Deloitte Legal expansion: managing partner appointment
Michael Castle is set to become a Deloitte Legal first as he starts in his new role as managing partner in February 2019
Today, Big Four firm, Deloitte has announced that Deloitte Legal has appointed their first permanent lead managing partner who will be starting next month.
Deloitte Legal specifically focuses on offering legal advice, alongside “technology-enabled delivery and process optimisation”.
Last year, Deloitte Legal announced their intentions to expand their legal services. Going into 2019, they have stated that their UK team now numbers at “60+ client-facing practicing lawyers, as well as 125+ other fee earners already delivering regulated legal activities.”
Recruitment is set to continue throughout this year, as proven by this latest appointment of a managing partner. Michael Castle will be focused specifically on spearheading technology-focused approaches for legal cases; he is hoping to bridge the “digital gap”.
“As managing partner at Deloitte Legal, Michael will make use of capabilities from across Deloitte and develop new ways to take legal solutions to the market,” Deloitte has reported. “This will combine legal advice with legal managed services, technology, and consultancy to provide solutions to clients looking to optimise the management of their legal operations.”
In response to his appointment, Michael Castle said: “This is an exciting and challenging time for the legal industry. General Counsels face a number of converging complexities, ranging from a heightened regulatory environment, to an increasingly globalised business landscape, not to mention an acceleration of technological advancements.
“Deloitte Legal is ideally placed to fill the digital gap in the legal market and provide legal solutions to tackle these complexities head on. By drawing not only on our legal expertise, but also on our deep understanding of the latest technology and tried and tested ways of improving processes, we can help the legal departments improve efficiencies and increase the value they deliver back to their business.”
Having previously spent more than two decades as a partner in banking practice at Allen & Overy, Castle has secured a wide range of experience when it comes to the likes of banking transactions. He has been heavily involved in the implementation of delivering innovative legal solutions to a number of clients.
Matt Ellis, managing partner for tax and legal at Deloitte North West Europe, concluded: “We have sky-high ambitions for Deloitte Legal in the UK, and this is why it is excellent to have someone of Michael’s calibre at the helm to build our presence and grow our distinctive suite of legal offerings.
“Michael brings a wealth of experience and it is clear to see that his leadership and understanding of the legal market and appreciation of legal technology will only benefit the rest of the team and our clients. We have an ambitious, talented team that looks set to grow rapidly as we ramp up our recruitment across Deloitte Legal.”
