DWF launches 'new ideas incubator' as part of business services reorganisation

DWF has launched a new research and development division as part of a reorganisation of its business, which has seen the firm place a number of its service offerings into a standalone company.

DWF Ventures, described by the firm as “a new ideas incubator”, will focus on developing innovative new ideas and development opportunities.

Law Firms Mentioned

<a href="http://www.almcms.com/contrib

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
DWF

/uploads/sites/378/2016/11/Andrew-Leaitherland-high-res-approved-Article-201611171135.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-57797" src="http://www.almcms.com/contrib

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
DWF

/uploads/sites/378/2016/11/Andrew-Leaitherland-high-res-approved-Article-201611171135.jpg" alt="Andrew Leaitherland" width="616" height="372" /></a>DWF has launched a new research and development division as part of a reorganisation��of its business, which has seen the firm place a number of its service offerings into a standalone company. DWF Ventures, described by the firm as "a new ideas incubator", will focus on developing innovative new ideas and development opportunities. It forms one part of Connected Services,��a standalone business that sits alongside DWF's core legal offering. Connected Services��also includes DWF's in-house advocacy team,��tech consultancy DWF 360, its��claims management business,��its��forensic accountancy arm, and its resourcing and consultancy��offerings. DWF launched its��contract lawyer offering, DWF Resource, and consulting service,��DWF Consultancy, in 2015. Jonathan Patterson, who joined the firm from Addleshaw Goddard in 2014 as development director, has been appointed as managing director��and head of development��for��DWF Ventures. Patterson said: ��DWF Ventures is dedicated to research and development. We work on priority areas with [managing partner] Andrew Leaitherland and the board, so we have priorities now such as artificial intelligence document review tools. Looking further ahead, we are looking at self-executing contracts which are not necessarily an improvement to our business model now, but could be in the future.�� Leaitherland added: ��We have decided to lift our services into a discrete business entity and integrate the services under one roof. It is about providing a comprehensive solution to a client��s needs, rather than only dealing with the legal aspects of one big case. If you are an insurance company, Connected Services can provide and host software, we have a claims handling team and we have a forensics team that can assess the value of a claim.�� Patterson added: ��I was with a client yesterday who spoke about the idea of ingredients �� if you offer all of these separate ingredients in one place, the client can work out which solution will solve their problem.�� DWF is one of a number of major law firms focusing on technology research and development. In 2015, <a href="http://www.legalweek.com/sites/francesivens/2015/05/19/dentons-launches-technology-investment-arm/">Dentons��launched NextLaw Labs</a>, a technology company aimed at��developing systems and processes to be sold to other firms in the legal industry. Last year, Ashurst��also <a href="http://www.legalweek.com/sites/rosewalker/2016/03/22/ashurst-launches-research-and-development-arm/">established a research and development arm</a> as part of its new innovation initiative, Ashurst Advance. <ul> <li><strong><a href="http://www.almcms.com/contrib

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
DWF

/uploads/sites/378/2017/09/LegalWeek-CONNECT-1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-68658" src="http://www.almcms.com/contrib

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
DWF

/uploads/sites/378/2017/09/LegalWeek-CONNECT-1.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="107" /></a><a href="http://legalweekconnect.com/">LegalWeek Connect</a> �� a��business conference for business people in law firms, featuring a <a href="http://legalweekconnect.com/speakers-full">big-name line-up of speakers</a> �� is taking place��on 29-30 November at London's Institution of Engineering and Technology.��<a href="http://legalweekconnect.com">Click here to find out more</a>.</strong></li> </ul> <

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
DWF

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