Issue 11 2019

36 Acquisition International - Issue 11 2019 Sep19507 Most Disruptive Law Consultancy 2019 & Best Boutique Legal & Consultancy Services Firm - Australia In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, it’s vital for companies in all industries to ensure they stay abreast of change, adapting their operations to meet the demands of the marketplace, and ensuring clients are at the forefront of service delivery. One company which is doing things differently is Peripheral Blue, a disruptive Australian legal firm with a fresh approach. We dive into the firm and its services to learn more about their award- winning success. After nearly twenty years in the legal industry working in Australia and overseas, Peripheral Blue Founder and Managing Director, Mellissa Larkin, realised that the traditional legal model was broken and there had to be a better way. What businesses really needed, Mellissa resolved, was access to top-tier, responsive legal and advisory services, without the top-tier price tag. They needed more than just legal advice; they needed commercial advisory support to effectively run their business. They needed trusted business advisers. Enter Peripheral Blue. Understanding that businesses have to remain flexible, dynamic and agile, Peripheral Blue have tailored their service solutions to ensure that clients don’t have to choose between experience, cost-efficiency, and personal relationships. Mellissa and her staff see themselves as business partners, on-call to collaborate with clients to provide for the legal and commercial advisory support they need, when - and where - they need it. Peripheral Blue’s model puts the client at the centre of everything, and the firm has been built out from there. Peripheral Blue’s clients, ranging from ASX200 companies to rapidly growing SME’s across a range of industries, have access to services that are tailored to their unique business circumstances. The firm offers a ‘Counsel on Call’ service for SME clients, giving them access to their own responsive, in-house legal team. Ideal for companies which don’t have an in-house lawyer or, which have a small in-house team, this service guarantees a level of quality and consistency not seen in other outsourced legal solutions. For larger businesses with existing in-house teams, Peripheral Blue offer a ‘Talent Partnership TM’ solution. This is ideal for companies during times of increased volume, staff leave, or where there is a need to outsource specialist, specific, legal or policy advice. As part of its commitment to providing an holistic service to clients, the firm provides a range of business advisory services such as Contract Management, and Governance, Policy, Risk & Compliance. As specialists in Privacy and Data Protection advice, they also provide Privacy & Data solution services and support businesses seeking to comply with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In a conscious shift from the traditional model, the cornerstones of Peripheral Blue’s culture are collaboration, excellence, and innovation, each of which have been laid on a foundation of flexibility. In staffing the firm, Mellissa’s one non-negotiable was exceptional talent. All PBConsultants and PBLawyers are alumni of premier law firms, ASX200 companies and state and federal government agencies. The team is passionate about what they do and is the driving force behind the company’s disruptive reimagining of the legal industry. The future looks exciting for Peripheral Blue. Technology is playing a key role in the pressure for law firms to evolve. Because Peripheral Blue actively seeks out new technology and applications to increase efficiency, its model enables staff to respond to market and legislative changes quickly. The challenge has been to strike the right balance between harnessing the efficiencies which come with technological advancements while embracing the humanity in the client-adviser dynamic, one which Peripheral Blue strives constantly to achieve. Along with extensive experience and excellent performance, PBLawyers and PBConsultants are selected for their high EQ and ability to relate to clients. In the face of extraordinary technological advances in big data and Artificial Intelligence, along with shifts in the privacy regulation landscape, they are looking forward to further developing their position in the global marketplace. Due to the team’s significant experience in the area, a key area of service delivery for them so far has been in helping clients to ethically harness and protect their data with privacy enhancing compliance solutions. In 2020 they’ll be exploring measures to assist Australian companies requiring Data Protection Officers under the GDPR. Closer to home, Mellissa is looking forward to continuing to advocate for change in the legal industry in Australia – to influence how law is practised, and how lawyers and their clients are supported. Peripheral Blue has turned the traditional legal model on its head, and the impact this dynamic model is already having on the industry, is game-changing. Company: Peripheral Blue Website: www.peripheralblue.com.au