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Leasing & Financing

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Case Studies

See firsthand how organizations have achieved their goals with customized financing from First American.

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Technology Modernization with Flexible Financing

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Technology continues to transform the legal industry, driving investments in AI, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and other digital initiatives. This quarter's resource hub explores the trends shaping these investments, shares reports from leading industry research, and highlights how financing solutions can help law firms invest in technology while preserving capital and financial flexibility.

Industry Insights

Featured Industry Insights

Technology Modernization Through Flexible Financing

According to Thomson Reuters, U.S. law firms increased technology spending 9.7% in 2025.1 

As investment accelerates across hardware, cloud, and cybersecurity, firms are under pressure to modernize while managing capital constraints. From device refreshes to infrastructure upgrades, leaders are rethinking how to keep pace with evolving technology demands—while also preparing for the next wave of AI-driven capabilities that are reshaping how technology delivers business value.

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Trending Tech Investments for Law Firms

Firms are integrating AI to automate time-intensive legal tasks, enhance the accuracy and depth of research, and enable faster, more informed decision-making across matters.

Assets: Harvey AI, Ironclad, CoCounsel, Everlaw

Cloud-based platforms enable firms to standardize systems, reduce on-premise infrastructure costs, and provide secure, reliable access to data across locations.

Assets: iManage Cloud, NetDocuments, Microsoft 365

Ongoing investment in infrastructure and security is critical to support performance, protect data, and meet compliance demands.

Assets: Laptops, servers, networking equipment, firewall upgrades, endpoint security, compliance software, virtual deal rooms, e-signature platforms, time and billing portals

Employees collaborating in the office sitting around a table.

Trending Tech Investments for Law Firms

Firms are integrating AI to automate time-intensive legal tasks, enhance the accuracy and depth of research, and enable faster, more informed decision-making across matters.

Assets: Harvey AI, Ironclad, CoCounsel, Everlaw

Cloud-based platforms enable firms to standardize systems, reduce on-premise infrastructure costs, and provide secure, reliable access to data across locations.

Assets: iManage Cloud, NetDocuments, Microsoft 365

Ongoing investment in infrastructure and security is critical to support performance, protect data, and meet compliance demands.

Assets: Laptops, servers, networking equipment, firewall upgrades, endpoint security, compliance software, virtual deal rooms, e-signature platforms, time and billing portals

Major technology manufacturers including Dell, Lenovo, and HP have warned of hardware price increases of 15–20% as memory shortages and component costs continue to rise.2 Financing can help firms lock in today's pricing and spread costs over the useful life of the technology.

Benefits of Financing Technology & Software Investments

As firms move into execution, the focus shifts to funding strategy. Financing supports modernization while preserving liquidity and financial flexibility.  
 
Increasingly, firms are using financing intentionally—not out of necessity, but to align costs with the useful life of technology assets and deploy cash where it can generate the greatest return.

Establish a Disciplined Refresh Cycle

Structuring hardware through Fair Market Value (FMV) financing helps create a consistent refresh cycle, reducing large capital spikes while helping ensure access to current, supported technology.

Optimize Software Spend

Financing annual or multi-year software commitments can allow firms to convert significant upfront costs into predictable payments—improving cash flow management and budget alignment.

Enhance Financial Efficiency

A more predictable cost structure supports smoother cash flow, preserves working capital, and better aligns technology spend with business value—while offering potential accounting and tax advantages.

Strengthen Risk & Security Posture

Aging infrastructure increases operational and cyber risk. A financing-led approach helps firms keep security infrastructure current, strengthening data protection and supporting regulatory compliance.

Benefits of Financing Technology & Software Investments

As firms move into execution, the focus shifts to funding strategy. Financing supports modernization while preserving liquidity and financial flexibility.  
 
Increasingly, firms are using financing intentionally—not out of necessity, but to align costs with the useful life of technology assets and deploy cash where it can generate the greatest return.

 

Two laptops with arrows, indicating a refresh cycle icon.

Establish a Disciplined Refresh Cycle

Structuring hardware through Fair Market Value (FMV) financing helps create a consistent refresh cycle, reducing large capital spikes while helping ensure access to current, supported technology.

Cloud icon.

Optimize Software Spend

Financing annual or multi-year software commitments can allow firms to convert significant upfront costs into predictable payments—improving cash flow management and budget alignment.

Half pi chart with graphs showing increase.

Enhance Financial Efficiency

A more predictable cost structure supports smoother cash flow, preserves working capital, and better aligns technology spend with business value—while offering potential accounting and tax advantages.

Security and lock icon.

Strengthen Risk & Security Posture

Aging infrastructure increases operational and cyber risk. A financing-led approach helps firms keep security infrastructure current, strengthening data protection and supporting regulatory compliance.

Prioritizing Flexibility and Lifecycle Management

Fair Market Value (FMV) leasing offers an adaptable approach. It allows technology investments to evolve alongside business needs, without the constraints of traditional ownership models.

Business leaders are prioritizing strategic financing to enhance office design and space, helping ensure every investment drives maximum value and impact.

