"Cleversight not only had experience with our software from Legalsense and Twinfield, but also with the specific reporting needs of the legal profession. It was a logical choice."
Poelmann van den Broek Advocaten, based in Nijmegen and Amsterdam, is a dynamic law firm focusing on three main sectors: construction & real estate, retail, and manufacturing & technology. With 40 fee earners and a focus on the corporate market, the firm was looking for a way to improve reporting and work more thoughtfully with available data.
Need for clear, quickly accessible reports
“We noticed an increasing need for quickly accessible, clear reports,” says Arno Bomer, business controller at Poelmann van den Broek Lawyers. “At the end of 2020, we decided to change our system landscape to a cloud environment, and that brought with it the question: what do we do with our reports?” The answer came in the form of Power BI, a powerful tool that presents data visually and intuitively. “Power BI has already proven itself as a solid and constantly evolving platform,” Arno said.
Cleversight as a knowledge partner
When the firm began looking for an implementation partner for Power BI, it deliberately chose Cleversight, a division of Rsult. “We already knew Rsult because of its work with Twinfield and Legalsense, two systems we were already using,” Arno explains. “Cleversight not only had experience
with this software, but also with the specific reporting needs of the legal profession. Because of this, we also found in Cleversight a true knowledge partner. It was a logical choice.”
The implementation process went smoothly, and Cleversight ensured that Poelmann van den Broek Advocaten makes maximum use of Power BI’s capabilities. “We wanted to modernize and improve our existing reports without throwing everything overboard,” says Arno. “Cleversight understood that and helped us optimize and continuously renew both management and shop floor reports.”
“Previously, we did a lot of manual work in Excel. We wanted to eliminate that as much as possible,” Arno says. “Now reports are generated automatically and are constantly available to those who have access. We don’t have to do anything manually anymore. That’s a huge time saver.”
"Power BI acts as an umbrella shell between Twinfield and Legalsense, giving us much deeper insight into our numbers."
Link between Legalsense, Twinfield and Power BI: the perfect combination
One of the biggest advantages of Power BI for Poelmann van den Broek Advocaten is the ability to bring together data from different systems, such as Legalsense and Twinfield. “Power BI acts as an umbrella shell between these two systems, giving us much deeper insight into our numbers,” says Arno.
An example of this integration is the way Power BI generates reports based on booked revenue. “An invoice created in 2023 but credited in 2024 is correctly processed in the source systems in both years,” Arno explains. “The system understands that and presents it correctly in our reports. The interplay between Legalsense, Twinfield and Power BI is really a huge step forward for us.”
"You can set up exactly who can see what, allowing everyone to access relevant information."
Getting started with reports yourself
Thanks to Power BI’s intuitive features, Poelmann van den Broek lawyers are now able to generate their own reports. “We are at the point where we can create our own reports in addition to the standard reports that Cleversight has set up for us,” says Arno. “For business controllers, that’s fantastic.”
Power BI’s flexibility is particularly appreciated within the firm. For example, lawyers get quick insight into their productivity and turnover versus targets. They also even view their performance at the individual or departmental level. “The layering of reports is one of the best features,” says Arno. “You can set exactly who is allowed to see what, giving everyone access to relevant information.”
Collaboration with Cleversight
Cooperation with Cleversight is smooth and personal. “There is no mega large team, which means that you always have direct contact and can switch quickly,” says Arno. “If there is a question that is not immediately resolved, it is immediately escalated and an appointment is made to discuss the possibilities. Those short lines of communication and personal approach are really a plus.”
Cleversight has in-depth knowledge of both Twinfield and Legalsense, which proved crucial for Poelman van den Broek Advocaten in connecting these systems to Power BI. “They know exactly how the databases are built and how to bring out the right numbers,” says Arno. “Thanks to their expertise, we can be sure that the data is always correct.”
"Lawyers now have up-to-date insight into their numbers and are no longer dependent on the finance department."
What has changed since implementation?
Since implementing Power BI, Poelman van den Broek Advocaten has made huge strides in its operations. “The monthly reports, which used to be prepared manually by a colleague and checked by me, have been fully automated,” says Arno. “That means both my colleague and I have more time for other things, such as data analysis.”
The lawyers themselves also benefit from the improved insights. “They now have up-to-date insight into their figures and are no longer dependent on the Finance department,” says Arno. “That gives them more control over their practice, which brings peace of mind and confidence.”
Future plans: even more data and integrations
Poelman van den Broek Lawyers is not finished with its digital transformation. “We plan to integrate even more data, such as CRM data, into Power BI,” says Arno. “And eventually we also want to link our document management system, so we can do even deeper analyses.”The firm is also looking at the possibilities of AI and how it helps them work even more efficiently. “The foundation has been laid and the possibilities are endless,” concludes Arno.
