Allen & Overy to launch legal services arm in Australia

Allen & Overy to launch legal services arm in Australia

Low-cost legal services centre to complement its existing hub in Belfast

Allen & Overy (A&O) will launch a low cost-legal services centre in Australia to complement its existing hub in Belfast. The recruitment process for the Perth-based Advanced Delivery Centre (ADC) is likely to happen in the second quarter of 2022.

The UK Magic Circle firm's second ADC will consist of legal support professionals, associates and dedicated project management and e-Discovery specialists. It will focus on providing tech-enabled support in areas including due diligence, document review and e-discovery, regulatory filings and general transaction management.

The news of the launch comes a decade after A&O opened its first ADC in Belfast in order to streamline its legal services offering. Led by long-time partner Angela Clist, the Belfast centre comprises 130 legal professionals amid a wider team of 650 employees.

Commenting on the firm, Cist said, "It has built a reputation for providing clients with a cost-effective, tightly-integrated resourcing option. It guarantees high standards and innovative solutions. I am excited to add our new centre in Perth as we continue to innovate in client service delivery."

She said the firm had started recruiting for various positions at the new centre, including leadership roles, adding that she expected to hire about 20 professionals in the office's first year of operation.

The firm said it had been planning to open a second legal services centre for some time in the wake of the success of its Belfast hub. Its new centre promises 'follow-the-sun, integrated support to the firm's colleagues globally' with respect to high-volume and document-intensive work. These had risen dramatically throughout the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move steps up A&O's investment in Australia. It had opened offices in Sydney and Perth in 2010. Its partner headcount currently stands at 17 and six, respectively.

News of the Australia launch comes a month after the firm expanded its flexible resourcing unit Peerpoint to the US, under the stewardship of business development specialist Amie Davidson.