Leading International Law Firm Deploys Open Text Legal Solutions Enterprise Wide for Proactive Compliance


LEGALTECH® 2007, NEW YORK, Jan. 30 /- Open Text(TM) Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX)(NASDAQ:TSX:)(NASDAQ:OTC), the largest independent provider of enterprise content management (ECM) software and solutions, today announced that Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, one of the world's most prominent law firms, is expanding its LegalKEY® deployment with the addition of the New Business Intake(TM) (NBI) system from Open Text's legal solutions suite. NBI will provide the firm's 1,800 lawyers and legal staff with an automated, rules-based workflow for opening new business and help streamline approval processes so attorneys can begin billable work faster.

Cadwalader has been reaping the benefits of the LegalKEY Records Management(TM) and Conflicts Management(TM) systems for more than a decade. The solution now includes New Business Intake and is seamlessly integrated with the firm's document, e-mail, and records management systems, along with the time and billing software, which enables the firm to replicate all new and updated information to the LegalKEY system. This ensures the most up to date information possible for conducting conflicts searches and accelerating the new business intake process.

The single enterprise wide information management environment enables the firm to improve efficiencies, mitigate risks, and help meet its team collaboration goals and compliance requirements.

John J. Kruse, Director of Records and Conflicts Administration at Cadwalader, joined forces with the founders of LegalKEY Technologies in the early '90s to collaborate in the development and design of the conflicts and records management systems. Mr. Kruse envisioned a comprehensive client-matter database for conflicts checking, and a flexible and easy to use records management system that would help enhance efficiencies and improve operations at Cadwalader.

As a result of his work with the LegalKEY team, and his role in the development of Cadwalader's user-friendly integrated information management environment for document, email, and client relationship management, Mr. Kruse was named the 2006 Champion of Technology by Law Technology News. The award recognizes the non-IT professional who best championed a technology project at their law firm. Mr. Kruse received the honor last night at a special ceremony at the LegalTech conference in New York to celebrate the successes of the individuals, law firms and legal vendors over the past year.

"I developed an interest in designing technology solutions in 1988 when I assumed responsibility for Cadwalader's conflicts checking database and wanted to improve the firm's information management capability. When I saw an early prototype of the LegalKEY automated records management system, I realized that this system would be the perfect foundation for our conflicts management system," said Kruse. "Over the years, I've continued to collaborate with the programmers at LegalKEY. There have been many enhancements to the information management capabilities which have been deployed at the firm. I am thrilled to be recognized for my efforts in helping Cadwalader continue to adapt to the ever-changing information management culture."

This month, Cadwalader began rolling out LegalKEY New Business Intake across the firm, using a model Kruse customized to enhance its current system and help improve the firm's risk management.

The LegalKEY NBI automated workflow process brings several improvements to the law firm. For example, a broadcast email can be sent to all partners directly from the application as a supplemental conflicts check; if an NBI submission is being held up, a partner can view the status of the new matter submission to see exactly where it is in the process. The system also enables end users or partners to quickly fill out characteristics of their new matters from drop-down menus. This feature will enhance the firm's database of client matter information and can be useful to the partners for business development purposes.

Introducing a Matter-Centric Way of Working

Recently, Cadwalader introduced a matter-centric environment at the law firm, which required a change in how personnel manage information. "Previously, attorneys organized their information according to the tools they had available to them. Their client information was not necessarily stored in a matter-centric way," said Kruse. "Now, all content is stored in a single repository in matter-centric views. Distributed teams have seamless access to the matter folders irrespective of where they are located, resulting in greater efficiencies."

Cadwalader personnel are able to save email alongside documents, thereby collecting all matter-critical material in a single place. This practice enables easy access to information to meet new compliance requirements and helps lawyers do their work more effectively.

"The matter-centric environment gives end users an integrated view of their email system, their document management system and, behind the scenes, the records management, conflicts, new business intake, time and billing and accounting systems," said Kruse. "The integration all occurs behind the scenes, so for the end user, it is one seamless system. Each one of these systems plays a critical role in supporting this new environment."

Kruse concludes: "For a law firm, the benefits of having systems like this means improved risk management. We need applications that enable us to easily manage vast amounts of very complex information. We need to know who our clients are, what we do for them, and all the attributes that are associated with client matters, and have this information populate other systems that are dependent upon it. This is the key to better risk management."

"John interacts with end users on a day-to-day basis and has a deep understanding of business processes throughout the firm. We congratulate John in winning the 2006 Champion of Technology Award from Law Technology News," said Bill Forquer, Executive Vice President, Compliance Solutions Business at Open Text. "It is the collaboration and cooperation with our clients that distinguishes Open Text from other vendors as it enables us to deliver products and solutions that meet the needs of today's law firms."

About Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, established in 1792, is one of the world's leading international law firms, with offices in New York, London, Charlotte, Washington and Beijing. Cadwalader serves a diverse client base, including many of the world's top financial institutions, undertaking business in more than 50 countries in six continents. The firm offers legal expertise in antitrust, banking, business fraud, corporate finance, corporate governance, environmental, healthcare, insolvency, insurance and reinsurance, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private client, private equity, real estate, regulation, securitization, structured finance, and tax. More information about Cadwalader can be found at www.cadwalader.com.

About Open Text

Open Text(TM) is the world's largest independent provider of Enterprise Content Management software. The Company's solutions manage information for all types of business, compliance and industry requirements in the world's largest companies, government agencies and professional service firms. Open Text supports approximately 46,000 customers and millions of users in 114 countries and 12 languages. For more information about Open Text, visit www.opentext.com.

Source: Open Text Corporation

CONTACT:
Margaret Dobbin,
Director, Industry Analyst Relations,
Open Text Corporation,
(519) 888-7111 ext.2410,
mdobbin@opentext.com;

Richard Maganini,
Director, Corporate Communications,
Open Text Corporation,
(847) 267-9330 ext.4266,
rmaganin@opentext.com;

Brian Edwards,
McKenzie Worldwide,
(503) 577-4583,
briane@mckenzieworldwide.com

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