Beachcroft and TLT sign up to share outsourced library services with OC

Outsourcing company Integreon signs up two more law firms for shared resource centre

Beachcroft and TLT Solicitors are to join Osborne Clarke in outsourcing their entire library services in an agreement with Integreon.

The pair will follow Osborne Clarke's lead by using knowledge and legal process outsourcing provider Integreon's Bristol centre - creating the first shared information centre in the UK legal sector.

Beachcroft and TLT will outsource their respective library functions to Integreon from mid-January, while Osborne Clarke sent a number of business support services, including its library, to the Bristol centre in March this year, in a deal that saw 75 staff join Integreon.

Eleven library staff will join the shared centre from Beachcroft and TLT - around 60% of which are from Beachcroft - with no job cuts resulting from the outsourcing.

Integreon is currently in talks with a number of additional law firms about joining the shared library service. Its functions include a central enquiries desk, legal and business research, hard copy and journal management and information supplier management and purchasing.

The company also said it is planning to launch a similar service in the US.

Beachcroft managing partner Paul Murray (pictured) commented: "The information resources we buy are a commodity and we hope that we will save some money through this partnership arrangement. More important to us, however, is having specialist providers working with and supporting us in order to provide development opportunities for our own staff and improved services for everyone in the firm."

TLT managing partner David Pester added: "We are currently in the process of consulting with staff but it was important to us to include in the agreement that the firm's existing library employees will have guaranteed roles with Integreon."

Beachcroft on the Legal Week Wiki