Law Firm Financial Pressures Are Rising: How Leasing Can Buffer Tech Investment

Law firm margins are tightening, even for those reporting strong billing cycles. Collections are down, operational costs are rising, and capital expenditures are increasingly under scrutiny. The result: IT leaders are expected to deliver high performance and security without the benefit of large capital budgets.

For many AmLaw 200 CIOs, the question is no longer whether to lease, but how to structure leasing to support long-term strategy. Smart leasing models should align with refresh cycles, firmwide goals, and financial controls.

Why Technology Spending Is Facing New Constraints

Infrastructure must still meet modern standards:

• Maintain cybersecurity and client data protection

• Support hybrid work and multi-location teams

• Deliver uptime for billing, case management, and internal tools

• Enable attorney productivity without delay or downtime

Delaying upgrades introduces real risk: older systems become more vulnerable, less efficient, and more expensive to maintain. Yet outright purchases often stall due to capital limitations.

Leasing as a Tool for Cost Control and Performance Continuity

Strategic leasing allows law firms to convert large capital expenses into predictable operating costs. This is not about deferring spend. It is about creating a financial model that aligns with how firms operate in 2025:

• Preserve liquidity for high-priority initiatives such as talent acquisition or lateral hiring

• Avoid ad hoc emergency replacements

• Create uniform refresh cycles across practice groups or locations

• Ensure technology remains current and defensible from a security standpoint

  
  

Leasing Should Support, Not Complicate, IT Strategy

To deliver real value, a leasing program must go beyond basic financing:

• Co-termed agreements across teams or offices

• Centralized asset visibility with refresh tracking

• Structured return planning that minimizes admin burden

• Flexibility to adjust based on usage or evolving firm needs

  
  

Case Study: Am Law 100 Firm Leverages Flexible Leasing for IT Strategy

An Am Law 100 firm partnered with CoreTech to support its evolving technology needs through flexible leasing terms. According to the firm’s Director of Finance, CoreTech offered “very competitive, flexible lease terms, excellent service, and have been a good leasing partner with our firm.” The relationship enabled the firm to manage IT procurement more strategically without overextending capital resources.

How CoreTech Helps

CoreTech Leasing partners with law firms to implement leasing strategies that reduce capital strain while maintaining control, security, and performance. Our programs are built for legal IT operations with clear terms, lifecycle visibility, and end-of-term support. Contact us at info@coretechleasing.com to explore a leasing strategy tailored to your firm.