Tony Rupp may be a man who requires no introduction, as the founding partner of the law firm Rupp Pfalzgraf, LLC. Tony joins host Dave Pfalzgraf and longtime friend and partner in tech, Steve Poland for a forward-thinking episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs. Topics on this episode include the many uses of AI in the practice of law, the origins of Go To Verdict, and solid advice for entrepreneurs and startups.
Origin Stories:
- Steve and Tony reflect on growing up in the Buffalo area and their early interests in programming and entrepreneurship.
- How a mutual appreciation for technology sparked their collaboration.
The Founding of Rupp Pfalzgraf:
- Tony’s leap from big law to co-founding an agile, tech-forward firm.
- Using emerging tech to reimagine law firm operations and client service.
Go To Verdict: Revolutionizing Jury Selection
- The creation of a proprietary jury selection software using public records and automation.
- Real-time, AI-assisted juror profiling that gives attorneys a competitive edge.
- Automated reporting features that save time and impress clients.
Oxford Knox & Judgment Recovery Innovation:
- A tech solution for identifying collectible judgments across NYS using scraped public data.
- How the system uses Go To Verdict's backend to assess debtor asset information at scale.
Lead Gen: Tech-Enabled Legal Marketing
- Leveraging public databases to identify legal needs and ethically reach potential clients.
- How Rupp Pfalzgraf personalizes marketing through automation and compliance.
The Power and Future of AI in Law:
- Why Tony and Steve believe AI will transform the legal profession—not replace it.
- Practical ways the firm already integrates AI into research, document drafting, and case prep.
Advice for Entrepreneurs:
- “Sell it before you build it” – Steve’s lean startup insight.
- Tony's tip: Always ask whether AI can help before starting a task.
What’s Next?
- 30+ tech projects in development, from document automation to AI-driven legal research.
- A glimpse at future plans to modernize and scale law through innovation.
Personal Nuggets:
- Steve’s passion for fantasy football and tech experimentation.
- Tony once watched a George Foreman fight with a young Senator Joe Biden at Cornell!
