Eight UK companies have formed an association, chaired by a solicitor, to provide outsourcing services for law firms across the country.

The Solicitors Outsourcing Association said it aims to assist solicitors in reducing their overheads.

The association, chaired by solicitor Martin Read, will provide an ‘umbrella’ service that includes: accounting and bookkeeping; cloud hosting and IT support; dictation services; file review and regulatory compliance audits; human resources and employment law services; legal cost experts; outsourced reception; and voice and data IT services.

The association’s eight member companies are: Cloud Computing Centre (cloud hosting and on-premise IT support of Chessington, Surrey); Concert (voice and data IT services, Knutsford, Cheshire); d2u (outsourced dictation services, Bury, Greater Manchester); Deminos (human resources and employment law, London, Manchester, Bristol, Reading, Nottingham, Leeds and Gateshead); Distinctive Partnerships (file review and compliance audits, Rosset, Chester); MRN (legal costs, Manchester); Moneypenny (switchboard services, Wrexham); and The Cashroom LLP (accountancy and legal bookkeeping, Livingston, Scotland).

Further potential members are currently undergoing quality checks.