Thoughts On Being Named to the 2012 Fastcase 50 List

by Larry Port, CEO of Rocket Matter

Four years ago or so I remember reading a Forbes article about two guys in D.C. who started a legal research company. As a graphics and visual nut, I loved what they were doing with case law: showing weighted circles to understand a case’s importance and number of citations.

I tore out the article and tried to get in touch with the founders, who were depicted in the article gazing like visionaries as they walked down a sidewalk street in D.C. I remember hoping they would look down so they wouldn’t trip. Sidewalks in the northeast can be pretty uneven.

Those guys in the Forbes article were Phil Rosenthal and Ed Walters of Fastcase, and it’s kind of hard for me to believe, but just four short years later that same company chose to recognize me as one of the top 50 people in the legal industry. I am deeply honored.

For the past two years, Fastcase has compiled a Top 50 list of the legal industry’s best and brightest. The nominees are innovators, visionaries and thought leaders in the areas of law and legal technology. The names comprise leaders at top-flight organizations like Yale Law School, LexThink, Google, and now Rocket Matter.

Here’s what they wrote:

“Occasionally, scientists will share a Nobel Prize in Physics, when scientist across the globe create something awesome at the same time. And something akin to this happened a few years ago in cloud-based practice management. Larry Port co-founded Rocket Matter, one of the first cloud-based practice management platforms for lawyers. Larry’s direct and funny style helped him to build Rocket Matter into a national household name – and Rocket Matter is used by lawyers everywhere to organize their practice more efficiently and productively.”

So it’s official. I am funny. Others have told me I’m not, but I keep insisting I am. And my mother thought I looked really good in the picture, so that counts for something.

In all seriousness, I can’t thank Fastcase enough for this recognition. They, as well as anyone, know what it’s like to build up a technology business in the legal vertical, the highs and lows that come with entrepreneurship, and how much grit and hard work it takes.

Above all, this is recognition for the Rocket Matter team. I get to be reap the benefits of being the front man, but those of you who’ve encountered our staff or see our antics on our Facebook page know that we have a great team. They make work a blast, constantly inspire me with their creative solutions, and are on a mission to make the lives of our attorney clients a whole lot easier.

LP