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SMI Group / Primeforth Capital

How an Ex-Big Law Partner Powers Cross-Border Deals with Analyst

Published: December 15, 2024 • Industry: Legal Services

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"Analyst allows me to operate with the capabilities of a full legal department on my own. It turns legal work from a bottleneck into a strategic advantage."

U Kean Seng
ex-Partner, Allen & Overy; Intl. Legal Counsel, SMI Group

The Challenge

Managing complex cross-border deals traditionally involved countless redlines, manual reviews, and coordination across jurisdictions. Previously a partner at the Allen & Overy–Shook Lin & Bok joint venture, U Kean Seng was accustomed to relying on large teams of associates.

Now, overseeing legal matters for SMI Group, Agria, and Primeforth singlehandedly, he needed an integrated solution that unified his workflows directly in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and his browser.

The Solution with Analyst

Analyst provides a full-stack execution layer built directly into the Microsoft Office suite, simplifying complex legal work.

  • In Word: Analyst transforms plain-language instructions ("Tighten non-compete to 18 months; apply Singapore governing law") into fully compliant, jurisdiction-specific clauses instantly.
  • In Outlook: Analyst summarises lengthy engagement letters, flags risks, suggests tailored counter-proposals, and seamlessly pulls agreed terms back into drafting documents.
  • In Browser: Browser automation handles regulatory filings and extracts relevant compliance data, maintaining accurate documentation directly within Word files.

The Results

The impact on efficiency and cost was profound, enabling a solo practitioner to deliver the output of a full team.

MetricBefore AnalystAfter Analyst
Time per complex first draft~2 days< 30 minutes
External counsel spendBaseline (100%)~40% reduction
Admin hours saved per week4+ hours
Precedent retrieval timeMinutesInstant

Metrics from internal tracking at SMI Group LLC and Primeforth Capital, Jan–Dec 2024.

Why Analyst Works for Global Legal Practice

  • Instant Adoption: Analyst lives directly inside Word, Outlook, and browser, tools lawyers already use daily.
  • Seamless Cross-Border Management: Simultaneously ensures compliance with U.S., Singaporean, and New Zealand legal frameworks.
  • Scalable Expertise: Enables a solo practitioner to efficiently handle complex transactions that previously required large legal teams.

Ready to Transform Your Workflow?

See how Analyst can streamline your operations and boost productivity like it did for SMI Group / Primeforth Capital.