Entries were sought from innovative teams across the legal services sector who could demonstrate cutting edge business practice and client service. These included innovative approaches to standardisation or commoditisation, or the creation of new suites of high value-added services or means of delivery to meet client needs. This award was open to all in the legal sector.
At a time when firms of all sizes are working out how best to use the internet as a tool, the judges thought Pinsent Masons' business idea was not only creative and cutting edge but most of all relevant, providing real value for their clients. Pinsent Masons developed a product that enables HR professionals to keep up with all the developments in employment law through specially produced video and transcripts.
Allen & Overy has taken online knowledge sharing technology to a new level with CDS deliverability - a secure online product to help financial institution subscribers determine the likely deliverability of frequently traded obligations. Tailored to the needs of individual clients, the service allows institutions to conserve valuable resources previously directed to ad hoc deliverability analysis, reducing their external legal spend.
In February 2008, Brethertons LLP launched the first online dispute resolution service for the property management industry. The site provides a secure and confidential area for mediation discussions to resolve claims or settle litigation. The website has proved to be very popular and the firm is proud to be using groundbreaking technology to enhance client service.
Eversheds has delivered a single IT global contract management solution for its multijurisdictional clients. The Global Accounting Management System provides a single endto- end service delivery system from matter inception through to billing. It is user-friendly and enables clients to track and manage activity and report to their management while receiving tangible evidence of performance and value-delivery from Eversheds.
Katherine Evans is the sole principal of Legal Hobbit, a unique provider of short-term contract support to in-house legal teams. Formerly an in-house lawyer herself, Ms Evans saw a need for skilled temporary legal support with a commercial and regulatoryunderstanding of international telecommunications, IT and outsourcing. Legal Hobbit offers a number of tailored fee packages for prospective clients and keeps operating costs down by running a virtual office.
The Law Shop in Bristol has pioneered a drop-in service for legal information andpreliminary advice. Clients who need assistance with simple legal problems andare unable to get prompt assistance from oversubscribed community advice servicescan take advantage of the flexible pay-as-you-go system, and the success of theventure is demonstrated by the considerable amount of repeat business and wordof-mouth recommendations.