| | 9CIOReviewNOVEMBER 2020Number-One status. I have seen these range from one to two years depending on law firm and vendor, and with especially impressive legal tech, exclusivity can provide an invaluable differentiator between firms and their competitors for a period of time. (2) CUSTOMIZATION OF THE TOOL IN YOUR FAVORIt's often a fool's errand to ask a seasoned legal tech or research vendor to change their entire user experience and user interface to comport with the customized needs and preferences of a single customer. Not so when you are Customer-Number-One. This status often ensures a direct line of communication with senior leadership, developers, coders, and designers, and they tend to be thrilled to receive input, and promptly oblige. And by guiding and customizing the tool, it will become a far more valuable resource and far less likely to become shelf ware.Certainly, there is risk of taking a chance on an unproven product, often by an unproven company: it could be a failure. It is a risk, for sure, but one that can be mitigated (3) SWEETHEART PRICINGStartups love to have Big Law customers vouch for them, and the hardest customer to reel in is Customer-Number-One. As an incentive to sign up with an exciting yet unproven product, the first few customers tend to get extremely competitive pricing. In my experience, that favorable pricing will often carry through after year one, paying dividends over time and mitigating the risk of a product that could underwhelm. (4) BFF-STATUSStart-ups rarely forget the people who gave them a chance early on, and those friendships will often continue to grow once they reach widespread, commercial success. The professional and personal relationships I continue to enjoy with the leaders of legal tech startups are especially warm, and as an added bonus, have resulted in numerous unnecessary but greatly appreciated benefits over the years (client development opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, sneak previews, and early access to their newest product lines, speaking engagements, social events, and more). (5) MARKETING BUZZNaturally, both law firms and legal tech startups love good buzz. Press releases, articles, case studies, and presentation opportunities often tout the exciting exploits of a Customer-Number-One and its vendor, especially when the vendor is doing something novel in the AI or data analytics space. When your firm is highlighted as being "innovative" in top-tier legal and business publications, you've hit the jackpotand clients, prospects, and colleagues take notice. I would be remiss if I didn't discuss the elephant in the room, the natural counterpoint to the benefits of Customer-Number-One status. Certainly, there is risk of taking a chance on an unproven product, often by an unproven company: it could be a failure. It is a risk, for sure, but one that can be mitigated. First, it goes without saying that Customer-Number-One Status should be thoroughly vetted and not entered into blindly, especially in this economic climate. Only take a chance on a legal tech startup with a product that helps meet an important business need and is likely to result in a strong return on a modest investment. Second, scrutinize the start-up and product sufficiently, and insist on a thorough pilot (and not merely a PowerPoint presentation). If they are confident in their product, they should have nothing to hide and will be happy to offer a pilot. If they push back, that is a red flag that it likely is not worth the risk. I have never regretted passing on a startup not offering me a pilot, and many of those who took that tack are either no longer in business or no longer actively marketing that product.At the end of the day, my experiences as Customer-Number-One have overwhelmingly been positive ones. While results may vary, there's one easy step that costs nothing and bears no risk whatsoever: answer that cold call and check out their demo. It could be the game changer! Evan Shenkman
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