 

Pay For Use, Not Ownership

Use not ownership example

FMV Leasing Can Enable:

  • Budget Predictability with Fixed Payments
  • Timely Equipment Upgrades
  • Lower Obsolescence and Data Security Risks
  • Costs Aligned to Equipment’s Useful Life

Extending Flexibility to Software

While FMV leasing is designed for tangible assets, the same principles of flexibility and cash flow management can be applied to software. Financing 12-month subscriptions or multi-year renewals helps align costs with usage through predictable payments, reducing budget volatility and preserving capital for other strategic initiatives.

First American’s FMV Refresh Program Highlights

Flexible End-of-Term Options

Refresh only what you need—return, purchase, or keep renting individual assets, while maintaining continuity with your software.

90-day Free Rent Transition Period

To support technology upgrades, existing clients who initiate a replacement lease can take advantage of a 90-day free rent period on their current leased assets, helping reduce the financial impact of overlapping lease commitments.

End-to-End Asset Management

First American can provide packing, shipping, and logistics, helping reduce internal burden and support a more streamlined refresh process.

The First American Difference

Selecting the right financing provider plays an important role in how effectively an FMV strategy supports broader technology and financial objectives. 

With more than 30 years of experience serving sophisticated commercial borrowers, First American Equipment Finance is one of the top equipment finance companies in the nation.3 This experience, combined with deep industry knowledge, supports a clear understanding of the challenges law firms face, enabling leasing solutions that align with unique needs and long-term goals.

 

Strength & Stability

Ranked #12 among the largest bank-owned equipment leasing companies in the U.S.3

Proven Track Record

370+ law firm clients nationwide, including 47 AM Law Firms.

Significant Financing Volume

$2.3B in equipment leases and loans funded in 2025.                                                       

Strength & Stability

Ranked #12 among the largest bank-owned equipment leasing companies in the U.S.3

Proven Track Record

7,000 clients nationwide, including 130 insurance organizations.

Global Scale Security

Heightened standards and requirements as part of one of the world's top 15 global banks.4

Significant Financing Volume

$2.3B in equipment leases and loans funded in 2025.     

Trusted by Leading Law Firms

$3MM Technology Refresh for Laptops | Am Law 100, Washington, DC

A leading international law firm needed to stay ahead of rapid technology change without tying up capital. To boost mobility and productivity, they set out to replace desktops with laptops across their U.S. and global offices but wanted a financially strategic way to do it.

First American structured a 3-year FMV lease built around the firm’s financial and operational goals. The approach gave them a predictable technology refresh cycle, ensuring attorneys and staff always have up-to-date tools without large upfront spend. And with First American’s pack-and-ship return program, the firm transitioned out aging devices quickly and cleanly—no burden on internal teams, no disruption to productivity.

Laptops sitting on a table in a row.

$3.1MM Software Renewal | Am Law 50 Firm, California

An international AM Law 50 firm traditionally leased their technology hardware and paid cash for other IT needs, including software and maintenance costs. Despite their strong cash position, economic uncertainty and evolving work environments led the firm to consider alternative funding options for a multimillion-dollar annual Microsoft software renewal. 

First American provided a financing solution that allowed them to preserve cash and break up the cost into lower monthly payments. Additionally, by utilizing their online account, they were able to quickly place purchase orders, execute lease documents, communicate with their First American team, and more— all within one digital platform.

Man typing on a keyboard and using software.

Join Us on the Road!

Looking forward to participating in some upcoming legal industry conferences and hope to see you there!

  • ILTACON 2026 | August 23-27 
  • SurePoint Ignite Conference | September 13-16 
  • Thomson Reuter’s 25th Annual Law Firm COO & CFO Forum | October 21-22
  • ALA D.C. Chapter Events
  • ALA Boston Chapter Events
Christina Floyd and Karen Leastman at the ALA conference.

Check Out our Upcoming Webinar on July 21st

Join First American and RBC Capital Markets economist, Gerard Cassidy for a complimentary, CPE-eligible economic forecast. In this session, Cassidy explores the resilience of the U.S. economy, the impact of interest rates and inflation, and key economic trends shaping the market. Backed by real-time data and historical context, this webinar will deliver timely insights for businesses and investors alike.

Register now
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Commercial Card Program

First American presents City National Bank's Visa® Commercial Card that allows businesses to customize their program to meet their specific needs. Used as a business credit card for everyday expenses or a purchasing card for travel and entertainment, this card program offers convenient buying power along with the ability to easily monitor and manage employee expenses online. 

Learn more
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Recent Webinar: Legal Workplace Webinar with Gensler

First American and Gensler came together for our fifth annual webinar to discuss findings from Gensler's latest workplace survey and the emerging trends influencing today's law firms. Watch the webinar on demand below.

Interested in Learning More?

Connect with Karen

Tap into the expertise of one of the country’s largest equipment finance companies.3 Tell me your business needs and we can start exploring funding options today.

1Thomson Reuter, 2026 Report on the State of the US Legal Market: Peak prosperity and the fault lines below

2Tech Radar, Experts warn PC prices could rise even more in 2026 as RAM costs set to soar higher

3Monitor, 25 Monitor 100 (as at October 31, 2025)

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