Ayala's Integreon inks $872-million deal with UK group

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala Corp. unit Integreon, the leading global provider of research, legal and professional business solutions, has signed a 10-year agreement with CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, UK, the leading European provider of legal and tax services, for outsourced middle office services.

The total value of services addressed by this agreement is $872 million, the legal industry’s largest outsourcing agreement ever.

Integreon, the global leader in integrated knowledge process outsourcing, is a joint venture majority-owned by LiveIt Investments Ltd., Ayala Corp.’s holding company in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

This includes substantial portions of accounting and finance, human resources and training, marketing and communications, learning and development, library and information services, research, information technology, facilities and other services.

Company officials said that by outsourcing non-billable tasks to Integreon, CMS Cameron McKenna can focus on its core competency – providing high-end legal and tax services.

CMS Cameron McKenna’s decision to outsource its middle office is part of its ambitious and progressive strategy to create a new model for law firms. By engaging Integreon to provide high-quality outsourced professional business solutions, CMS Cameron McKenna guarantees that its business infrastructure can easily scale for rapid growth.

“We chose Integreon because it is the only firm with a global network of experienced professionals that can meet our needs. Integreon has proven itself to be a trusted and collaborative global services provider that creates real impact and significant bottom line results for its clients. With a broad and integrated services portfolio that is unmatched in the industry and a unique track record of success with leading professional services organizations, Integreon will meet our needs as a rapidly growing law firm,” according to Duncan Weston, managing partner for CMS Cameron McKenna.

For his part, legal industry expert and commentator Richard Susskind said that this is a hugely significant development that sets the pace for the global legal market.

“The scale and ambition of the arrangement is remarkable, and the business case is compellingly strong – by outsourcing many of its non-core activities to Integreon, CMS Cameron McKenna should achieve major cost savings and free itself to focus more strategically on its clients and services,” he said.

Meanwhile, Integreon chief executive officer Liam Brown pointed out that CMS Cameron McKenna is a forerunner of law firms adopting industry best practices. “Beyond the obvious savings that outsourcing will provide them, they will also have the strategic advantage of focusing exclusively on what their clients retain them to do – provide expert legal counsel and services. The agreement with CMS Cameron McKenna confirms our commitment to deliver leading-edge innovation in business, technology, and process management to our law firm clients,” he added.