Graphics and animations have long been a big part of high-stakes personal injury and intellectual property litigation. Often there is no better way to show a jury or judge how a mid-air collision happened or how a new electric toothbrush differs from others on the market.

New York’s Fish & Neave knows this as well as anyone. About a decade ago, the intellectual property boutique decided to set up an in-house graphics department. The firm bought up high-end equipment and hired a small team of animation experts.