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Rupp Pfalzgraf was founded in 2000 by three visionary attorneys who were determined to redefine the traditional law firm model. Over the course of the past 25 years, they have grown into a dynamic, multi-practice firm that embraces technology to deliver exceptional legal services.
This innovative culture has propelled the firm into becoming an early adopter of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and they are already reaping substantial benefits in efficiency and case management capabilities.
One of the founding principles on which the firm was built was to embrace a technology-forward approach that would ensure they remained adaptable and prepared to meet the challenges of the modern landscape.
“When we launched the firm in 2000, we made a bet on technology — we committed to practicing at a high level with less overhead, and it worked,” said Anthony Rupp, co-founding partner.
This entrepreneurial mindset prepared them to embrace AI while many competitors hesitated.
The Rupp Pfalzgraf team recognized AI’s potential to address significant challenges in legal practice, particularly the time-intensive nature of legal research that often created a costly burden. They realized the opportunity to obtain AI-powered tools that could improve efficiency, reduce research time and enhance legal insights while maintaining their commitment to client service.
As the buzz increased around the emergence of AI technology in the legal industry, Rupp Pfalzgraf learned that LexisNexis was developing an AI tool and engaged with their account representatives to track the product development progress.
“Lexis was outstanding,” said Dominick Muto, chief operating officer of Rupp Pfalzgraf. “They kept us informed about developments in AI and, when it became available, we knew this was the solution we needed.”
The firm was an early adopter of Lexis+ AI, the legal industry’s first and most comprehensive AI-powered solution for legal drafting, research and insights.
Security was paramount in their decision-making process. Lexis+ AI’s practice of deleting all input data after use made it a secure choice for protecting client information, aligning with the firm’s values and requirements.
The implementation of the solution followed a thoughtful approach: two testing cycles with an initial group of eight attorneys, later expanded to include 10 more attorneys. This testing elicited overwhelmingly positive feedback, leading to full firm-wide adoption. LexisNexis supported the rollout with comprehensive training programs that enabled attorneys to fully explore the tool’s potential.
After 18 months of day-to-day use of Lexis+ AI, Rupp Pfalzagraf achieved an 86% usage rate among attorneys and began realizing significant efficiency gains. For example:
Rupp Pfalzgraf attorneys shared a notable example of Lexis+ AI’s effectiveness: The tool found a specific legal precedent in 30 minutes that a team of clerks and associates was unable to locate after 100 hours of research. The firm has also seen success in combining Lexis+ AI with other generative AI tools, reducing the time for tasks such as drafting insurance coverage opinions from eight hours to just 2.5 hours.
Moreover, these efficiency gains are reshaping how legal professionals work across the firm. In one case, a first-year law clerk tasked with a motion for summary judgement involving 15,000 pages of documents delivered work comparable to that of a more experienced associate by leveraging AI tools.
“AI helps us get to the answers faster, allowing us to dedicate more time to refining our arguments and anticipating questions from judges,” said Chad Davenport, partner at Rupp Pfalzgraf. “Clients are receiving a better work product at a more competitive price, and that’s a game-changer.”
Mr. Muto noted that the firm’s attorneys “now rely on Lexis+ AI to deliver faster, more accurate results” and that “feedback has been incredible — our attorneys can quickly research and provide answers during client calls, which enhances their confidence and decision-making.”
The firm’s leadership team views AI not just as a tool for addressing current challenges but as a cornerstone for future opportunities and a competitive advantage.
“By being early adopters of AI, we’ve been able to maintain our commitment to practicing law at the highest level while embracing innovation to serve our clients more effectively,” said David Pfalzgraf, Rupp Pfalzgraf Founding Partner and Managing Partner.
Rupp Pfalzgraf invited us behind the scenes for a look at their journey toward the adoption of AI tools, the process they used to integrate Lexis+ AI into their legal practices, and the early results they have achieved with the use of these innovative tools. Learn more about their story.