Ian Hunt

This case study is based on interviews with Ian and Adele Hunt, Partners at East Devon Law.

“Smokeball has transformed the way we work, live and grow our firm.”

East Devon Law is a boutique practice built around personal service, flexibility and a less conventional way of working. The firm combines private client expertise with a distinctive motorsport niche, reflecting the lives and interests of partners Ian and Adele Hunt.

Specialising predominantly in private client matters, wills, powers of attorney, estates and tax planning, the firm has also developed a unique niche in motorsport law, a passion that naturally evolved from Ian and Adele Hunt’s lifelong involvement in historic racing.

Today, East Devon Law supports clients across the country, from Cornwall to Scotland, combining traditional client care with a modern, mobile way of working that allows the firm to operate from almost anywhere.

Building a law firm differently

Ian Hunt founded East Devon Law in 2012 after becoming frustrated with the traditional law firm model.

“I got fed up with the way clients were treated like numbers rather than people,” Ian explains. “I wanted to build something more personal, more adaptable and more focused on service.”

Starting from a spare bedroom at home, the firm gradually grew through recommendations and reputation alone. Over time, Ian and Adele transformed a former cow shed into the office that now houses East Devon Law - a space intentionally designed to feel welcoming and relaxed rather than formal or intimidating.

That client-first philosophy has helped the firm become one of the highest-rated legal service providers in its field in the South of England, with more than 580 independently verified five-star reviews.

Searching for flexibility

Long before remote work became mainstream, Ian and Adele were already building a more mobile way of operating. However, their early systems made that difficult.

Initially, the firm developed its own internal systems and later adopted a practice management platform that ultimately proved too rigid and restrictive.

“It was clunky, difficult to use and didn’t adapt to the way we worked,” Ian says. “We were constantly trying to make our firm fit the software.”

The turning point came through a conversation at a Devon Law Society event, where the couple were introduced to Smokeball.

“What stood out immediately was that Smokeball actually listened,” Ian says. “Instead of saying, ‘This is what you get,’ the team wanted to understand how we worked and help us build around that.”

A system built around the firm

For East Devon Law, flexibility was critical.

Smokeball allowed the firm to retain its existing precedents, workflows and processes while improving efficiency across the business. Tasks that were once manual and time-consuming became significantly faster and more streamlined.

“One of the biggest changes was powers of attorney,” Adele explains. “What used to take an hour and a half to prepare can now be done in around 18 minutes because the information only needs to be entered once and then automatically populates across all the documents.”

That reduction in repetitive admin has not only saved time but also reduced human error and helped the firm maintain competitive pricing for clients.

“It’s been a real game changer,” Adele says.

A truly mobile law firm

Perhaps the biggest transformation has been the freedom Smokeball has given the firm to work from anywhere.

Because Ian and Adele are heavily involved in motorsport, much of their time is spent travelling around the country attending race meetings and events. With Smokeball, their motorhome has effectively become a fully functioning mobile office.

“We can leave Thursday night, avoid the motorway traffic, park up at a circuit and work exactly as we would from the office,” Ian says. “As long as we’ve got signal, we can access files, answer client questions, prepare documents and keep everything moving.”

The ability to work remotely has also helped East Devon Law expand its client base far beyond Devon. Clients regularly meet the team at race circuits, in the motorhome or while they are travelling around the country.

“We’ve turned our lifestyle and our passion into part of how we work,” Adele says. “And Smokeball makes that possible.”

Supporting better client care

For East Devon Law, the flexibility of Smokeball has also had a meaningful impact on the way the firm supports vulnerable clients.

Ian and Adele regularly assist hospice patients and those receiving end-of-life care, often travelling directly to hospitals or homes to prepare urgent wills and legal documents.

“With Smokeball loaded on the laptop and a portable printer with us, we can take instructions, prepare documents and make changes there and then,” Adele explains. “That’s made a huge difference for families in difficult situations.”

The system has also streamlined everyday client communication and administration. Automated workflows, precedent letters, integrated emails and mobile access allow the team to work more efficiently while maintaining the highly personal service the firm is known for.

Customer service that stands out

While the software itself has delivered major efficiencies, Ian and Adele repeatedly point to Smokeball’s customer support as one of the platform’s biggest strengths.

“The product is really good. The customer service is even better,” Ian says.

Rather than forcing the firm into a rigid structure, Smokeball worked collaboratively with East Devon Law to refine workflows, build templates and adapt the system to suit the firm’s unique way of operating.

“It’s always felt like a conversation rather than being told no,” Ian explains. “That flexibility has been brilliant.”

Creating a better work-life balance

For Ian and Adele, Smokeball has done more than improve efficiency, it has fundamentally changed their quality of life.

The flexibility to work remotely means they can continue building the business while still pursuing their shared passion for motorsport, travelling the country, supporting charities and spending time with the wider racing community they consider family.

“It gives us a genuine work-life balance,” Adele says. “Law can be incredibly stressful, but Smokeball has given us the flexibility to build a business around the life we actually want to live.”

Looking ahead

As East Devon Law continues to grow, Ian and Adele are embracing new technology, including Smokeball’s AI capabilities through Archie, to further improve efficiency and client service.

“We were probably a bit sceptical of AI at first,” Ian admits. “But now we’re using it to summarise documents and support administrative work. It’s another example of how Smokeball continues to evolve alongside us.”

For East Devon Law, Smokeball has become far more than practice management software.

It has given them the flexibility to grow the firm their way, support clients wherever they are, and build a business and lifestyle that truly work together.

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