International firm Herbert Smith Freehills has said it will expand its alternative legal services offering, branded as ALT, in both the US and Asia, with a new unit focusing on eDiscovery for clients. 

A US offfice, in New York, and an Asia office in Hong Kong are expected to open in April. They will bring the total number of ALT offices to 11. The first office was opened in 2011 in Belfast and specialises in document management and review, principally for contentious cases.

According to the firm, ALT, which comprises lawyers, technologists and legal analysts, combines legal knowledge and technology solutions to process ‘high-volume or document-intensive work’ more efficiently and cost effectively. 

Libby Jackson, global head of practice for alternative legal services, said: ‘A globalised approach is an innovative way for us to provide eDiscovery services for clients to seamlessly complement the legal work delivered by the firm.’

Chief executive Mark Rigotti said: ‘Our ALT offering has proven very popular with clients all over the world. We intend to keep investing in innovative solutions that add value for our clients, including continuing to grow this exciting and fast-moving part of the business.’