The 1,500-staff company will implement new scanning, indexing and document automation systems, helping the company to operate more efficiently and improve its compliance when it comes to data-handling.

Simon Hodson, senior partner at the firm, said that while the company was previously already scanning paper documents to create electronic versions, the scale and flexibility of Williams Lea's technology were far more efficient.

"The Williams Lea solution provides a new environment that will allow lawyers to concentrate on the complex legal tasks that require skill and judgement, and that add most value to our clients... it frees us to do what we're trained to do," he said.

He added that commercial law firms faced increased pressure on pricing, so more efficient document processes would significantly speed up productivity. "Particularly for work on a fixed fee, if we can be more efficient – it means more of that fixed fee is profit," he said.

Full implementation of the system is expected to be completed by 2011.