Allen & Overy (A&O) has embarked upon a radical plan to outsource half of its document production department to southern India.

The US outsourcing provider Office Tiger is setting up a dedicated facility for A&O in the Indian city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras.

The move, thought to be the first of its kind by a major UK law firm, is expected to halve the head count at A&O's UK document production department, which currently employs 85 staff.