How Taft delivers client-focused excellence with Lexis Create+

Taft, a prestigious law firm with over 925 lawyers, is celebrated for its client-first philosophy and innovative approach. By redefining the standards of client service and reinventing the legal workplace for lawyers, Taft is creating a firm where customers get exceptional value and where top talent is eager to work. 

Elevating client service through innovation 

The legal industry is undergoing a dynamic shift toward the ​“augmented law firm,” where innovation and technology converge. Taft is playing a leading role in this shift by setting new benchmarks in client service and creating an environment where legal talent thrives, ensuring clients receive tailored expertise. 
 
Lyndsay Capeder, Taft’s Chief Client and Innovation Officer elaborates: ​“The billable hour may not disappear entirely, but clients demand greater transparency and predictability in pricing. Legal technology is critical to meeting these expectations while also enhancing operational efficiency. “ 
 
Mike Gordon, co-chair of Taft’s Finance Practice Group, highlights the critical role of technology in revolutionizing both client service and internal operations. ​“Legal tech serves a dual purpose,” he explains. ​“It simplifies our work as lawyers and eliminates low-value, commodity tasks clients don’t want to pay for. This allows us to focus on high-value, high-impact work for our clients. In many practice areas, good work and responsiveness are basic expectations. To truly stand out, we must think creatively and provide unique value.” 

A game changer in legal drafting 

Taft’s adoption of Lexis Create+ is an example of its innovative spirit. The firm began its journey with a comprehensive needs assessment, incorporating feedback from its transactional lawyers. ​“Our lawyers needed a streamlined way to access precedent clauses and provisions,” recalls Lyndsay. ​“Lexis Create+ has completely transformed our drafting process, allowing us to focus on the provisions that have the greatest impact.“ 
 
Mike Gordon describes how Lexis Create+ has streamlined his work: ​“Previously, drafting a credit agreement meant recalling similar deals, searching the document management system, and manually reviewing files for relevant provisions — a time-intensive process. Now, with Lexis Create+, I can drag and drop a provision directly into the program, which identifies related deals and highlights key differences. 
 
Lexis Create+ integration within Word eliminates the need to switch between platforms, making it easy to compare provisions from multiple deals in one place. The tool’s intuitive design and seamless implementation during the pilot phase made adopting it straightforward. It’s unlike anything else on the market.” 

Driving excellence through technology 

For Taft, technology is more than a tool for efficiency. It’s a strategic asset to attract and retain top talent. ​“Legal technology is critical to recruiting and keeping the best lawyers,” Lyndsay explains. ​“We make thoughtful investments to ensure that both our lawyers and our clients have the resources they need to thrive.“ 
 
Justin Weinberg, partner-in-charge of Taft’s Minneapolis office, underscores the firm’s relentless pursuit of excellence. ​“Mediocrity is not an option at Taft. We demand excellence in every client interaction. Lexis Create enables us to deliver smarter, faster solutions and helps us achieve what we call ​‘client amazement.’ ​” 
 
Collaboration and knowledge sharing are also essential to Taft’s success. With offices in multiple cities, technology serves as a bridge, fostering teamwork and communication. 
 
​“Accessing institutional knowledge in a large firm can be challenging,” Mike admits. ​“Lexis Create makes our collective expertise more accessible and allows us to seamlessly share information across teams.”