Epiq obtains Canadian ALSP Simplex, help grow flexible resourcing platform

Epiq obtains Canadian ALSP Simplex, help grow flexible resourcing platform

Epiq acquired Hyperion Global Partners in 2020, launched flexible resourcing arm in January 2021

Epiq, a tech-enabled legal and business services provider based in New York, has acquired Canadian Alternative Legal Service Provider (ALSP) Simplex services for an undisclosed amount.

The move builds on the two firm's existing relationship in 2019. It will see Simplex and its affiliated law firm, Simplex Legal, maintain its brand identity as Epiq Simplex. It adds on the firm's 25-strong team of legal professionals to Epiq's network.

Two former General Electric executives founded Simplex in 2012. It provides flexible legal talent and tech-enabled legal services to corporate clients throughout Canada. Began in Calgary and Montreal, the company has grown its physical presence coast-to-coast with additional offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa.

One of the early standouts in the Canadian ALSP market, Simplex provides interim support for in-house teams and corporations. It also provides tech consulting and tech-enabled legal services for high-volume legal instructions like financing and corporate maintenance filings.

Martine Boucher, managing partner and co-founder of Simplex, informed, "We're pursuing the same clients but bring in different solutions to the table. The combination felt like a natural progression of our existing relationship. It will serve further integrate our flexible resourcing platform with Epiq's existing operation in Canada, help bring a bigger range of tech-enabled legal solutions, which our clients are on the lookout."

Epiq said that the acquisition will broaden the scale of its flexible talent. It offers and builds the traction created by the launch of Epiq Counsel to carve out a space in the increasingly crowded ALSP market.

Tom Finke, Epiq's managing director of legal transformation services, joined Epiq in December 2020 from ALSP giant Axiom to spearhead the launch.

The company boosted its advisory business in 2020 when it purchased legal operations consultancy, Hyperion Global Partners to complement its legal document processing, records management, eDiscovery and information governance technology and services.

"Epiq has experienced tremendous growth in Canada over the last few years," Finke added. "Based in part on the launch of Epiq Counsel in the US in 2021, we felt that Epiq's Canada and US clients respectively operating in Canada would be very interested in utilising Simplex's offerings."

As it expands its global reach, Finke said that the UK would be a "natural place" to expand Epiq Counsel. The UK ALSP market continues to grow amid high demand for low-cost efficient legal services.

A number of UK law firms have expanded their New Law offerings of late, including UK top 15 firm Ashurst, which launched a programme in September to enhance career development opportunities for professionals within its New Law division, Ashurst Advance.

In March, 2021, Linklaters established a 400-strong legal operations function to streamline its New Law service offering. It includes legal project management, innovation, knowledge and learning and pricing.

Bucking the trend, UK-listed firm DWF dismissed its flexible resourcing arm, DWF Resource, in July as part of a cost-cutting programme intended to save £15m.