ashurst-announces-opening-of-new-office-in-glasgow

Ashurst today announces the opening of a new legal and business support services office in Glasgow, becoming the first international law firm to launch an office of this nature in Scotland.

The office will open later in 2013. In response to client demand, the legal work will initially focus on matters which involve recurring activity. For example, the new Legal Analyst team will develop a structured approach to some document review processes in the Finance and Dispute Resolution practices. It is expected that the team will grow to approximately 30 Legal Analysts over the first year. The launch of the office is not anticipated to result in redundancies among lawyers.

It is intended that the legal service will be extended across all practice areas in due course. The firm expects to undertake a wider range of work as the operating model evolves, creating a centre of excellence to deliver a high quality, consistent and cost-efficient service available to the global Ashurst network. It is expected that the legal team will grow significantly in the next few years.

The new office will also deliver some business support services which will include processes within IT, Business Development, Finance, HR, Risk and Compliance, Business Services and Knowledge and Learning. Under the proposals, a consultation process will begin shortly with business support staff whose roles may be affected.

Mike Polson, a former senior corporate partner at Dundas & Wilson who has a longstanding relationship with Ashurst, will head up the office. An experienced partner from a leading firm in the region, Mike brings significant understanding of the local market to the new venture.

James Collis, managing partner of Ashurst, commented:

"The shape of the legal services market is changing and clients want their law firms to take responsibility for efficient sourcing of services without compromising on quality. We believe that our new venture in Scotland will be of great benefit to the firm and its clients. We have been looking at this for some time and, unfortunately, this has also required us to make some difficult decisions in relation to our business support services. Ultimately, however, we need to have the right people, with the right skills, doing the right work in the right location.

"Consistency and continuous improvement in service quality are key to our business. By creating a legal centre of excellence focusing on a structured approach to these areas of recurring work, we can build up expertise, reduce timescales and enable other parts of the Ashurst network to focus on more complex matters.

We are also very fortunate to have such a high calibre leader to drive the new venture. We are confident that under Mike's leadership we will continue to deliver excellence in client service while also managing our business more effectively."

Mike Polson added:

"Replicating the culture and quality for which Ashurst is known whilst driving greater operational efficiency is undoubtedly an exciting opportunity. We believe the office will help to shape an alternative legal model and career structure in Scotland, benefiting from the high number of exceptional legal graduates. Ashurst has some bold aspirations for the office and I am thoroughly looking forward to playing a part in this project and delivering on our twin goals of excellence and innovation."

The project is being supported by a Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise.

Chief Executive Lena Wilson said:

"Scotland has an established - and growing - international reputation for the excellence of its legal services sector. This, together with a skilled workforce, excellent business infrastructure and extensive business support networks, has helped secure this valuable inward investment.

"This project will deliver high quality, permanent jobs to the Scottish legal sector while supporting one of our key development areas.  We're very pleased to have been instrumental in attracting such a high-calibre employer to locate in Scotland, particularly against significant competition. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Ashurst as it establishes its Scottish base."

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland added:

"It is great to see Ashurst deciding to base its legal and business support office in Glasgow. It shows the high regard for Scotland as a place to do business and for our legal sector which contributes well over £1 billion to the Scottish economy every year and is responsible for around 20,000 jobs.

"It is also a big vote of confidence in our education system and the calibre of our law graduates. In an ever more challenging legal market, I know these additional jobs and the opportunities they offer graduates will be warmly welcomed.

"Scotland, as with the rest of the world, is seeing a fast-changing landscape in legal services. That is why it is so positive to see this new and additional legal work being brought to Glasgow."

It is anticipated that within twelve months the total headcount in Glasgow will be approximately 150, including 120 business support roles, although this remains subject to staff consultation. There is no plan to practise Scots law nor will the office compete with Scottish law firms.

In deciding to open an office in Glasgow, the firm undertook an analysis of several global options. Key attractions of Scotland included the quality of the talent pool, number of available graduates, infrastructure, accessibility, strength of the legal industry and the regional support offered by Scottish Enterprise.