Multinational firm Osborne Clarke has joined a growing number of firms seeking to introduce ‘agile' working, as it adopts a ‘sit anywhere, work anywhere’ system in its Reading office.

The firm has opted not to allocate desks to any individuals in the new office (pictured), and has instead set out desks in ‘loosely designated team areas’, which it hopes will boost interaction and cross-team working.

This means solicitors will have to clear their desks at the end of the day and take a more 'paper-light' approach to working. 

The ‘connected’ system will also allow its staff to work from various locations, including from home, clients' offices or public spaces, and to work at any desk or in the new office’s work or social areas.

Ray Berg, UK managing partner at Osborne Clarke, said that this approach was an ‘evolution’ in its working style, as the firm already has open-plan offices and flexible-working policies.

He said: ‘We’ve constantly emphasised the overarching reasons as to why we are doing this; to enhance the level of service to our clients and to free our people from the traditional constraints of office working.

‘This process will also serve to future-proof our business as the knowledge that we’ve acquired will, in time, allow us to use connected-working concepts throughout Osborne Clarke.’

The firm said it will concentrate on working with the teams involved to discuss the best approach before it seeks to roll out the system more broadly.

James Massy-Collier, head of the Reading office, said: ‘It has already become obvious that connected working is actually easier, more efficient and beneficial to people’s general wellbeing than the more traditional arrangement that preceded it.’