Capital Law Associates was founded in Nassau, The Bahamas, by Yvette C. Rahming, Attorney-at-Law, in 2019. Before deciding to set up her own practice, Yvette held a role as General Counsel, Executive and Assistant Corporate Secretary to APD Limited, the owners and operators of Nassau Container Port. As a full service boutique practice, Capital Law Associates, which now has a second attorney, provides a wide variety of services to their predominantly business and commercial client base, including:
- Civil litigation across various areas of the law
- Corporate and Commercial law
- Private client work
- General Counsel legal services for small, medium and large companies
The firm prides itself on providing a “white-glove service” to ensure that client expectations are not only met but surpassed. The ability of the attorneys to provide such a high level of client care is assisted by an exceptional administrative team and staff graduates from local law schools and further afield, including the UK.
How does Capital Law Associates use LexisNexis?
Capital Law Associates chose LexisNexis after one of their staff members suggested it, having previously benefitted from the resources. The firm initially subscribed to LexisPSL, later adding LexisLibrary and the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents - in the words of Yvette “all the great stuff you guys have to offer”. Since she was “very happy” with the individual resources, Yvette took the decision to upgrade to our exciting new product which combines the legal insights and intelligence of LexisPSL and LexisLibrary into a single integrated search: Lexis+ UK. Capital Law Associates have no regrets making LexisNexis their vendor of choice: “the efficiencies we have when we’re using Lexis+ UK are immeasurable.”
“The efficiencies we have when we’re using Lexis+ UK are immeasurable.”
In order to understand how Lexis+ UK helps the firm in its day to day activities, let’s take the example of a routine civil litigation matter:
- A client comes to the firm with a problem and the pertinent legal issues are identified at an initial meeting with the client.
- Lexis+ UK is used to conduct research into the relevant legal matters. Yvette says that she feels “as if LexisNexis has become another member of the team” whose input is crucial at this juncture.
- The commentary provided on Lexis+ UK is examined to “determine the mindset of the legal fraternity — and the body of law — with respect to any issue that has presented itself” and this is compared to analysis by the attorney handling the case.
- The combined expertise of Capital Law Associates and Lexis+ UK is then laid out fully in a “war room” meeting to plan and develop case arguments, summons, applications or affidavits and the case proceeds.
Benefits of moving to Lexis+ UK
Yvette describes the process of transitioning from LexisLibrary and LexisPSL to Lexis+ UK as “very easy” and “seamless”. Her favourite experience of Lexis+ UK is the powerful search functionality:
“When I search in Lexis+ UK for the area of law that I want to review, Lexis+ UK will take me to a menu of information of everything I could possibly need. I enjoy seeing everything available that’s applicable to that area of law and being able to choose what to expand upon. That’s been the most efficient part for me.”
One of the key benefits Yvette has noticed of moving from LexisLibrary to the new offering is that “it’s more intuitive so I find it easier to use”. This is influenced by the time she saves switching between platforms and content:
“We definitely appreciate having the collection of resources available on one menu. Before, we’d have to go to LexisPSL and then move separately to LexisLibrary. Now we see all the information in one platform; we can minimise what we don't want to see and expand upon what we want to see.”
Indicative colour-coding has also added ease and engagement to Yvette’s Lexis+ experience:
“The fun part of Lexis+ UK is the colour-coded keywords. Once I go to a set of authorities, I’m able to see just how often that keyword pops up in that authority based on the density of the colour code of the chosen keyword. It’s fun and efficient.”
How Lexis+ UK helps Capital Law Associates punch above its weight
Lexis+ UK levels the playing field for smaller law firms such as Capital Law Associates. Yvette compares a subscription to having “another seasoned attorney on our staff ‐ plus a research clerk” ‐ but for a fraction of the cost. Partnering with LexisNexis essentially puts a small firm “on an equal footing” with the larger players, enabling them to compete without having to expand their headcount, or compromise on their client service.
“It’s phenomenal for us to be able to present and provide things that the larger firms are able to present and provide by virtue of their sheer numbers.”
Aside from avoiding the cost of hiring staff and updating their substantial in-person law library, Lexis+ UK crucially saves time when it comes to preparing for court. There’s no need to go to a physical library and “when you are heading out to trial, it's like having a pocket of information” ‐ a valuable resource which can be accessed from anywhere at any time. This can help the attorneys to both prepare in advance and make last minute additions to their arguments by consulting their pocket-sized trove of legal research and guidance.
Yvette thinks that all small legal practices in The Bahamas and other parts of the Caribbean should consider taking advantage of Lexis+ UK to help them compete with larger firms: “It really gives you the type of muscle that you need as a small practitioner.”
“I would really want to say to them, you have to do it.”
Find out more about how Lexis+ UK can enhance your legal research experience.
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