Member Article

International law firm opening Manchester office to launch service model

International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner plans to launch an innovative new service model for clients that offers access to a unique range of integrated services, based on a new Manchester office.

Developed after significant client research and feedback, the model will comprise four elements: a Legal Process Improvement (LPI) service; virtual transaction teams - a development of the Lawyers On Demand (LOD) business; the use of third party providers and a new legal services delivery team in Manchester.

This Integrated Client Service Model will offer clients, in addition to BLP’s established range of high quality international legal services, a flexible menu of options. The overall integrated service will be launched formally with the establishment of the new legal services delivery team in Manchester in early summer 2014.

These services include:

Legal Process Improvement (LPI):The in-house LPI team has been deploying processes developed by BLP that have been applied to more than 60 work-flows on existing client work streams. The LPI team is now expanding to provide more consultancy services for clients helping them to improve processes and analyse which balance of the options within the Integrated Service Model best addresses their needs.

LOD virtual transaction teams: Following a successful series of pilots, LOD is embarking on the next phase of its development by rolling-out virtual transaction teams, making available more senior lawyers for routine and stand-alone parts of complex client matters.

This approach is an evolution of its ‘On Call’ service and harnesses the ability of lawyers to work in virtual teams rather than individually. These teams utilise high quality LOD lawyers working remotely through pioneering technology and project management processes.

Third parties sourcing: BLP intends to apply the outsourcing and project management skills it has developed in working with its Global Preferred Firm network and the Thames contract ‘Managed Legal Services’ model to use third parties in providing low cost solutions where required.

BLP Manchester – a legal services delivery team: Manchester is the largest legal market outside London and provides access to a large pool of high quality legal staff.

Manchester has also over last decade emerged as one of Europe’s leading shared service hubs resulting in a highly developed industry infrastructure. Having a legal services delivery team in Manchester will support BLP in delivering integrated services to clients.

BLP Managing Partner, Neville Eisenberg said: “This is an important step forward in offering our clients a unique model which directly addresses their requirements for high quality and efficient legal services.

“We have been working on this model in consultation with clients for the last 18 months and I believe it draws on the best of the firm’s reputation for, and experience in, developing innovative client solutions. While parts of the model are already being deployed with clients, the fully integrated service model will be launched when we open Manchester in a few months’ time.”

Tim Newns, Chief Executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency said: “We are delighted that Berwin Leighton Paisner has chosen to open an office in Manchester. The addition of such a prestigious international law firm is a testament to Manchester’s buoyant professional services sector and we know that they will thrive here”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .