Parisian software company Doctrine is empowering legal professionals to do their jobs more accurately and efficiently. Perhaps more than any other arena, the law is dependent on reliable information that is within a highly specific context. Doctrine’s first publishing, The Tax Encyclopedia, is an immensely powerful and progressive step in delivering pertinent information in a manner befitting the modern digital age. Answering the criticisms of the traditional Navis (often referred to as the “Bible of tax law”) being outdated, Doctrine’s The Tax Encyclopedia announces the company as a forward-minded entity bent on disrupting the status quo. Doctrine’s Kamil Debbagh served as product manager for Tax Doctrine, guiding this initial venture through every step from concept to delivery and unlocking a €75M market opportunity while targeting three new customer segments. This ambitious project required Kamil to orchestrate multiple strategic functions, ensuring the initiative’s success across finance, recruiting, discovery, and M&A. In order to understand how The Tax Encyclopedia came to fruition and how it impacts the industry, we’ve secured a few moments with Mr. Debbagh himself.
Thank you for making time to sit down with us today. My first question to you would be, what is the need for Doctrine’s The Tax Encyclopedia and why now?
Kamil Debbagh (KD): (Laughs). I think there are two questions you are actually asking here that demands two answers. First, why is The Tax Encyclopedia needed and secondly, why is Doctrine the perfect company to deliver it? I believe the two are linked. The complexities of the law and its constant updating make something like Navis an absolute necessity. For many professionals, having a tool like Navis is essential to avoid mistakes and ensure compliance with the law. Without it, navigating the complexities of tax regulations would be much more time-consuming and riskier, especially for businesses and law firms that need to operate efficiently and stay on top of their legal obligations. So now let’s consider what Doctrine has achieved and why it is so vital. This was an extraordinary project because it marked the first publishing initiative for Doctrine, and I had the privilege of leading its launch. Doctrine was primarily a legal technology platform that aggregated and analyzed publicly available content, adding value through its intelligence, AI capabilities, search engine, and recommendations. Its focus was on creating insights from existing data, not producing original content. This project, therefore, represented a significant shift—Doctrine’s first foray into creating its own content.
What is it about Doctrine’s The Tax Encyclopedia that differs so much from the traditional print version, other than being digital?
KD: What set our project apart was its focus on innovation. Unlike traditional publishers, we avoided any paper format, designing the encyclopedia exclusively for digital use. We integrated AI features throughout, making the content not only comprehensive but also dynamic, searchable, and adaptable. This approach allowed us to provide new possibilities that traditional print-first publishers simply couldn’t match.
As someone with a law degree who has fully embraced the potential of technology and AI, you were passionate about this project and led it as product manager. What was the discovery process of this project like?
KD: We conducted extensive research and development to identify problems faced by legal professionals and create tailored solutions. This meant talking to a wide range of people—tax lawyers, accountants, CPAs, and auditors—to understand their frustrations, unmet needs, and areas for improvement. It also involved market analysis, where I cross-checked market sizes with insights from user research to pinpoint niches ripe for innovation. Once a problem space was identified, the solution discovery phase began which involved designing and testing solutions through iterative prototyping. Early prototypes were shared with users for feedback, and their input guided each subsequent version. This process of constant iteration ensured the solutions addressed real-world issues effectively. It was a cycle of imagining, building, testing, and refining to create something genuinely valuable. Success was defined as creating something that solved user problems, generated revenue, and was widely used and appreciated. Metrics like usage rates and user satisfaction helped measure success, but the core focus was always on building a product that customers were happy to use and that added real value to their work.
What I find most fascinating about this, and please forgive me for saying so but, there is a remarkable creative and human side to the creation of The Tax Encyclopedia. I don’t think people expect this and they wouldn’t perceive it without you explaining it.
KD: Thank you for the opportunity to relate this fact. Yes, anything that involves AI conjures the notion of putting actual human beings out of work but the creation of Doctrine’s The Tax Encyclopedia required a substantial human element. I’m referring to our collaboration with our board of authors and scientific committee. For an encyclopedia to succeed, collaboration with the best professionals is essential—practitioners who not only understand the rules but have applied them in real-world scenarios. Practical experience adds depth and nuance that pure knowledge of abstract rules can’t provide. Convincing these experts to join us was a challenge, as they were already busy and often affiliated with other publishers. It was incredibly gratifying when some of the most respected figures in French tax law started reaching out to work with us, many even joining our scientific committee. Their involvement validated our project and elevated its credibility. Each author who agreed to join felt like a significant victory. It was like assembling a dream team—akin to the iconic basketball team of Michael Jordan’s era. Watching this team come together was both inspiring and deeply rewarding, a testament to the dedication and skill of our team.
There are so many demands on someone like yourself who serves as product manager. You need to make sure the project is creative and innovative while also being a successful business venture. The creative mind and the practical mind are seemingly opposing perspectives for most of us. How did you balance this?
KD: My favorite part was designing the solution, as it required addressing multiple dimensions of the problem. In tax law, user needs can range from general requirements—like quickly finding relevant information—to highly technical, industry-specific demands. The challenge was understanding these needs, both broad and specific, and then balancing them with what already existed in the market. The process involved analyzing what to keep, what to discard, how to improve existing solutions, and what new features to introduce. It wasn’t just about functionality but also about creating something profitable and building a strong brand to challenge an industry juggernaut. Each decision had to address technical requirements, user satisfaction, and market differentiation. The true magic of product management lies in weaving all these elements together into a cohesive solution. It’s about answering complex questions simultaneously and imagining a product that meets user needs, disrupts the market, and delivers real value. That creative problem-solving process is incredibly exciting and fulfilling to me.
Writer : Basil Thomson