Sometimes, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. And that holds true even for law firms and their legal technology tools.

In May, Kirkland & Ellis followed this approach when it launched SideTrack, a proprietary enterprise software platform for its investment fund attorneys. The development of the solution, publicly disclosed for the first time to Legaltech News, was led by James Desjardins, a partner in the firm’s Investment Funds Practice Group, as well as other members of the group. The development didn’t involve third-party vendors or even the firm’s own information technology department.