Bevan Brittan is set to agree a business process outsourcing deal with Intelligent Office UK that is expected to see 75 of the law firm's staff joining the outsourcer.

The Bristol firm is in detailed discussions about outsourcing back office services including secretarial, document production, print and mail room, records management, front of house and specialist procurement to the company.

The proposed move will see around 75 staff transferring to Intelligent Office on 1 December.

Bevan Brittan chief executive Andrew Manning said: "The landscape of the legal sector is changing at pace. If we are to continue to be successful in our field we too must evolve the traditional operating model of a law firm.

"Our clients expect exemplary service provided at cost effective rates. To achieve this we must ensure that each area of our business is operating at optimum efficiency. We believe that in the market place Intelligent Office is best equipped to provide expert input in these key critical support areas of the firm."

The move comes after Bevan Brittan saw revenue drop by 9% to just over £34m in 2010-11, with the firm attributing the drop to public spending cuts and the generally poor market conditions.

Despite the drop in turnover, profit margins increased, with profits per equity partner climbing by 7% to £303,000.

Intelligent Office, which specialises in office services for the legal sector, already has outsourcing agreements with national firms including Beachcroft, Clarke Willmott and HBJ Gateley Wareing, as well as deals with Farrer & Co, White & Case and Wiggin.