In a significant shift within the legal technology landscape, Al Tamimi & Company, a prominent full-service law firm in the Middle East, has transitioned from iManage to Epona365. This decision reflects a broader trend among law firms to integrate more closely with Microsoft products. Legal IT Insider recently explored the rationale behind this strategic move with Al Tamimi’s Chief Information Officer, Colin Short.
Aligning with Microsoft
At the heart of Al Tamimi’s decision was their existing investment in Microsoft E5 licensing. Short explains, “We began questioning whether we could leverage our data within Microsoft, utilizing tools we already have to maximize ROI, rather than investing in additional platforms. This led us to prioritize a closer alignment with Microsoft, enhancing data accessibility for our users without being restricted to a specific vendor.”
Selecting the Right Partner
Once the decision to integrate more closely with Microsoft was made, the firm set out to choose the right matter management vendor. Short mentions, “We evaluated several products including Intapp, MacroView, and Epona, conducting an in-depth proof of concept on each. Our evaluation involved secretaries and lawyers who assessed each platform over a year, ultimately selecting Epona as the preferred choice.”
Collaborative Development and Support
While iManage provides robust functionality, Al Tamimi faced challenges with its support model. “Dealing directly with Epona has allowed us to co-develop features, ensuring the product evolves to meet our needs,” Short notes. “This collaboration is crucial for our progress, and Epona’s responsiveness makes them an ideal partner.”
Adapting to Change
The transition involved significant change management. “Microsoft and iManage handle versioning differently, which required some adjustment for our users,” Short admits. “However, Epona has facilitated this transition, and compliance has improved due to the system’s seamless integration with Windows, familiar to our users. Over the past months, we’ve seen better system adoption compared to iManage.”
Scalability Considerations
Al Tamimi’s scale poses unique challenges for SharePoint, as Short highlights: “With 17 offices across 10 countries and 1,200 users, we are testing SharePoint’s limits. If we were a larger firm, I’d be more cautious about this approach. File length limitations in SharePoint also pose a challenge compared to iManage.”
Navigating Risks
One potential risk of relying entirely on Microsoft is the impact of global outages. “Last July, a worldwide issue impacted access, but that’s the nature of the digital world,” Short observes. “Despite such risks, the cost-effectiveness, convenience, and alignment with user expectations make this transition worthwhile. Additionally, the integration with Microsoft’s AI tools like Copilot enhances our capabilities.”
Looking Ahead
The legal industry is evolving, with a shift from push to pull technology demand and the emergence of new roles to support tech adoption. The rise of lawyer-builders, increased workflow creation, and a renaissance in knowledge management are anticipated. Agentic AI is also expected to grow, offering new possibilities for legal professionals.
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.