Martineau Johnson signs up for online outsourcing
Birmingham firm Martineau Johnson has become one of the first law firms to sign up to online outsourcing company Smarterwork's new legal service category.
The site allows clients to post matters on the site where approved suppliers pitch for them.
Potential legal suppliers are approached by the legal category team, and once their details and records have been verified, are asked to create a profile of the company which will be posted on the site for potential clients to see.
Legal category manager Nuria Rafique, a solicitor who has joined the site from City firm Norton Rose, said: 'As well as a number of UK-based firms [only Martineau Johnson agreed to be named], we have signed up international law firms, for example, Studio Legale Sutti in Milan.' CMS Derks Star Busmen, the Dutch member of City firm Cameron McKenna's alliance, has also signed up.
However, she stressed that Smarterwork was not just looking for multi-national firms.
'The client doesn't always go for the biggest firm - they make their own decision, based on the expert's track record and specialities.'
Smarterwork has more than 40,000 registered users in 110 different countries and boasts M&C Saatchi and Pricewaterhouse-Coopers among its advisors.
Meanwhile, Lawjunction.com, the site launched in July where law firms can bid for work posted by potential clients, has reported that legal work to a value of about 3 million was put on the site in its first two months.
This included a 1 million corporate takeover for a plc.
Victoria MacCallum
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