Firm braches out into non-legal services

One firm is combatting the accounting firms head on, branching out into non-legal service offerings

National firm Sparke Helmore is combatting the threat of broadening service offerings by accounting firms with the launch of a wholly-owned professional services company.

Bright Sparke, designed as an innovation hub, is funded independently of the partnership and aims to deliver new, non-legal solutions to business issues through enhanced data analytics, process outsourcing, emerging technology and partnering arrangements.

“It’s an opportunity to create new nonlegal revenue lines in a hyper-competitive market,” chairman Mark Hickey told The Australian.

“We have to find ways of dealing with this ever-changing disruptive market.

“We will probably be raising capital in those SPVs through the partnership, through employees and potentially through joint ventures with clients.”

Two of the five potential business lines currently in testing have already been decided by the firm to be adopted.  Hickey also said discussions with a major bank are under way but remained tight lipped about any definitive plans.

“We are trying to take back some of the ground that law firms as a whole have lost over the past 20 years because of the way we are structured and the way we do business,” Hickey told The Australian.

“One or two of those might involve a joint venture with another profession or another operator that can provide what we, as lawyers, can’t,” he said.

Nicholas Adamo joins the firm from Ernst & Young as the firm’s chief innovation officer and will act as CEO for Bright Sparke.  He will also chair the firm’s Innovation Committee.

“As an entrepreneur, clients have always been at the centre of innovation for me,” he said.

“I look forward to working with Sparke Helmore’s clients, and others, to help them to better understand and solve critical issues that encompass the full professional services spectrum, analytics and technology.”
 

Recent articles & video

UK family lawyers launch mental health resource for divorce clients

Bankruptcy attorney Jamie Sprayregen departs Kirkland & Ellis for Hilco Global

DLA Piper bolsters US-Africa practice with Kalidou Gadio as new co-chair

Lander & Rogers launches workplace law elective at QUT

CE Family Law's Louise Hunter had an Erin Brockovich for a grandma

WFW picks up win at 2024 Australian ADR Awards

Most Read Articles

Two Australian lawyers ascend to partner in major HFW promotions round

ALRC releases anti-discrimination, religious educational institution law recommendations

G+T puts teams on M&A deals

Three additions enhance G+T's partnership