Ashurst strengthens alternative legal services capability in APAC

International law firm Ashurst is set to expand its global business services and alternative legal services offering with the launch of a global delivery centre ('GDC') in Brisbane.

Building on the success and growth of the firm's Glasgow office, the GDC will allow the firm to deliver global business services from two time zones and will ensure the firm's business services delivery model is globally integrated and consistent.

The GDC will see an expansion of the Ashurst Advance team with the introduction of an Australia-based legal analyst team to deliver legal sourcing solutions on document intensive projects or for work of a more recurring nature. The team will work as an integrated part of a global legal analyst team, providing extended support to clients and practice groups across Ashurst's international offices.

This follows the recent announcement that Chris Georgiou has been appointed as partner to co-lead the global Ashurst Advance team, alongside Mike Polson.
The firm is proposing to transition certain business services roles in a phased approach across its Australian offices into the Brisbane office from October this year, with the move to a permanent site in Brisbane planned for the financial year commencing May 2019. As with Glasgow, the firm expects the GDC to grow in line with increasing demand.

Paul Jenkins, managing partner, commented:

"The addition of a GDC in Brisbane to our successful and highly flexible delivery model provided by the teams in Glasgow will allow the firm to grow the scale and scope of the support it provides to all offices in response to the commercial needs of clients. This move demonstrates our commitment to innovation and to driving transformation across our business."

Chief financial and operations officer, Jan Gooze Zijl, said:

"The way we work with clients and one another has changed considerably and we want a globally consistent approach to service delivery that most effectively supports the practices and our business. Having a global GDC operating in an integrated way across both Glasgow and Brisbane will help us achieve that objective."

Richard Knox, head of HR, Australia, added:

"The GDC will allow the firm to create efficiencies in our service delivery across our offices globally. Overall, this will be of great benefit to the firm and our clients as it is critical we innovate and adapt so we remain positioned for ongoing success. We are mindful of the impact of this to some of our staff and will be fully supporting our people during this process."