Hobson Audley leads City down the outsourcing path

IT SUPPORT: 13-partner firm heads external trend

Hobson Audley, a 13-partner City firm, has become one of the first practices to outsource its IT after signing a 500,000 deal with legal IT supplier Tikit.

Tikit said the deal showed that outsourcing has become 'favourable and acceptable' to legal clients and that it is talking to 15 other law firms about a similar deal.

Charles Christian, editor of Legal Technology Insider, said: 'Outsourcing is one of the areas that I think is going to be big news next year.'

South-west firm Clarke Willmott & Clarke is the only sizeable practice to have opted for outsourcing up to now.

Mr Christian noted: 'It's been very slow to catch on in the legal market and really it would solve a lot of law firms' IT problems.

But there are a lot of vested interests involved.'

Hobson Audley's managing partner John Evans said the firm decided to outsource its IT to a specialist company because of problems recruiting, training and retaining staff.

He added: 'Outsourcing through Tikit enabled us to provide the stability that is needed by the firm's users together with the necessary expertise that is essential to allow us to concentrate on the more progressive aspects of IT strategy.'

Tikit's move into outsourcing comes as its client, City firm Rowe & Maw, rolls out its knowledge management system, KnowMaw, and enters into the second phase - integration with an Internet portal - giving clients access to the firm-wide knowledge management system.

Anne Mizzi