Allen & Overy (A&O) has cut its overall IT spend by 10% during the past financial year, saving more than £1m through measures including the extension of an agreement with IT outsourcer Savvis to its European network.

The magic circle firm confirmed that it has cut IT spend by 10% but would not be drawn on the precise figure saved, saying only that it was a seven-figure sum. A&O made the savings by axing servers in its international offices and expanding an existing deal with Savvis, which already held most of the firm's UK server space.

The deal sees Savvis now hold content previously spread across some 20 servers in the firm's international network, extending an initial £5.5m deal signed in January 2006 that saw Savvis' data centre take on A&O's UK servers and storage networks.

A&O finance director Jason Haines, who was promoted to the role this autumn after previously serving as IT director, said: "Outsourcing this technology means our backup function is more resilient and it saves a lot of money. We have a long-term relationship with Savvis and we have found them a good partner to work with. It really has been effective for us."

The news comes as A&O's IT department launches a trial of iPhones and iPads. The firm has a 20-member group ranging from staff to partners trialling the products as it considers making them available as an alternative to the BlackBerry.

Last month, A&O launched its own iPhone application, A&O Connect, for easy access to its global lawyer directory.