Ashurst appoints new global head of flexible resourcing to meet surging demand

Since launching in late 2019, the platform has seen significant and increasing interest from clients, particularly in the UK and Australia, for flexible resourcing of lawyers to supplement in-house staff and secondees.

Client demand for flexible resourcing solutions has grown dramatically during the past year as COVID-19 contributed to an increasingly complex and uncertain economic environment for corporates and law firms alike. Over the past 12 months, Ashurst Advance Reach has achieved a 90% increase in placements, while active client enquiries for flexible resourcing solutions in 2021 have increased by 300% from the levels in 2020.

Linda will take on the new global role based in Melbourne as the firm demonstrates its commitment to grow Ashurst Advance Reach in Australia, the UK and beyond. She joins from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, where she led the firm's flexible resourcing platform Orbit.

As global head of Ashurst Advance Reach, Linda will drive growth of the platform to ensure its resourcing model forms a key element of Ashurst Advance's full service New Law solutions for clients.

The business will continue to deliver flexible resourcing both within the firm and for external clients, including through a fully integrated service ranging from top end legal advice to high quality managed legal services.

Global Head of Ashurst Advance, Chris Georgiou, commented:

"We are delighted to welcome Linda to Ashurst, where she will lead our efforts to deliver efficiency benefits for clients by providing access to high quality lawyers in line with their needs. In just 18 months, Ashurst Advance Reach has proven immensely popular with clients who face the challenge of delivering increased value while ensuring they can utilise premium legal resources. As increasing numbers of companies embrace more flexible business models, Ashurst Advance will continue to set the standard for the future of the legal market. With her extensive experience, Linda is well placed to lead our creation of innovative resourcing solutions for clients across the globe."

Linda said:

"I am thrilled to join Ashurst at an exciting time of growth in the flexible legal resourcing market. Having worked in private practice, as a senior in-house lawyer and as a contract lawyer over my career, I have a deep understanding of the needs of law firms, clients and lawyers. Ashurst Advance Reach has a key role to play as an integrated part of Ashurst Advance's New Law client solutions and I am delighted to be able to help the firm and its clients capitalise on the opportunities that flexible resourcing can deliver."