Linklaters orders e-platform

City giant Linklaters has installed an e-business system designed to allow all the firm's global offices to carry out business functions from the same software platform.It claims to be the first time an international firm has gone in this strategic direction.SAP's mySAP.com e-business platform software - already used by 73% of the firm's clients - is being introduced in stages.

The first 12-month phase will see it replace the firm's accounting system and core financial backroom operations.

The software will also allow implementation of a new matter management solution for fee-earners, and a new client relationship system.It is SAP's first venture into the legal sector.Linklater's associate director of information systems and strategy, Simon Thompson, said: 'SAP is being introduced to develop and improve our service to clients and client management.

For example, if a client wanted to achieve a complex merger across six jurisdictions, the operating system will be able to cope with six different languages, currencies and reporting procedures.'He added that the system would improve project management, as all fee-earners, finance and human resources employees would work from one software platform.

'Many of the firm's clients work internationally - 38% of our revenue comes from clients who operate in ten or more jurisdictions - and SAP will help us to track our business effectively, analyse our client dealings and eventually target new potential clients.'After the initial 12-month programme, full implementation of the system is expected to happen over a two-and-a-half-year period.Victoria MacCallum