of the system than we did on iManage,” Short added.
Scalability Considerations
Al Tamimi’s operations span 17 offices across 10 countries, with approximately 1,200 users. This scale presents challenges for SharePoint, which can be restrictive in terms of file length and overall size management. “We are pushing the envelope in terms of size of firm that would work well in SharePoint,” Short observed. For larger firms, a cautious approach may be necessary.
Risks and Benefits
Relying solely on Microsoft poses risks, particularly if global issues arise. Short recounted an incident where a CrowdStrike event impacted Microsoft services. Despite these risks, the benefits of cost efficiency, global accessibility, and integration with AI tools like Copilot outweigh potential drawbacks.
Looking Ahead
Legal IT Insider’s editor-in-chief engaged with industry leaders to reflect on 2025 milestones and future trends. Discussions included the shift from push to pull demand for technology, the emergence of new roles supporting technology adoption, and the development of a legal AI charter under the Legal IT Innovators Group. Looking towards 2026, the industry anticipates a rise in lawyer-builders, workflow and playbook creation, knowledge management renaissance, and the emergence of agentic AI.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://legaltechnology.com/2025/12/22/aligning-with-microsoft-the-strategic-rationale-behind-al-tamimis-selection-of-epona/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.