The Domino Effect

There is still some sensitivity around legal process outsourcing (LPO); however as time passes, we are seeing a growing number of law firms and corporate law departments embracing LPO. Simmons & Simmons is the latest law firm to outsource some of its legal work.

Based on published sources, the list of corporations and law firms offshoring legal work and the type of work they are outsourcing includes:

Corporations
Accenture – support, contracts
American Express
Andrew Corp
Cadence Design Systems – document review
Dell – procurement and sales contracts
DuPont – document review
General Electric – contracts
General Mills – patent work
Jones Lang LaSalle – contract review and management
Microsoft – patent work
Morgan Stanley – checking documents for compliance
Motorola – patent work
Oracle – contract administration
Sapient – contract administration
Rio Tinto

Law Firms
Allen & Overy – document processing
Baker & McKenzie – document processing
Bickel & Brewer – litigation support
B J Macfarlane & Co – research
Chadbourne Park – document processing
Clifford Chance
Eversheds
Herbert Geer
Howrey – document review
Lavan Legal
Lovells – document review
Milbank Tweed – document processing
Orrick Herrington
Pinsent Mason
Simmons & Simmons
Swaab

This list represents only those law firms and corporate law departments that have elected to go public with this information. Imagine how many other law firms and corporate law departments are outsourcing legal work but have yet to go public.

So where is Canada in all this you might ask?

Well I am pleased to say that Canadian law firms and corporate law departments are catching up fast. Although most law firms and corporate law departments in Canada have yet to publicize their experience with legal process outsourcing, an exciting event is taking place on February 18th and 19th, 2010 at the Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel. The Canadian Institute is putting on the first ever conference dedicated to legal process outsourcing. The conference title is Effective LPO Implementation and Management Strategies to Reduce Legal Costs – Enhance Efficiency. Increase Flexibility. Maximize Profitability. Augment Competitive Advantage. This event promises to be a groundbreaking event at which Canadian LPO experiences can be shared.

This conference should help demystify some of the “truths” and “half truths” surrounding this fascinating industry. Canadian customers, vendors, and industry experts will offer their take on LPO. Although it has taken some time for Canadian law firms and corporate law departments to reach this point. The question these days is no longer whether to outsource legal work; rather the question is what, why and how to outsource legal work.