HighQ virtual data room software:
the complete guide

HighQ is a virtual data room for secure file sharing, sensitive document storage, and organized team collaboration. Multiple sectors use the solution: law firms, in-house legal departments, and public sectors.

With its integrated legal operations hub, HighQ goes beyond simple storage, incorporating contract management features that maintain compliance throughout the deal lifecycle. In addition, the platform streamlines secure file sharing, ensuring sensitive documents are easily accessible to authorized users. Also, HighQ improves collaboration and workflow efficiencies, enabling teams to work seamlessly from anywhere.

Security features

HighQ offers a reliable environment certified by ISO 27001:2013, GDPR compliance, and SOC 1, 2, and 3. These certifications ensure reliable data protection, strengthen compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and encourage client trust. As a result, legal firms can concentrate on their work, confident that their documentation is secure with the following data protection features:

• Single sign-on. Users streamline data room access and ensure secure authentication by logging in with a single set of credentials.
• Granular permissions. The platform offers detailed access controls, allowing administrators to decide who can view, edit, or share specific files.
• Activity tracking and reporting. HighQ allows continuous monitoring of user actions and generates comprehensive reports for insights on file access and interactions.
• Digital rights management. Legal professionals protect documents even after sharing, as the platform controls file usage, preventing unauthorized actions such as printing, downloading, and copying.
• Watermarking. Customizable watermarks deter unauthorized sharing and improve confidentiality by indicating ownership and usage rights.

With these features, users create a secure collaboration platform for legal workflows.

Pricing

HighQ provides three tailored plans for law firms. HighQ Essentials focuses on improving document management and team collaboration. HighQ Advanced is ideal for managing projects, portfolios, litigation, and transactions. HighQ Premium provides advanced AI-based document analysis, data visualization, and workflow automation to optimize legal operations.

Each internal user receives 1 GB of standard storage, and each package includes the Extranet option, which provides access for external users.Firms can add up to five external users for every internal user license purchased with the Extranet option. Additionally, they can buy extra users and storage.

As pricing details are not publicly available, potential customers should contact the sales team for more information.

Unique features

The following HighQ tools make the solution a preferred choice over other providers:

• Document automation. Users utilize pre-designed templates to streamline and secure the creation of legal documents. This automation speeds up turnaround times, reduces errors, mitigates risks, and improves overall client service.
• Configurable site dashboards. HighQ customizable project dashboards facilitate status tracking, activity monitoring, and data visualization to enable teams to stay organized and informed.
• Customizable metadata. The software allows filtering, sorting, categorizing, and analyzing content by capturing and displaying custom metadata for files, tasks, or sites.
• Social collaboration. User interactions through activity streams, blogs, user profiles, wikis, tags, commenting, and private messaging make collaboration organized and dynamic.
• AI document analysis. HighQ integrates Microsoft Azure AI and Document Intelligence with third-party engines like Leverton, Kira, and Eigen for advanced document analysis and insights.
• Client portals. The virtual data room provides clients with 24/7 access to legal information in a secure and personalized environment.
• HighQ Publisher. The tool allows law firms to share public or private content online with advanced security and personalization features. It can be customized to match any brand’s style and offers a flexible layout.

With all these features, HighQ empowers legal teams to improve team performance, collaboration, and client service for better outcomes.

Customer support

Located in the UK, Europe, APAC, and the Americas, the HighQ Global support team provides guidance and information about the software from 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. However, additional provisions for emergencies outside of these hours are available. Users can reach the support team through email or phone or by submitting a support ticket.

In addition to its core features, HighQ offers the following knowledge resources:

• Video library. The library features the latest releases, quarterly highlights, and comprehensive training content. This resource helps users maximize the platform’s capabilities and stay updated on new functionalities.
• Release notes. Legal professionals can review the latest changes and updates to the platform, including enhancements, bug fixes, and new features, to stay informed about all developments.

With all these support services, law firms and corporate legal departments have the resources to use the platform effectively, troubleshoot issues promptly, and stay informed about the latest updates and features.

Document management features

The HighQ platform provides the following tools to streamline data management:

• Document control. File versioning, document comparison, and custom metadata options enable teams to work together more effectively and maintain better control over document revisions.
• Optical character recognition. Users can convert up to 500,000 scanned pages per year into machine-readable text. It enhances document accessibility and searchability, allowing professionals to find and utilize critical information quickly.
• Integrations. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook integrations allow teams to work smoothly within their preferred environments.
• Data visualization. Advanced charts and visual representations for tasks, document analysis, and iSheets data help users easily interpret complex information to improve decision-making and collaboration.

Pros and cons

With a strong focus on the legal sector, HighQ data room provider offers great value to law firms. Disregarding the company size, HighQ users can take advantage of simplified workflows, an intuitive interface, and a versatile add-on collection to meet their specific requirements.

HighQ’s secure storage solutions, along with seamless integrations and user-oriented design, ideally benefit and complement the lawyers’ busy work cycles. At the same time, the HighQ data room platform easily adapts to smartphones and other mobile devices, enabling faster decision-making and improved remote collaboration.

On the other hand, some HighQ users report a lack of pricing transparency and the cost build-up associated with the per-feature model. Others say that while the overall HighQ virtual data room experience is functional and efficient, it can take some time to navigate the offered solutions and set up the tool according to the company’s needs.

Additionally, some of the former HighQ data room users point to the need for UX improvement, higher repository capacities, and feature insufficiency for specific tasks, like customization and contract management.

Clientele and case studies

The following spotlight a few use cases of how the software helps legal teams improve collaboration, increase productivity, and automate time-consuming tasks:

1. McCarthy Tétrault LLP

HighQ’s adaptability allows the firm to configure the software for various purposes without extensive coding to facilitate seamless document sharing and management. The platform addresses common frustrations its in-house counsel faces regarding restricted access to information to maintain security. By centralizing live document editing, HighQ eliminates inefficiencies associated with traditional communication methods.

2. Geldards

The law firm initially turned to the provider for a specific project requiring a document and case collaboration site to win a new client. As IT development manager Martin Griffiths explains, the firm’s use of HighQ quickly expanded, allowing them to create data rooms for M&A collaboration and project management sites to improve efficiency in tracking matter status and priorities.

3. Garrigues

This international legal and tax services firm implemented HighQ to create a new client extranet for better communication and collaboration. According to Carmen Martín-Peña García, a lawyer and knowledge manager at the firm, HighQ is intuitive and easy to use, significantly saving time while offering flexibility. With the extranet, Garrigues continuously discovers new functionalities within the data rooms to further streamline their operations.