 Eversheds has announced, on March 3rd 2014, that it successfully cemented a multi-billion dollar deal with the IATA (International Air Transport Association) which will see the firm building on its existing relationship with the trade association for the world’s airlines. In a landmark contract, and one of the biggest of its kind in the legal sector, the extended mandate will expand on the 65 countries the international firm already services and will now encompass an additional 93 countries in Europe, North Asia and the Asia Pacific. Eversheds secured the initial contract to provide legal services for the IATA in April 2013 when the original remit included the Middle East and Africa. Partner and Head of Global Client Development, Stephen Hopkins will spearhead the contract which will follow along the lines of the convergence model, developed and utilised by Eversheds in its unique partnership with Tyco, (please see ASIAN-MENA COUNSEL’s most recent cover story, Embracing the law firm convergence model authored by Eversheds’ new chairman, Paul Smith). By creating exclusivity and decreasing the number of law firms, the delivery model aims to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Calling the new project ‘no mean feat,’ Hopkins stated that the firm would now “provide legal services in 158 countries” and would use “transparency and cost quality control” to “develop and strengthen [its’] partnership with the IATA.” Jeffrey Shane, General Counsel at IATA, commented that “the goal of IATA’s legal department is to be on the cutting edge in delivering support to [its’] offices around the globe. We look forward to further benefits as we extend the consolidation of our external legal support with Eversheds across three more important regions for our business.” |
