Top 50 firm switches to internet-based computing after signing deal with Virtustream

Field Fisher Waterhouse has become one of the first major UK law firms to turn to cloud computing in an effort to modernise its IT systems and cut costs.

The firm has partnered with technology provider Virtustream, which now owns all of Field Fisher's IT hardware and is fully responsible for its maintenance.

The venture, which will see shared resources and software provided on demand from Virtustream rather than via a centralised system, marks an overhaul of the firm's former set-up, which involved the firm housing 190 internal servers.

The project is expected to save Field Fisher up to £400,000 over a five-year period, while the firm is also expecting to reduce its power consumption by 70% and its carbon footprint by 
900 tonnes.

The switch will also free up Field Fisher's internal IT staff to work on new projects and develop the firm's systems, as well as offering associated benefits relating to business continuity and 
disaster recovery.

Separately, the firm has rolled out a new system – dubbed 'Office Communications Server' – which will allow top-billing clients such as Accenture to log in and find out which lawyers are available to assist with client work. The system also allows clients to communicate via instant messaging with the lawyers handling their work.

Field Fisher's head of IT solutions, Maurice Tunney, who oversaw the project, commented: "We are a firm known for our technology practice and strive to be at the forefront of legal IT developments. Our virtualisation project is an attempt to save costs and energy, reducing our carbon footprint and becoming more efficient generally."

It has been predicted that cloud computing – an internet-based model where shared resources and software are provided on demand rather than via centralised hardware – will ultimately be widely used in law, but adoption has so far been slow.

Several UK law firms have experimented with elements of cloud computing, including Nabarro, which uses a 'private cloud' for internal data storage as well as externally hosted cloud services to deliver email filtering, fax, dealroom and e-learning applications.

Related: IT heads bet cloud computing will save law firms millions.