Eight More UK Top 30 Firms Size Up Legal Outsourcing Moves


Some of the City's leading law firms are considering outsourcing legal work as increasing numbers of firms look to cut costs by using external providers for both legal and business support, LegalWeek reported. Linklaters, SJ Berwin, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and CMS Cameron McKenna are among eight firms within the top 30 currently looking at introducing some aspects of legal process outsourcing (LPO). Camerons and SJ Berwin have yet to identify which areas they would like to outsource, while Linklaters is considering sending some document review, due diligence, contract development and legal research functions to an outside provider. Linklaters chief operating officer Simon Thompson (pictured) said: "Our clients are under increasing financial pressure and clearly want to achieve the best value they can for their legal spend. This has led them to seek new and alternative ways to source their legal services. This includes LPO. As such, we are keen to develop effective ways in which we can work in tandem with LPOs in support of our clients' requirements." Read more.