Law firm MinterEllison has acquired technology advisory and benchmarking firm ITNewcom in a deal it claims is a “sector-transforming move”.
According to Tony Harrington, MinterEllison's chief executive, as one of the Asia Pacific region's “leading technology advisory and benchmarking firms”, the ITNewcom offering complements and is a great fit with MinterEllison’s own technology legal offering.
Harrington claims that the merger of the two “high quality, client-focused organisations” would significantly enhance MinterEllison’s ability to offer "industry-leading" integrated solutions.
“We believe this transaction is both a game-changing and a sector-changing move for a top tier firm such as ours. It is a decisive step in the implementation of our firm's 2020 strategy,” Harrington says.
{loadposition peter}And according to Andrew Cunningham, MinterEllison’s innovation leader and new leader of the firm's Consulting Solutions practice, MinterEllison was focused on creating an innovative suite of solutions to complement its legal offerings, “providing clients with seamlessly integrated legal and consulting services”.
Cunningham said clients would now have the option of an end-to-end multi-disciplinary solution to achieve their desired outcomes in complex technology transactions – “with reduced risk, increased efficiency and simplified execution”.
For ITNewcom, Cunningham signalled benefits which he said included the ability to operate under a “prominent local and international brand and grow in key demand areas that align with the firm’s strategic 2020 vision”.
“Joining ITNewcom's complementary expertise with our existing market-leading technology practice will allow us to deliver seamless integrated consulting and legal solutions to clients seeking sophisticated technology outcomes.
“Our specialist expertise now includes important services such as benchmarking, strategic sourcing, negotiation support, transition management and ongoing supplier management.”
Under the deal ITNewcom will form part of the newly-launched MinterEllison Technology Consulting practice, part of a broader Technology Solutions practice.
And a new ITNewcom Synergy Leadership Group, comprising Brendan Welsh, Anthony Lloyd (who leads the MinterEllison Technology practice), cyber security expert Paul Kallenbach, and strategic procurement and IT project specialist Amanda Story, will also be established.