Ogier recognised as a leader in its field in national legal awards

Monday 28 September 2015

Ogier’s IT team has been recognised as a leader in its field by The Lawyer. The team was a finalist in The Lawyer’s Business Leadership Awards in the Best Change Management Programme category.

Ogier was the only offshore law firm to be shortlisted in any category of the awards, which were judged by a panel of the UK’s leading in-house lawyers and announced in London on 22 September.

And, on a shortlist that was only revealed on the night, Ogier’s Chief Operating office Jamie Bore was announced a Business Leader of the Year finalist – the only offshore finalist in the category which included leaders from top UK law firms.

The Lawyer Business Leadership Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in business services among individuals and teams in legal services providers across the legal market.

To create the shortlist, the judges were looking for evidence of how a legal services provider has changed its approach to established behaviours and working practices in order to achieve a defined business outcome. In the leadership award the finalists were recognised for their contribution to operational excellence, creativity and original thinking.

Ogier’s Director of IT, Debbie Rayner, said: “The completion of the MBO of Ogier’s trust and administration business in June 2014 included all existing IT infrastructure and provided a unique opportunity for a “ground-up” review of how we provide IT Services to the law firm in eight jurisdictions, across three continents.

“The Ogier IT Team used this programme as the catalyst to bring IT “out of the basement” and put it right in the very heart of the business”

While the MBO has enabled Ogier to focus exclusively on law, specialising in corporate, finance, funds, dispute resolution and private client work, the success of the launch of new IT platforms and services has had a longer lasting effect.

Mrs Rayner said: “As technology continues to influence the provision of legal services, and meet client needs, Ogier have taken this opportunity to lead the pack.

“The business’ knowledge of IT has significantly improved, and in turn IT is now an integral part of the business. We have moved away from “doing IT to the business” and set the standard of ‘doing IT with the business’.”

Ogier’s Chief Operating Officer Jamie Bore added: “Process innovation is key to Ogier’s ability to create a strategic advantage. Our IT team and the state-of-the-art technology they employ is integral to that innovation and we are very proud that the Ogier team has been recognised alongside some of the top international law firms including Clifford Chance and Hogan Lovells."

Jamie, who is also Finance Director for Ogier, has accountability for the financial and operational effectiveness of the law firm and for leading the implementation of its strategy through its Business Services teams: HR, Finance, IT, Operations, Business Development, Knowledge Management and Risk & Compliance.

Ogier’s global managing partner Nick Kershaw said: “Jamie has completely transformed Business Services at Ogier. His technical and process achievements are many and include the complete review, streamlining and automation of the firm’s accounts payable systems, which has provided major efficiencies and service improvements. Jamie led the Business Services team through the split of Ogier and its fiduciary services business through an MBO in 2014.

“It is testimony to Jamie’s achievements that at the age of 35, he was appointed as a partner in the firm, and also recognises the importance that Ogier’s partners place on the service they receive from their Business Services teams."