The TimesOnline has published a very good article about legal process outsourcing by Allen & Overy partner Stephen Denyer.
Legal outsourcing remains high on the agenda (TimesOnline, 9 Sep 2008) provides a cogent and balanced discussion of legal outsourcing. This is the first article I’ve seen by a large law firm lawyer that discusses both administrative and legal outsourcing. It examines the significant benefits of outsourcing: cost savings, client service, and avoiding some recruiting / retention problems. It also discusses potential risks and liability issues.
Mr. Denyer make many excellent points so choosing just one is hard but here goes:
“To outsource effectively, a firm must analyse and separate out all the processes that lawyers perform on a transaction or case. The firm can then work out which processes lend themselves to outsourcing and which do not. Many clients are now looking for law firms to offer a smart combination of outsourced and bespoke services under a single wrapper. “
The overall tone is markedly different than what I have observed from many BigLaw partners quoted in the legal trade press, who often cite the proverbial “parade of horrors.” In contrast, Mr. Denyer systematically analyzes the business drivers, the benefits, and the potential risks.
If I were the General Counsel of a company, I would read this and think “Here’s a firm that’s looking out for my interests.”
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