Background
Reed Smith’s previous website, which launched in 2017, no longer met the firm’s digital ambitions. Its structural and performance limitations made digital journeys harder than they should be, slowing expertise discovery, weakening engagement and limiting the firm’s ability to adapt as market expectations evolved.
Slow experience
Mobile page load times approached 15 seconds, which is unacceptable for C-suite buyers, general counsel and business leaders making rapid decisions where speed and confidence matter.
Fragmented search
Search results appeared as one undifferentiated list, forcing users to scroll extensively and leading to expertise discovery failures.
Manual data management
Siloed systems forced marketing teams to re-key lawyer and event information, pulling efforts away from higher-value work.
Rigid architecture
A monolithic platform restricted innovation, required major rebuilds to adopt new technology and increased time to market for critical updates.
Solution
The solution: composable architecture for a modern legal experience
To support its new visual brand and operate with the reliability and confidence expected of an elite Am Law firm, Reed Smith required more than a redesigned website. It needed a structural foundation engineered for speed, precision, unified intelligence and continuous evolution.
Rather than rebuild another legacy monolith, the firm adopted a composable architecture using Umbraco as the CMS foundation. This was supported by API-driven components that enable integration, performance and long-term adaptability as the firm’s needs evolve. This decision addressed core priorities: faster access to expertise, unified knowledge and operational confidence at scale.
Impact
Zero-friction performance
Mobile load time dropped from 14.8 seconds to 1.3 seconds, representing a 91% improvement.
Curated search
Users find relevant expertise instantly, and the firm retains control over how results are shaped, increasing confidence that buyers are seeing the firm’s most relevant capabilities.
Unified insights
Consolidation strengthens institutional authority and reinforces the firm’s standing as a market-leading adviser.
Continuous data integrity
Marketing and other business services teams gain efficiency, while clients see accurate, up-to-date information across the site.
Security by design
Independently verified A+ security ratings validate that the firm meets enterprise security standards, supporting client due diligence and building confidence with risk and procurement teams.
Content migration
We completed the migration with minimal downtime and no disruption to editorial workflows, protecting the client experience and internal productivity during a critical transition.
Future-ready content foundation
A long-lasting, adaptable content platform that protects investment and reduces future replatforming costs.
Managed infrastructure
A highly reliable, resilient platform with reduced operational risk, enabling the firm to treat its digital presence as a protected business asset rather than an operational burden.
Integrated content
Reduced operational effort frees marketing teams to focus on creating original, high-impact content that strengthens market presence.
0%
improvement of mobile page load speed
0%
accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA)
0
blocking delay
“We wanted a modern digital platform that improved the experience for our clients and users, while giving the firm the flexibility to evolve. Novicell understood that from day one. The composable architecture provides a strong technical foundation that elevates the user experience and supports the firm’s continued growth.”
