The head of KPMG Law’s government practice has joined Holding Redlich, as the mid-tier firm seeks to capitalise on a shake-up of the public sector legal market.

After firms were excluded from parts of the Commonwealth legal services panel, the historically Labor-aligned outfit says it is well-positioned to take advantage and expects to hire a swag of government partners from rival firms.

Philip Jones-Hope says government clients are looking for trusted advisers, not salespeople.  

Philip Jones-Hope, who will bring a team of lawyers from the consultancy’s now-defunct legal offering, is the most recent hire as part of Holding Redlich’s plan to achieve growth through specialisation after an unsuccessful effort to expand into broader corporate practice areas.

Mr Jones-Hope told The Australian Financial Review the government’s post-PwC focus on external spending had flowed across to law firms and national firms with “a good story to tell” were best placed to take advantage.

“The refresh of the panel was very much consistent with the narrative from the government. There was a high concentration of services in the top end of town, and there was a willingness and appetite from the government to get value for money.

“Firms that have a good [public sector] pedigree, a good story to tell in terms of pro bono work and culture, and represent value for money – that’s the focus of the refresh of the panel, particularly when you look at some of the areas top-tier firms aren’t represented in,” he said.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth, King & Wood Mallesons and Minter Ellison were all excluded from the panel to varying degrees in August, in a change that has triggered movement among government specialists across firms.

Holding Redlich was appointed to all divisions of the panel.

Your taxes at work – for those who have a good story to tell.  “Baa, baa black sheep….’.

Passing Bull 398 – Bullshit in the Law

The head of KPMG Law’s government practice has joined Holding Redlich, as the mid-tier firm seeks to capitalise on a shake-up of the public sector legal market.

After firms were excluded from parts of the Commonwealth legal services panel, the historically Labor-aligned outfit says it is well-positioned to take advantage and expects to hire a swag of government partners from rival firms.

Philip Jones-Hope says government clients are looking for trusted advisers, not salespeople.  

Philip Jones-Hope, who will bring a team of lawyers from the consultancy’s now-defunct legal offering, is the most recent hire as part of Holding Redlich’s plan to achieve growth through specialisation after an unsuccessful effort to expand into broader corporate practice areas.

Mr Jones-Hope told The Australian Financial Review the government’s post-PwC focus on external spending had flowed across to law firms and national firms with “a good story to tell” were best placed to take advantage.

“The refresh of the panel was very much consistent with the narrative from the government. There was a high concentration of services in the top end of town, and there was a willingness and appetite from the government to get value for money.

“Firms that have a good [public sector] pedigree, a good story to tell in terms of pro bono work and culture, and represent value for money – that’s the focus of the refresh of the panel, particularly when you look at some of the areas top-tier firms aren’t represented in,” he said.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth, King & Wood Mallesons and Minter Ellison were all excluded from the panel to varying degrees in August, in a change that has triggered movement among government specialists across firms.

Holding Redlich was appointed to all divisions of the panel.

Your taxes at work – for those who have a good story to tell.  “Baa, baa black sheep….’.