“When Gravity Stack launched in 2018, we pioneered the very concept of a law firm legal tech subsidiary,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s global managing partner. “Since then, Gravity Stack has won wide recognition for its software solutions in contract intelligence, eDiscovery and investigations. We are extremely proud of Bryon and our entire Gravity Stack team for everything they have done to expand its offerings and make it the shining example of success we see today.”

Legalweek honored Bratcher for Gravity Stack’s continued growth since its 2018 launch and for producing Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems that help clients analyze and repaper existing contracts in step with today’s rapid-changing developments.

Gravity Stack’s CLM systems have been employed to adjust agreements affected by the new sanctions regime and pandemic-afflicted supply chains, as well as the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) phase-out, new International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) rules, and changes in laws around non-disclosure agreements, among other key provisions.

“In addition to in-house legal departments, our contract technology is being used by the top VC and PE firms, legal technology incumbents, as well as some of the biggest tech companies in the world,” Bratcher said.

Over the last year, Gravity Stack has also added considerable industry experience to its Business Advisory Solutions team, reflecting the firm’s intention to compete with the Big Four and alternative legal service providers in the areas of consulting, technology and managed services.

“What our clients most need is a trusted partner to help guide them through the process,” Bratcher said. “A partner with a deep understanding of technology and law, as well as their core values and business objectives.”

Reed Smith shortlisted in 5 categories

The Innovation of the Year Award for Bratcher and Gravity Stack was announced during an in-person ceremony event held March 10 during the 2022 Legalweek New York conference.

Reed Smith also was honored at Legalweek 2022 in four other categories, and was named:

• One of three finalists for Tech-Enabled Litigation Department of the Year for successfully representing Uber on the plaintiff’s side in a case of mobile advertising fraud. Partner John Bovich led the litigation team for Uber that included partner Seth Herring, counsel Addie Hilgard, and associates Chris Pulido and Donald Cespedes.
• One of four finalists for Start-Up Firm/Emerging Company Law Firm of the Year for the firm’s innovative Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC) practice, particularly in the burgeoning cannabis e-commerce market.
• One of four finalists for Most Innovative Operations Team of the Year for developing a custom portal for Offerpad’s marketing department. This client collaboration was led by partner Jason Gordon, associate Erika Auger, practice innovation coordinator Stephanie Wiesemann, Knowledge Management practice innovation project manager Allison Duncan and director of practice innovation David Pulice.
• One of four finalists for Innovations in Pro Bono in honor of the firm’s Lamp, Lifeboat, Ladder initiative, an innovative public-private partnership led by pro bono counsel Jayne Fleming. The project is relocating survivors of torture and war in the Middle East and their families to Canada while raising funds so they can rebuild their lives.

Legalweek said in a statement announcing this year’s honorees that: “The second annual Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards honors participants in a wide array of categories across in-house, law firm, and technology providers. The shortlist of finalists has been whittled down from a much more extensive long list by our editorial panel, and everybody listed is very deserving of their position.”

Legalweek 2022 award latest in string of innovation honors

This award is the latest in a string of innovation honors for Reed Smith, Gravity Stack and Bratcher, who was also named to the 2021 Fastcase 50, which honors “the law’s smartest, most courageous, innovators, techies, visionaries, and leaders.”

Last year, Insider also named Bratcher one of the nation's top 10 "Power Players" who are "driving innovation in the legal industry."

The National Law Journal also named Gravity Stack a "2021 Legal Technology Trailblazer" for its unique approach and delivery of collective intelligence in law.

Likewise, the National Law Journal named Reed Smith a "2022 Legal Technology Trailblazer" for its client collaboration on a revolutionary Real World Data health care solution.

At the 2021 Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards, Reed Smith was highly commended in two categories: “Most Innovative Operations Team of the Year,” for a tailored data privacy assessment solution developed in collaboration for Hershey’s in-house procurement team; and “Innovations in Diversity and Inclusion,” for the firm’s Racial Equity Action Plan.

Also last year, records and eDiscovery partner and group chair David Cohen and associate Marcin Krieger were together shortlisted for “Innovators of the Year.”