Solicitors Own Software (SOS), providers of practice and case management software and services, has undergone a management buy-out by the current executive team, following the planned retirement of founder Michael Platt. The management team affecting the MBO includes directors Keith Denman, Elaine Galvin, Graham Colbourne, Stephen Parry and David McNamara. David was formerly sales and marketing director and now becomes managing director.
The financial details of the MBO were not disclosed.
Bucking the recent trend of independent legal software suppliers selling out to larger conglomerates, Michael Platt placed securing the independence of SOS as a paramount prerequisite for his retirement. ‘I firmly believe that this is the best outcome for clients and staff in terms of continuity of service, on-going product development and maintaining choice in the market. I am leaving SOS in the safest hands.’
The SOS management team has served some 55 man years at SOS and is committed to remaining focused on providing the best integrated practice management and case management software. Newly appointed managing director, David McNamara commented: ‘There has been widespread consolidation of software suppliers through recent mergers and acquisitions. We believe that many law firms will be let down as some legal software will inevitably be dropped and law firms will be forced in a direction that they don’t necessarily want to take. Our MBO ceases any speculation that SOS clients would suffer a similar fate and that they can look forward to continued high levels of service and innovation, in the years to come.’
