Jan

4

ItsMyLaw is seen on Law.com

January 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Sign on the dotted line by Claire Ruckin at Law.com

Leading London firms in talks to bring in teams of contract lawyers.
Several leading London law firms are considering using contract lawyers as part of a new business venture intended to create a vetted pool of temporary lawyers to support major practices.

Firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Travers Smith, and a number of U.S. firms active in London are interested in bringing in contract lawyers for individual pieces of work—a model rarely used in the United Kingdom but well-established in the United States.

John Cullen has held conversations with the firms above, as well as a number of firms in the U.K. top 50, about the service "itsmylaw," which will formally launch in the new year. He has pulled together a pool of some 25 lawyers, including former general counsel and partners as well as more junior lawyers, who can be hired for particular deals or cases.


The unusual venture echoes the established U.S. practice of regularly using contract lawyers on mandates for specific jobs. The venture has also been compared to a virtual law firm, though the focus is on supplying private practice, not clients.

While using contract lawyers has never taken off in the U.K., London partners suggest that there is more interest in the idea now as a result of current tough market conditions. "We have become very busy and stretched but are cautious about going back into the recruitment market unless and until we feel the uptick has real legs," says Travers managing partner Chris Carroll. "As such, the ‘itsmylaw’ concept presents interesting possibilities for plugging the hole."

Freshfields London managing partner Tim Jones says, "We are looking at alternative ways to deliver some routine legal tasks, as well as the outsourcing of document reviews, and are actively working with clients to test tailored solutions that deliver an effective and cost-efficient service."

Recruiter Cullen adds, "Firms are anxious to avoid increasing fixed costs, and if there is an option involving high-caliber individuals on a one-off cost, it is a sensible alternative."

In a related move, Allen & Overy is considering creating a central pool of alumni to draw on to assist on its work for specific projects. It is already using alumni to help with work such as producing first drafts of banking documents on an ad hoc basis but is considering formalizing and extending the process.

The interest in flexible legal staffing comes against a backdrop of client pressure to increase efficiency. —Claire Ruckin


Comments

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Speak your mind