Thompson Hine LLP has launched SmartPaTH Plus, a unified legal service delivery platform that brings together legal project management, flexible staffing, value-based pricing, process efficiency, and AI-powered tools into a single operating model.
The platform builds on more than a decade of investment in structured delivery frameworks, marking a significant step in the evolution of project management within legal services, where predictability, cost control, and efficiency are becoming critical client expectations.
Originally introduced in 2013, SmartPaTH positioned Thompson Hine among the early adopters of legal project management and data-driven delivery. SmartPaTH Plus extends that foundation, integrating AI across nearly 100 workflows to enhance speed, consistency, and decision-making.
“Thompson Hine has spent over a decade building the infrastructure to practice law differently, and SmartPaTH Plus is the realization of that vision,” said Managing Partner Tony White. “Our clients have told us clearly what they need: predictable costs, faster turnaround and confidence that their law firm is leveraging technology to deliver better outcomes. SmartPaTH Plus was engineered to meet those expectations, and we are proud to bring it to market.”
Embedding project management at the core of legal delivery
SmartPaTH Plus is structured around four core pillars: Legal Project Management, Value-Based Pricing, Flexible Staffing, and Process Efficiency. Each has been strengthened through deeper data insights, refined processes, and integrated AI capabilities.
From a project management standpoint, the model reflects a shift in legal services towards greater discipline in planning, execution, and performance tracking, aligning legal delivery more closely with established project management principles seen in other industries.
Chief Practice Innovation Officer Bill Garcia said:
“We have embedded cutting-edge AI, automation and advanced analytics directly into the foundational workflows we have refined over the years. Few can point to more than a decade of disciplined execution and the data to back it up. That is what sets Thompson Hine apart.”
Data-driven delivery and AI-enabled workflows
The platform is underpinned by a suite of integrated technologies, including proprietary budgeting and work planning tools built on data from thousands of legal matters. These tools enable more accurate forecasting by analysing cost performance across tasks, roles, and practice areas.
Additional capabilities include a legal-trained generative AI platform, contract analytics tools that can accelerate review processes by up to 50%, document automation, and litigation analytics. All tools are connected through a unified interface, supporting consistent execution across matters.
This approach mirrors broader trends in project management technology, where integrated platforms are replacing fragmented tools, and AI is moving from insight generation to active workflow support.
Driving predictability in complex service environments
For clients, the value proposition centres on greater predictability and transparency. By combining structured project management with real-time data and AI support, the platform aims to reduce variability in cost, timeline, and outcomes.
The launch also reinforces a wider industry shift. As professional services become more complex and client expectations increase, firms are under pressure to adopt more rigorous delivery models, similar to those used in large-scale programme environments.
Thompson Hine’s continued recognition for innovation, including accolades from the Financial Times and Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards, reflects sustained investment in this direction.
SmartPaTH Plus signals a clear evolution in legal project delivery: from managing work to engineering outcomes with greater control, consistency, and speed.
