Peer to Peer: ILTA's Quarterly Magazine
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1533864
12 This shape represents a fundamental shift from traditional service delivery, where established law firms create dedicated alternative service delivery arms that operate alongside their conventional practice. The defining characteristic is the firm's ability to maintain a broad operational foundation that supports multiple service models simultaneously. These firms have recognized that different types of legal work require different delivery models, and they have responded by building or acquiring dedicated capabilities rather than trying to force all work through traditional structures. You can identify ALSP Platform firms by their investment in dedicated operational units that handle high-volume or process-driven work. Firms like Baker McKenzie with its Global Services Center, Baker Hostetler with IncuBaker, and Canadian firms like Torys and Osler with their innovative delivery arms exemplify this approach. These platforms typically feature sophisticated project management systems, standardized workflows, and flexible staffing models that combine lawyers, technologists, and other professionals. While the traditional practice focuses on complex advisory work, the platform handles everything from due diligence to document review to contract management. The distinctive feature of this shape is its adaptability—the ability to flex between different service modes while maintaining quality and efficiency. This shape requires significant investment in operational infrastructure and change management but offers greater resilience to market shifts. It allows firms to compete effectively across market segments, serving premium advisory needs and routine operational demands without compromising. While challenging to implement, this model has proven particularly effective at retaining clients who might otherwise split their work between traditional firms and pure-play ALSPs. THE ALSP PLATFORM 2 The distinctive feature of this shape is its adaptability—the ability to flex between different service modes while maintaining quality and efficiency.