With such a heavy focus being placed on NewLaw by big law firms, it is interesting to see a new approach. Contrary to other Biglaw firm’s scramble into NewLaw (such as Evershed’s “Konexo”, BCLP’s “Cubed”, see our article on that here, and Simmons & Simmons “Wavelength”), Hogan Lovells chose not to directly compete with their non-traditional competitors. 

Instead, hybrid NewLaw models aim to remake how legal services are delivered through adopting better tools, technology and resource-management practices. Other Biglaw firms who have followed this strategy include Allen & Overy (A&O) and White & Case. A&O for example, partnered up with Deloitte to develop “Margin Matrix”, a regulatory compliance tool to make sure their deals comply with global regulatory requirements. White & Case similarly partnered up with “MergerMarket” to develop a free tool for clients and the public to access M&A data.

Although some BigLaw firms believe they can effectively sell their own brand of NewLaw services, NewLaw hybrids believe the core legal competencies traditional law firms can provide is what makes them unique and different. “It’s not just saying ‘Let’s hire some robots”, Hogan Lovell’s Global Head of Legal Operations, Stephen Allen says, “but partnering in some particular areas to find a better way of doing things”.

How effective this approach will be in the long term remains to be seen but for now it looks like a wise approach.