Verschillende Engelse advocatenkantoren hebben inmiddels gereageerd op het vorige week genomen besluit van Allen & Overy Londen om een deel van het werk te verplaatsen naar Belfast. Ondersteunende diensten zoals IT, HRM, financiën en bibliotheekfuncties worden vanaf 2014 geleverd vanuit Ierland. “This is a good move and it is the way that all large law firms need to think in order to re-engineer their cost bases,” aldus Mark Dawkins van Simmons & Simmons.
Andere reacties, verzameld door Legal Week:
“It is a smart idea to go to Belfast as clients have expressed to us that they prefer ‘near shoring’ compared to off-shoring to places that are very far away and where clients have reservations about the ability of the firm to manage and protect confidentiality. That is why we are pleased to have the capability in our various locations, from Milton Keynes to Walnut Creek, to meet the wide variety of client needs. In addition, we have been told that places like India are ceasing to be as competitive on costs as they once were. If you are a large firm like Allen & Overy (A&O) and have the scale to do something like this then it is a good move, but for a smaller firm it is more of a challenge.”
Howard Morris, co-CEO, SNR Denton
”This is a big subject and, to be quite honest, a very sensitive subject which is difficult to discuss in the press. I think you will find it hard to get an honest answer from all firms as you can’t really talk about these things before you announce them; it is dynamite to staff. The truth is that any business must look at these things and keep an open mind.”
Managing partner, City firm
“It is part of a general trend out there. More and more businesses are offshoring. The upside is cost efficiency and I think it is what every sensible multinational business should do.”
Partner, A&O
”It seems a very sensible business move for a firm with their business model. Comparing it to Camerons’ move to outsource its support function to Integreon in London? Clearly, as a business it makes more sense to offshore to another jurisdiction. If you outsource in London you will not get any wage arbitrage. In Belfast there is a wage cost saving to be made and, I imagine, a wealth of quality people available.”
Senior manager van concurrerende Britse firma