Law firm Kennedys picks ANS for IT transformation

Legal player tasks Cisco and NetApp partner with overhauling infrastructure and providing ongoing support

Law firm Kennedys has selected ANS Group as its IT partner of choice for a big infrastructure overhaul in the name "commoditising" their technology estate.

The legal outfit has more than 20 offices across the world, posted FY14 revenues of £128.5m, and employs more than 1,250 people. It claims it is doubling its number of staff every four years, and was looking to "commoditise its core IT into a utility" and boost productivity by embracing tools such as virtual desktops and a corporate app store. Kennedys has tasked the Mancunian VAR with rolling out a new datacentre infrastructure, and then managing its IT estate over the course of a three-year services contract.

Mike Gilpin, director of IT at Kennedys, said: "This investment has seen IT move from a line on a balance sheet to a business enabler, allowing our partners and staff to work faster, smarter and with greater flexibility. We have commoditised our IT - where before we were focused on delivering infrastructure, we have shifted our focus to supporting strategic business decisions. A merger is now a simpler task, as we have greater IT cost certainty.

"Meanwhile our lawyers have quickly become accustomed to moving around the world and taking their full desktop with them. Our business needs infrastructure that empowers us to implement more innovative frontline services. This will place Kennedys in the strongest possible position for capitalising on our anticipated growth putting us in a very strong position for 2015 and onwards."

Paul Sweeney, chief executive of ANS, added: "For law firms, it's essential to maintain exceptionally reliable and secure infrastructure in order to scale for growth whilst meeting compliance regulations. However, it is increasingly important to balance this with developing innovative frontline applications that support modern ways of working. By working with ANS, Kennedys will extend the capability of its IT team and have the time and resources to accomplish both objectives."