Prestigious US Law Firm Chooses Keystone

Top-ten firm Mayer, Brown & Platt has become the sixth US law firm this year to purchase Keystone Net Results, the real time business intelligence and financial analytics software from Keystone Solutions.

Founded in Chicago, Mayer, Brown & Platt has offices in eight US cities, four European cities, and a representative office in Beijing. The firm has approximately 1000 lawyers and advises many of the world's largest financial and commercial institutions.

This year's Chambers Global Survey featured Mayer Brown as one of only two non-New York based firms on its Top Ten Firms in North America list, and the only firm outside the city to be named as a leader in the New York banking and finance market.

Mayer Brown's controller, Allen Gilbert, says the purchase is very strategic to the firm's future as the system will unlock financial data and allow essential hands-on information to be pushed out to the partnership.

"It will enable our partners to take a much more active role in the management of their client relationships, as well as the management of their practice areas and firm administration. They will be able to more accurately assess productivity, control costs and monitor budgets."

Keystone's chief executive Graeme Frost says Keystone Net Results is now installed at over 25 of the top-100 US law firms, and the sales showcase Keystone's technology leadership in the high-demand areas of budgeting, forecasting and profit analysis.

"Net Results gives the ability to identify and track the profitability of the overall practice, as well as individual clients. It also tracks lawyer productivity. Most important, it delivers such detailed analysis on a day by day basis."

He says the demand for Net Results in the US market is stronger than anticipated and provides a strong spring board for the US launch of Keystone's flagship practice management software - Keystone Professional - later this year.

"Net Results gives us the best possible calling card at top-100 US firms as we begin our build up to the US launch of Keystone Professional."

To support the launch, he says, Keystone has re-assigned two of its most experienced people - Kaye Sycamore and Brent Nicholson - to work with large US firms.

Nicholson was responsible for securing the dominant market position for Keystone Professional among large Australasian law firms. Sycamore, one of the driving forces behind the development of Keystone Professional, was responsible for major sales in the UK market when the company launched in 1995.

About Keystone

Keystone Solutions Group develops, implements and supports highly-specialised application software for legal and accounting firms worldwide.

Keystone's focus is on boosting practice profitability - through automated fee capture and billing; improving productivity and client service - with on line matter and case management; and supporting efficient practice management with industry-leading real time forecasting, budgeting and analysis applications.

Keystone's product strategy follows an "Enterprise Application Integration" model. This ensures integration with other specialised and generic third-party products to support a seamless working environment for users.

Keystone has over 200 customers, including some of the largest legal firms in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Keystone employs more than 140 personnel - specialists in software design, development and related business consulting - working from offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Keystone Solutions Group PLC is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange. Wholly-owned subsidiaries include Keystone Solutions UK Ltd, Keystone Solutions Ltd (Australia and New Zealand) and Keystone Solutions US Inc.

Contact Keystone Solutions, Jonathan Mayo, +44 20 7919 5800, jonathan.mayo@keystone-solutions.com.