5 minute read
When Xperate first engaged with MFDP and Restons Solicitors in 2023, the project marked a defining moment in the company’s early growth. It wasn’t just one of the largest and most complex undertakings in Xperate’s formative years; it was a multi-phased transformation effort that modernised the foundational technology stack of two interlinked businesses and validated Xperate’s hybrid delivery model in a live, high-stakes environment. The result: two new platforms, FCA-approved and SRA-compliant, that process thousands of financial transactions daily, automate key operations, and lay the groundwork for growth.
The Business Context: Three Brands, One Digital Transformation
Restons Solicitors, a specialist litigation law firm, and MFDP, a newly formed debt-purchasing business, are sister companies within the same group. In 2023, strategic objectives were set to: launch MFDP as a brand-new digital-first business while simultaneously updating Restons’ legacy core systems - a 20+ year-old on-premises platform based on legacy technology that was becoming increasingly difficult to support and duplicate.
Working alongside ResX, the group’s data and technology consultancy arm, Xperate was selected as the digital partner to deliver both projects. After a formal selection process and due diligence, involving a trip to Xperate’s engine room in Pune, India, Xperate came out on top and was selected to start this complex project.
The resulting journey would span over two years, involve more than 30 developers, and require full-scale reengineering of core operational platforms under the scrutiny of both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Phase 1: Laying the Foundations - MFDP
The engagement began with the launch of MFDP. As a new debt-purchasing business, MFDP needed an FCA-compliant technology platform from day one. The vision: create a modern cloud-based system that would serve as a proof of concept for the larger Restons’ transformation.
The project incorporated:
- A brand-new n-tier architecture
- Full cloud deployment
- PCI-compliant payment solutions
- Customer-facing portals for repayment management
- Omnichannel customer communications (including phone and live chat)
- Power BI dashboards for operational and compliance reporting
Everything was developed from scratch, and in just 10 months, the system went live. This allowed MFDP to secure FCA approval and begin trading. With successful real-world performance in place, this first project validated Xperate’s technical approach and the group’s confidence to proceed with the next phase.
Neil Kelly and Kerry Anderson of Restons Solicitors at our offices in Pune
Phase 2: Scaling Success - Restons Solicitors
Where MFDP was a greenfield build, the next phase project was a full-scale digital overhaul of Restons’ existing operations - case management, legal accounting, and collections - all underpinned by an ageing system written in legacy code.
The challenges were significant: limited understanding of the old platform, where documentation was sparse, and many core functions had evolved organically over two decades.
Discovery & Immersion
To tackle this, Xperate brought members of its team from India to the UK for a deep-dive discovery phase. Over three weeks in Warrington, the Xperate team worked alongside Restons’ core six-person project leads to gain a detailed understanding of complex litigation workflows and regulatory constraints. This immersion proved essential in shaping the system architecture and delivery roadmap.
Phased Rollout
Kerry Anderson, Managing Director at ResX, described this project as:
“Like having a patient on an operating table – you can’t just remove the heart or lungs all at once. Every piece of the stack had to be removed and replaced strategically, without disrupting the rest of the system”.
The new system’s phased implementation began with the finance module. Subsequent releases addressed case management, client communications, regulatory reporting, and integrations. By July 2025, the system had transitioned to Business As Usual (BAU), with minimal disruption to live operations.
Key Integrations
Restons Solicitors required multiple integrations into their new CMS, which has many crucial moving parts that are needed to run the business. This included:
- Sage for office accounting
- Direct Debit and Credit Card software – handling thousands of payments per month
- PCI-compliant payment gateways
- Client and customer portals
- Telephony and chat solutions
- Automated email and document management systems
- Integration to court and government gateways
The end result was a fully modernised platform that met all SRA compliance requirements and positioned Restons to scale with confidence.
Overcoming Complexity: Remote Management and Cultural Collaboration
Both projects were managed almost entirely remotely, with Xperate’s India-based development team driving delivery. At its peak, the project had over 30 Xperate team members working in tandem with a lean onshore client team.
Key challenges included:
- Replacing undocumented legacy functionality
- Maintaining tight project control across time zones
- Rebuilding trust following previous failed IT transformation attempts
Xperate’s hybrid model proved invaluable. Regular steering meetings, clear communication, and two in-person trips to India by the Restons executive team helped build a shared understanding and strong cultural alignment.
Neil Kelly and Kerry Anderson of Restons Solicitors at our newly opened X-Cafe
The Human Factor: Partnership and Pragmatism
A defining element of this project was the trust-based relationship between the client team and Xperate at all levels.
Kerry Anderson, Director of ResX, praised Xperate’s ability to listen, learn, and adapt quickly:
“Xperate brought strong ideas to the table, but were equally open to feedback. They’re agile, proactive problem-solvers who made a very complex programme feel manageable. We were never told that something would be impossible. They overcame any challenges that cropped up along the way. Overall, this was a fantastic project that has enabled us to grow – without Xperate, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
Looking Ahead
With stable, scalable systems now in place, the client group is turning to innovation. AI is already being trialled to triage support calls, and there is an appetite to further invest in emerging tech tools to further develop their processes and systems.
The next major initiative will introduce a self-service portal allowing SMEs to upload and manage debt schedules. Xperate is expected to play a leading role in its development.
Conclusion: A Transformational Milestone
These two assignments were more than successful IT projects - they were foundational moments in the growth of three businesses. For MFDP, it meant the launch of a viable, regulated debt business. For Restons, it eliminated the existential risk of operating on fragile legacy systems. For ResX, it proved a new commercial model, and for Xperate, it was a moment of validation that continues to shape the company’s reputation today.
Delivered on time and on budget despite high complexity and cross-continental execution, this programme has become a reference point for what Xperate can deliver - robust, modern, scalable software that powers regulated industries, built on deep collaboration and engineered for the future.
Mark Garnish, Co-Founder & COO of Xperate, commented:
“This was, at the time, one of the largest and most complex projects we’ve undertaken at Xperate. Rebuilding mission-critical systems while the business remained live required immense technical discipline, trust, and communication. I’m incredibly proud of our team in India - their commitment, problem-solving, and deep domain understanding were world-class. It was also a genuine pleasure working with the Restons, MFDP and ResX teams. Their clarity, engagement, and willingness to collaborate made this a true partnership from start to finish.”
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