Pinsent Masons: Using technology as an enabler for growth

Just like many others, the legal industry continues to evolve. For Pinsent Masons, a professional services business with law at its core, this change has been particularly notable, with the utilisation of technology to enable growth for the business.

The multinational legal practice operates across 26 offices worldwide with a depth of knowledge and expertise in energy, financial services, infrastructure, real estate and technology, science, and industry.

And, as Nigel Tranter – Pinsent Masons’ Chief Technology Officer – says, the firm has undergone a number of changes through its investment in technology. Conversations around data and analytics are now widespread, and, through the firm’s partnerships, a product development arm of the business has developed and is proving highly successful.

“In the last three years, the firm has invested significantly in transforming its technology estate,” he explains. “I think the biggest compliment and reflection of that is when people around the business don't see you as a cost centre, but as an enabler.

“Now, we’re thought of as enablers for growth in the business. We've created a product development arm, and we're using a development company who have helped grow our product development space significantly.?

“We were probably delivering two or three products a year. Between now and the end of our financial year in May, we've got 22 pipeline product and solutons to develop.”

The firm has also gone through a change in how it talks about, and how it uses, data. This, Tranter explains, has led to substantial machine learning opportunities for the business, along with prompting discussions around analytics and trends.

“Three or four years ago, the firm wasn’t even talking about data,” he says. “Now, data is a common construct and conversation throughout the firm. That's led to substantial machine learning opportunities and things that really make use of data.”

Read the full interview with Nigel, here.