RITTERSHAUS

Philipp Steinelt, Commercial Director, RITTERSHAUS

German business law firm for tailor-made and innovative consulting services for companies, entrepreneurial families and the public sector

Locations: Mannheim, Frankfurt a. M., Munich

Challenges

• Modern, flexible successive solution for billing, time and service recording as well as address and document management
• Daily and strategic evaluations (controlling)
• Uniform solution for all employees
• Connection of the new system to existing DMS (iManage)

Benefits

• Implementation of a customizable CRM and ERP solution

• Vertec as an integrated solution that connects all departments

• Simple mapping of individual processes in the lawyer software

Vertec Services & CRM incl. all apps
Budget & Phases
   

100-250 Vertec User

RITTERSHAUS is a different business law firm. It is not different in the sense of “just another,” but the association of lawyers, notaries, tax advisors and mediators have a different view to the legal world. The culture at RITTERSHAUS is characterized by, among other things, individuality and a dare to change mentality.

It also takes courage to tackle challenges such as the implementation of a new software for lawyers. But the step was necessary, because the systems that existed until then, a classic law firm software combined with a proprietary solution for recording working hours and services, were no longer up-to-date in their combination.

Replacement of a law firm management system

In Vertec, a partner who thinks differently about CRM and ERP software was ready for this: business software, made for me. The CRM and ERP system optimally adapted to customer requirements is in the foreground.

«The cooperation with Vertec was pleasant, constructive and productive at all times, from the initial contact, through the pre-project to the implementation. As a customer, we felt that we were understood, and queries were answered quickly and competently.»

In addition to fee calculations according to the German RVG Lawyer fees.onlineand the document management system iManage, the mapping of the following features were crucial for RITTERSHAUS.

Multi-stage invoicing process

A central process is the invoicing process, which is mapped using a multi-stage approval process. Invoices for three main applications are processed in Vertec: fee-only invoices, which account for the majority of invoices, RVG invoices and notarial invoices.

The approval process consists, roughly outlined, of the following stages:

1. In the first step, all billable cases are checked at the beginning of the month and provisional invoices are created. These invoices can be approved directly. When and who accepted this approval is logged.
      
2. In the next step, the account manager responsible for each case checks and approves them. Adjustment and approval can be made on the provisional invoices directly in the software.
      
3. Once the provisional invoice has been approved for final charging, the invoice is created and sent. This process is also possible purely digitally. The dispatch is documented and logged by a checkbox.
      
4. The invoice gets booked in.

From paid invoice to profit distribution

«With Vertec as our law firm software, we can map all common cases of revenue distribution, including acquired revenue. Lawyers who generate revenue are first assigned to the respective case. The percentage of revenue is stored on the respective role or user level.»

Through transparent reporting, the percentages for each partner can be calculated and listed down to the level of a case.

Individual deadline management

RITTERSHAUS has also been able to implement comprehensive deadline management. Deadlines and advance deadlines as well as other activities can be easily created and evaluated in Vertec (e.g. follow-ups). This happens based on the user rights system. Due deadlines are shown to the responsible employee after Vertec is started. The implementation of further customer-specific requirements is already in concrete planning.

«Our trademark law department has very specific requirements for Vertec and a professional trademark management. These can also be implemented in Vertec which will happen shortly. We are already looking forward to the results.»