An outdated and fragmented billing, collection and payment process does not spark joy — in fact, it could dangerously erode a firm’s client relationships, claims Dan Wales, strategic adviser at Oddr. He outlines how invoice-to-cash (I2C) platforms can remove friction, bringing firms’ hard-earned money in faster and helping to create a smoother client experience.
Law firms are notorious for struggling to get paid on time. In March 2025, independent accounting, tax, audit and business advisory firm Lubbock Fine revealed that the UK’s top 50 law firms were waiting more than six months to get paid on average. This trend has continued — with the latest statistics from last year’s PwC’s Law Firms’ Survey highlighting average lockup periods of between 137 and 153 days.
At the heart of the problem lies a fragmented approach to the billing and cash collection process, says Dan Wales, strategic adviser at Oddr. He explains that many firms continue to follow the historical and traditional ways of billing and recovering cash — three separate teams focused on invoice distribution, cash collection and payment reconciliation, each effectively working in silos.
Then there are the manual, outdated methods firms use to create and send bills to clients — taking up valuable time and putting firms at risk of introducing errors that could see them rejected. According to Oddr’s 2024 Invoice-to-Cash report, 76% of firms still deliver invoices by emailing Pdfs, which the company estimates can take about 83 hours per 1,000 invoices sent. Moreover, nearly 67% have sent invoices to the wrong recipients due to manual errors — creating risk for client and firm alike. “We’ve heard of some instances where invoices have been intercepted by hackers, payment details have been changed, and money has been lost. That presents a huge security and compliance risk,” stresses Wales.
Beware the black box of bad bills
Manual invoice distribution also adds to the already lengthy collection cycle. Once emailed, firms have no visibility into when the invoice has been sent, let alone been received and reviewed, nor control over its flow — getting lost in what Wales calls ‘the billing black box’.
“Basically, the firm is at the client’s mercy. It just adds more time to recovering that money, as they will very rarely start legal action that might upset their client unless there is a clear dispute. That means the first touchpoint with the client from a collections team is typically around the 30-day mark, or when the invoice is due. The longer an invoice stays outstanding, the more difficult recovering the funds becomes.”
This accumulation of insufficient system integration, internal collaboration, payment lags and security risks doesn’t just pose a threat to the efficient running of a law firm, it can also erode client relationships. They may be put off by a firm’s risk of falling prey to financial crime, and its inefficient, fragmented communication. “Clients are raising the bar. They’re demanding more value, faster responses and greater transparency — including at the invoicing and payment stage,” says Wales.
This is where he believes invoice-to-cash (I2C) platforms like Oddr could really make a difference. The AI-powered platform — which fits within a firm’s existing practice management system — brings all the pieces of the billing puzzle together into one centralised application.
Oddr automates the secure distribution and delivery of invoices to reduce the risk of errors, and enables all relevant finance teams and lawyers to collaborate on managing the entire billing lifecycle. In addition, it offers real-time updates on the progress of an invoice — including whether the client has received, opened and viewed it — making it easier to proactively analyse client behaviours, identify problems and manage cashflow. There are automatic payment reminders and a client portal, both of which reduce the need for manual follow-up and helps clients stay on top of their payment obligations.
“Our analysis shows that within only a few billing cycles, firms have seen 50% of invoices paid faster, a 20% reduction in write-offs, and an increase of up to 40% in productivity and time savings for the revenue and cash collection teams thanks to Oddr,” he notes, adding that faster, smoother invoicing and less errors result in a better client experience, thus contributing to higher client satisfaction. Furthermore, the company has seen firms recover up to 1% of their gross revenue in the first 12 months of adoption.
Incentives for better behaviour
Moreover, Oddr offer clients a variety of payment options and schedules, such as credit/debit cards, bank transfers or digital wallets (using the firm’s chosen payment network), which makes it easier for clients to pay invoices on time, at any time of day via OddrPay. “I2C solutions like Oddr use secure payment gateways, so the risk of fraud or errors is reduced, which leads to greater client trust and satisfaction. Plus, some products offer features that incentivise clients to pay early by providing discounts, improving cashflow and creating a win-win situation for both parties.”
That’s on top of more transparency and communication in the billing and cash collections process — building trust. As all invoice documentation, statements and reminders, as well as past communication, is stored in one place visible to both parties, both can track the status of their invoice and payments in real time, and identify and solve discrepancies quickly. Integrated communication tools can cut out potential friction between client and firm caused by missed emails or inconsistent information.
Overall, with clients increasingly focused on greater value, increased cashflow and security, Dan expects I2C platforms to become more prevalent streamlining painful processes for law firms. “Standalone ‘point-to’ solutions and credit management applications are no longer fit for purpose, whereas I2C platforms provide an incredible ROI. This solution has proved itself, and is here to stay.”
About Oddr
Oddr is the legal industry’s only AI-powered invoice-to-cash platform, centralizing and accelerating every step of billing and collections—from preparation to reconciliation. Oddr enhances analytics, forecasting, and client service, helping firms eliminate revenue leakage and increase profitability.
