The Society for Computers and the Law (SCL) will launch a dedicated outsourcing group next month.

The group, to be chaired by Kit Burden, a partner at City firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, will provide a forum to discuss IT outsourcing issues and set up working parties to review legislation and lobby the government.

Other objectives include looking at whether a model form contract can be created to develop a more commoditised approach to outsourcing.

The group will also analyse ways of making long-term contracts more flexible by incorporating certain provisions, and will examine the risks and benefits of offshore outsourcing.

The inaugural meeting, to be held in late June, will discuss current trends in outsourcing, the implications of changes in the outsourcing market, and how to establish successful service-level regimes.

Richard Stevens, a partner at Field Fisher Waterhouse, and John Yates, SCL joint chairman and chief executive of V-Lex, will be committee members.

Mr Burden said: 'Outsourcing is one of the hot topics for the business world and the legal community at the moment.

In the last two or three years, we have seen incredible growth - it is big and getting bigger.

'This group will bring together some of the leading practitioners in the field, to develop best practice and thinking.

It will encourage some better and faster deals going forward.'

He added: 'We will inevitably look to take on and lobby over issues facing the profession, such as tax incentives for offshore outsourcing.'

International outsourcing will also feature in the SCL's global IT law conference in early July, while the SCL London group will meet to discuss the opportunities and risks of offshore outsourcing on 1 July.

Rachel Rothwell