Reed Smith is set to establish a low cost legal service centre outside of London in Leeds, it has emerged.
The centre, to be named RS Global Solutions, will see Reed Smith open its second UK office to offer additional support to its London hub. Plans for the new centre are being discussed internally today (10 April) with details yet to emerge on how many roles will be affected by the move, or who will lead the management team in the new northern office.
The news follows developments in November of last year, when the firm considered adopting an alternative business structure as way of working more closely with third-party non-legal outfits.
Such centres typically have greater impact on non-legal support staff, with the strategy driven by the continuing desire by Global 100 firms to seek greater efficiency. A host of other major players have undertaken similar projects recently , with Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Baker McKenzie, Norton Rose Fulbright and Ashurst all shifting back-office roles out of London to lower cost hubs in the UK and abroad.
The drive to manage efficiency at the firm and prevent greater costs comes as Reed Smith finally returned to growth after two consecutive years of decline, with the firm’s London outpost displaying a robust performance growing revenues 14% to £147m.
Reed Smith was contacted for comment.
thomas.alan@legalease.co.uk
