The Knowledge Management Gamble: Aderant Acquires Handshake Software

Law firm management technology company Aderant announced on Aug. 7 its acquisition of knowledge management technology provider Handshake Software. Through the acquisition, Handshake products will still carry the Handshake name, remaining a separate offering under the Aderant company, Aderant President Deane Price told Legaltech News.

“Our offerings will stay intact and agnostic to the different combination of data sources law firms have,” Glenn LaForce, vice president of sales at Handshake, told LTN. As to why Handshake decided to sell, LaForce noted that Aderant was the “logical destination” for the best interests of the company's long-term future.

An Aderant release announcing the acquisition framed it as an attempt to move into the knowledge management space. At present, Aderant's solution suite includes offerings for business intelligence, case management, practice management and project management. Handshake technologies and services use Microsoft SharePoint for users to create KM solutions such as intranet and extranet portals and integrate their data. Users' data can then be searched with Handshake's Universal Search technology, or accessed via mobile devices via its Mobility offering.