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Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law
German employment law boutique Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law moves beyond a traditional DMS, choosing Epona and SharePoint to connect internal knowledge, systems and AI, for more flexible and future-ready legal work.
More than a new DMS
Why German law firm Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law (PWWL) chose Epona to connect knowledge, systems and AI
Legal technology decisions are rarely just about replacing systems. More often, they are about preparing for what comes next. At PWWL, a leading German employment law boutique, that became the focus when the firm began to rethink its document management strategy, considering one of the major developments in legal work: artificial intelligence. “We had a document management system in place,” explains partner and IT lead Jan Rudolph. “But it was outdated. We decided to implement a new solution that would better support connectivity and align with our AI strategy going forward.”
The firm’s ambition was clear. It was no longer enough to just store documents. The system had to actively support how knowledge is created, shared and reused.
From storage to knowledge infrastructure
For Jan and the entire firm, the core challenge was not technology itself, but how to make their firm’s knowledge usable in a new way. Over time, the firm had built up a significant body of legal expertise. Documents, case materials and internal know-how formed a valuable knowledge base. But in the existing system, that knowledge was largely static.
“What we wanted was a system where we could actually use our documents to feed our knowledge into other systems,” Jan explains. “Especially into AI tools.”
The firm is working with tools such as Microsoft Copilot and several German AI solutions. These systems could combine external legal content with internal firm knowledge to support lawyers in their work. But the existing DMS simply could not support that approach. “It had a good search function when we first implemented it,” Jan says. “But it was not capable of connecting to modern AI systems or integrating our knowledge in a meaningful way.” That limitation made the decision clear: the firm needed a new foundation.
Why SharePoint became the backbone
The firm’s search for a new system quickly led to SharePoint as a core component. “SharePoint makes it much easier to share and access data and to connect it with other systems,” Jan explains. “It provides standard connectivity through the Microsoft infrastructure.” That connectivity was essential. The firm wanted a platform that could:
• integrate with AI tools
• connect to external legal research systems
• support cross-platform work
• allow secure and controlled access to internal knowledge
At the same time, the system had to fit seamlessly into the firm’s existing Microsoft environment.
“We did not want another standalone system,” Jan says. “We wanted something that could be integrated into our Microsoft-based infrastructure.”
Choosing Epona: flexibility and integration
The decision to move forward with Epona was influenced by both technical capabilities and practical collaboration. One key factor was integration with existing systems, including DATEV, a widely used law firm management platform in Germany. “We needed a system that could connect to our existing tools,” Jan explains. “Together with Epona’s team, we were able to build a connector that automatically creates files based on predefined parameters and integrates into our law firm management software.” That flexibility proved critical.
“It’s a simple system in its core, but at the same time very versatile,” he says. “That combination was important for us.”
There were initial reservations. Epona was a fairly new provider in the German market at the time, and some partners questioned whether to follow the more traditional route. “Of course, we also considered more established systems,” Jan says. But versatility and openness were key factors in our decision. “The migration effort for other systems was significantly more complex,” he explains. “Epona offered a better balance between functionality, flexibility, readiness to adjust to our needs and cost.” A positive reference from another law firm helped confirm that decision.
Migration: simplifying instead of replicating
Migrating from a legacy system to a new platform is rarely straightforward. The firm took a pragmatic approach. Instead of trying to replicate the old system exactly, they chose to simplify.
“We created a new file structure for future work and phased out the old one over time,” Jan explains. “Old files remained as they were, but everything new follows a cleaner structure. We managed expectations from the start by clearly communicating what would change and what would not.” The result: a smooth transition without data loss or major disruption. “No document was lost, and no unnecessary data was migrated,” Jan says.
Immediate impact:
working without barriers
The most immediate improvement was flexibility. “People can now work from anywhere,” Jan explains. “As long as you have an internet connection, you can access your documents.” Because the system is SharePoint-based, lawyers can also work offline through OneDrive synchronisation without compromising security. Collaboration improved as well, particularly through Outlook integration. “Email filing is much more streamlined,” Jan says. “It sounds basic, but it makes a big difference in daily work.”
Cross-platform access also became easier, including support across platforms, including mobile devices.
“Our lawyers are often on the road or in court,” he explains. “Improved access to documents without paper files is a major advantage.” While the operational improvements are significant, the real value lies in what the platform enables next. The firm is constantly exploring how AI can support legal work, particularly in areas such as:
• document summarisation,
• legal research,
• first-level analysis, and
• knowledge retrieval.
“AI will not replace lawyers,” Jan says. “But it will replace tasks that no longer require legal expertise in the future.” By connecting internal documents with external legal content, the firm aims at creating a system that can provide faster and more relevant insights. “At the end of the day, it’s about using our own knowledge,” he explains. “That’s where the real value lies.”
Knowing how to combine
For Jan and the firm, one thing is clear: legal technology will continue to evolve rapidly. “The challenge is not choosing one system,” he says. “The challenge is knowing how to use it, and how to combine it with others.” Epona, combined with SharePoint, provides a foundation that supports that flexibility. “It remains our core document management system,” Jan says. “And as AI capabilities evolve, we will continue to build on top of it.” In a market full of new tools and rapid innovation, that kind of adaptable foundation may ultimately be the most valuable investment a law firm can make.