Actionstep adds iManage integration for midsize law firms

Actionstep has launched a native integration with iManage, embedding iManage document management within its practice management platform.

The integration is aimed at midsize law firms that already use both systems or want to combine document management with broader practice management in a single workflow.

When a new matter is opened in Actionstep, an iManage workspace is automatically created and linked. Matter information, including client name, matter type and responsible lawyer, then syncs between the systems, while users can access related iManage documents from within Actionstep.

This allows firms to manage a matter and its documents without switching between separate applications. It also removes the need for manual workspace set-up, which has often relied on disconnected tools or additional middleware.

Mid-market focus

The integration is intended to address a long-standing gap in the legal software market. Large law firms have typically used established document management systems, while midsize firms have often relied on separate products that create extra administration and uneven governance.

The new link automates document workspace creation when a matter is opened, helping firms keep matter records and document stores aligned from the start.

For legal practices, that alignment has operational and compliance implications. Law firms face growing pressure from clients to show that information handling, security controls and governance processes are consistent across systems, particularly in tender processes and corporate work.

Actionstep supports 5,500 law firms globally and nearly 50,000 users. iManage says its software is used by more than one million professionals across 4,000 organisations.

Triona Buckley, chief product officer at Actionstep, said the company was responding to demand from firms already using iManage that wanted a broader practice management platform without losing their existing document systems.

"Midsize law firms using iManage are seeking out Actionstep's broader operations and practice management capabilities," Buckley said. "By integrating the iManage experience directly inside Actionstep, firms can now work in a single, modern law firm operations system where matter management workflows connect easily with their existing document management system from day one, for faster onboarding and reduced day-to-day context switching. We are excited to work with the iManage team to support our joint customers with this optimized, integrated solution."

Workflow changes

Document management has long been central to legal work because firms must store, control and retrieve matter-related files under strict client and regulatory requirements. Practise management systems, meanwhile, handle workflows such as opening matters, assigning lawyers, recording time and managing billing.

Integrating those functions natively can reduce the need for staff to enter the same information more than once. It can also lower the risk of inconsistent matter data across separate systems.

Both Actionstep and iManage are cloud-native, browser-based products. This set-up supports access to matters and documents from different locations and can reduce the IT burden associated with older infrastructure.

The integration is available in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Customers need subscriptions to both Actionstep Practise Management and iManage to use it.

For iManage, the partnership extends its reach into the midsize legal market through a vendor focused on law firm operations software. For Actionstep, it strengthens its position among firms that want to retain iManage for document management while changing or expanding the rest of their legal operations technology.

David Zember, Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances at iManage, said law firms were looking for systems that connected productivity, governance and security more closely to daily work.

"As law firms look to modernize how work gets done, they need technology that brings together productivity, governance, and security in a way that supports better business outcomes," Zember said. "Our integration with Actionstep extends the value of the iManage platform by connecting document management more seamlessly to matter management, helping firms work more efficiently while maintaining the structure, control, and trust required for legal work."