Who's buying what

City firm Clifford Chance has gone live with its LegalKEY automated records management system, aimed at enabling its solicitors to search for and retrieve records on-line via Microsoft Outlook or a Web browser.

Consultants Kramer Lee & Associates will help develop the new system, with the aim of eventually rolling it out across the whole firm.

Kramer Lee will also be working with west country-based Bond Pearce to supply the firm with a content, knowledge and document management system, iManage WorkSite.

The package will eventually be used by all of the firm's 650 staff.

Firms are jumping on the digital dictation bandwagon in a bid to promote flexible working.

Oxford firm Linnells has decided to extend BigHand's TotalSpeech digital dictation package to 90 of its staff, following a successful trial.

Linnells said the package allowed more staff to work in the office part-time because they can pick up dictations at home.

Following suit is City firm Masons, which is set to test nFlow Software's Dictaflow in its offices across the UK.

Masons IT director Kevin Connell said the firm opted for the package because it was easy to use, keeping training to a minimum.

Hill Dickinson has chosen to pilot SRC's package, which is based on WinScribe technology.

This allows staff to dictate into a handheld microphone into a computer, tape recorder or telephone.

The digital audio can then be sent on-line for transcription.

Meanwhile, SRC has contracted with HM Land Registry lawyers and 95 judges in the Immigration Appellate Authority to supply desktop speech recognition software.

This enables users to create documents by dictating directly into their PCs through a microphone headset.

US firm Bryan Cave is set to implement a multi-currency accounting system world wide after successfully putting it into operation in its London office, The new system, Elite, can 'think' and deliver reports in any currency.

Manchester firm Halliwell Landau has signed up to Projectplace's solution for improving efficiency and communication between staff members.

The product enables staff to share documents and files, schedule meetings and hold on-line discussions by creating 'virtual teams', irrespective of location.

City firm Speechly Bircham has moved to guarantee the security and confidentiality of clients' e-mails by snapping up DespatchBox's DDX, ensuring that contents can only be viewed by those with a secret password.

The package exists alongside existing e-mail solutions such as MicroSoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, and does not require software to be downloaded or installed.

Plymouth-based Nash & Co has bought Xerox Document Centre to overhaul the way it stores its files.

The solution scans, prints, faxes and copies paperwork, and also stores it electronically.

Solicitec has clinched two contracts to supply its case management solution, Visualfiles.

The package captures knowledge on one database and allows clients to access up-to-date information at any time.

It can be tailored to include features such as e-mail integration, time recording facilities, and robots designed to take on data-inputting duties.

Cardiff firm Hugh James has signed up, as has the Office of the Solicitor to the Scottish Executive, which will run a 75-user pilot.

Manchester's Cobbetts has drafted in IT specialists jmc.it to help implement a single new IT infrastructure following its merger with Leeds firm Read Hind Stewart.

The six-figure investment uses Citrix 'thin client' technology.