HP Opens Legal Technology Awards Contest

HostReview.com
Monday, August 22, 2005; 03:19 PM

HP (www.hp.com) announced the launch of the first annual HP Legal Technology Awards contest, which recognizes law professionals who use technology to be more efficient and improve client service.

Announced at the International Legal Technology Association Annual Conference, the contest is open to independent attorneys and law firms of any size and runs through Nov. 16, 2005.

Winners will be honored during the 2006 LegalTech East conference in New York City. Entry forms are available online at http://www.hp.com/go/legaltechawards.

Technology is essential to the operations and success of many small businesses, according to a recent small business survey commissioned by HP and conducted by Harris Interactive®. In fact, 81 percent of survey respondents plan to increase technology spending in a variety of ways (for example, technology overall, company websites, online services and weblogs) over the next two to three years.

In addition, the small businesses surveyed that plan to increase overall technology spending anticipate doing so by 20 percent on average.

Through its Smart Office initiative, HP is addressing this trend by providing smart advice, technology and services to simplify business IT, so customers can spend less time worrying about technology and more time focused on their core business.

"As solo and small law offices expand their technology investments, HP provides proven, reliable, high-quality products and solutions; local and specialized expertise; and a simplified experience with technology," said Lisa Hopkins, manager, legal market, Small and Medium Business, HP.

HP has selected a panel of industry and technology experts in the fields of law, technology, digital imaging and photography, printing, small business and marketing communications to judge the entries.

Contestants compete in two categories: Firm Excellence and Technology Innovation. First- and second-place winners in each category will receive HP technology products valued at up to $10,000 (first place) and $5,000 (second place).

In other legal industry-related news, HP announced Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP; Kenyon & Kenyon; Steinberg & Steinberg LLP; and Steinbrecher and Associates as customers of HP.

Legal firms like these turn to HP and its resellers for the simple and reliable technology products, service and support they need for greater accessibility to key client data and case information, increased security and client confidentiality, and improved cost-efficiency.

"We turned to HP for an IT solution that would benefit our clients by allowing our attorneys to more efficiently and effectively meet each individual need with very few limitations possible," said David Gibson, investigator/IT for Steinbrecher and Associates, which is based in Los Angeles.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is a prominent law firm with offices in New York, Charlotte, N.C., Washington, D.C., and London, whose clients include many of the world's leading financial institutions, corporations, healthcare and charitable organizations, governments and private individuals.

Kenyon & Kenyon, founded more than 125 years ago, is today one of the largest law firms in the country concentrating on the practice of intellectual property, with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley.

Steinberg & Steinberg, a general practice law firm in St. Louis, offers an emphasis on corporate law, family law and the needs of small and mid-size businesses, including civil litigation and trial practice, in all Missouri and federal courts. The firm turned to HP with the need for improved computer processing.