Architect and design consultants DEGW has received £60,000 sponsorship money from three undisclosed London firms to design the global law office of the future.
The firm is refusing to reveal the backers of the project – but it counts Linklaters & Paines, Freshfields, Addleshaw Booth & Co, Nabarro Nathanson and Garretts among its clients.
The project, scheduled to start in July, will examine how improvements in IT and communications will affect the organisational structure and physical design of law firm offices.
The research will be done in conjunction with DEGW's parent company, Twynstra Gudde Arup, the largest management consultancy in the Netherlands, and will also examine staff attitudes at work and provide sponsors with a 'legal office toolkit' to achieve a competitive advantage in the design and management of their offices.
The design firm is currently looking for seven other sponsors.
The project is being spearheaded by ex-Crossman Block solicitor Kate Lee.
She said: "Firms will benefit as this is a cost-effective and risk free way of getting a view inside the future legal market."