The Law Office of Matthew Lathrop is a high-touch, detail-driven personal injury firm. They’re guided by the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and have a reputation for rigorous case preparation. For a firm that values process, consistency, and continuous improvement, Managing Partner Matt Lathrop chose Smokeball as the perfect technology partner.
Struggling with outdated tech and costly add-ons
Before Smokeball, the firm tried several practice management platforms but found them lacking. Some didn’t keep pace with modern technology while others were simply cumbersome. “Clio was obnoxious to navigate with unintuitive workflows and costly add-ons,” remembers Matt. He sought a solution that would help his paperless firm manage complex litigation cases while also empowering exceptional client service. Matt chose Smokeball for its:
- User-friendly, intuitive interface
Automated workflows and templates tailored to PI cases
Smokeball’s matter layout immediately appealed to Matt and his staff. “The matter layout has everything a PI firm wants to know at-a-glance. Case details, statue of limitations—it's all right there. We don’t have dig for information,” says Matt.
This instant visibility is paired with strong workflow functionality. Since adopting Smokeball, Matt's firm has built over 75 workflows, enabling the team to move cases forward with confidence and consistency. "Workflows guide our entire case lifecycle from beginning to end. As the case progresses, staff get notifications for next steps so nothing is missed," says Matt. This ensures no tasks or limitations deadlines—critical in PI cases—are missed.
The firm also relies on Smokeball’s library of 20,000 automated forms and templates. Matt incentivizes staff to create and submit new templates through some friendly firm competition. As a result, The Law Office of Matthew Lathrop has created and uses hundreds of automated documents in Smokeball. These documents save staff hours of administrative time. They also eliminate errors because the client information auto-populates directly from the case file. Staff also love the document history feature. “Knowing who changed what and having the ability to restore documents instantly is a game-changer," says Matt.
Powerful reports that keep cases moving
Every week, staff send Matt a rundown of discovery or medical records that are overdue, as well as narrative report requests. These global reports are easy to pull in Smokeball and critical for staff to keep their complex cases moving. “These reports save us a tremendous amount of time and ensure we’re not missing anything," says Matt.
Smokeball empowers efficiency and ensures peace of mind
For The Law Office of Matthew Lathrop, Smokeball is more than just a practice management tool—it’s a strategic asset. The firm uses Smokeball's trust accounting for dual reconciliation, ensuring financial compliance. They also leverage the client portal and lead management features to streamline intake and client communications. SMS messaging and email are now centralized, and the firm can manage new matters without relying on external tools like Vonage or personal cell phones.
Smokeball empowers Matt’s firm to handle massive files with confidence and clarity. And staff enjoy peace of mind knowing they’re not missing deadlines or overlooking critical details as they deliver exceptional client service. "With Smokeball, we’re organized and streamlined. We have a proven process that helps us deliver great results for our clients. Smokeball is the underpinning for this success," says Matt.
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