Client requirement
The General Counsel of a global technology company had limited time and resources but was faced with an ever-increasing workload.

Dovetail solution
We connected our client with an experienced freelance lawyer who was able to provide the required mix of legal work to the client on an “as-needed” basis. He initially spent two weeks seconded into business on day rates working within the client’s offices doing the required legal work on site and getting to know the business and internal stakeholders. Once the business and the lawyer were both comfortable with the nature of the work and the required output, our lawyer was able to move to providing ad-hoc legal support remotely on an hourly basis only as needed.

Outcome
The engagement was a success, with the General Counsel being able to clear chunks of work off her desk with the support of a freelance lawyer on an “as-needed” basis. The business was able rely on additional access to an experienced in-house lawyer without adding to employee headcount. It was a cost-effective way for the client to resource for the additional work as it flexed with the peaks and troughs of the business needs.

Cost comparison to traditional providers

Cost comparison to traditional providers

Daily Rate for one lawyer
Dovetail: $1,200
Traditional law firm secondee: $3k+

Equivalent hourly rate
Dovetail: $150
Traditional law firm secondee: $600

Monthly cost for two days/week
Dovetail: $10k
Traditional law firm secondee: $24k+

Client saving
Dovetail: > 50% saving
Traditional law firm secondee: —

Client requirement
A key financial institution required a lawyer to support an important and complex project for the business over a 9-month period.

Dovetail solution
The client was initially seeking a junior lawyer to provide a supporting role in relation to management of the array of contracts required under the project. However, after seeing options from Dovetail for more experienced lawyers who could provide both the backend support as well as play a lead role contract negotiation and drafting, the General Counsel selected a more senior Dovetail lawyer.

The engagement was as a secondee on day rates which allowed for costs to closely align with the project, rather than add to the client’s employee headcount.

Outcome
The secondment went well and even continued for a period after the project had been successfully delivered. The feedback on the lawyer from the client was very positive and we’re looking at future projects that may arise with the opportunity for them to all work together again.

Cost comparison to traditional providers

Cost comparison to traditional providers

Daily Rate for one lawyer
Dovetail: $1,250
Traditional law firm secondee: $3,000+

Monthly cost for five days/week
Dovetail: $25k
Traditional law firm secondee: $60k

Client saving
Dovetail: > 50% saving
Traditional law firm secondee: —

Client requirement
A global manufacturing and services business required an experienced in-house lawyer to fill in as their Regional General Counsel for Asia Pacific for a 7-month maternity leave cover.

Dovetail solution
We quickly connected the client with a recommended Dovetail lawyer who had industry-relevant experience as well as the skills and traits being sought by the business.

Outcome
We provided our client with two recommended options within 48 hours, interviews were held within a week and an offer was confirmed with the client’s preferred lawyer shortly after. Dovetail filled the role quickly and successfully in less than 2 weeks.

The placement was clearly a success for both client and lawyer as our Dovetail lawyer was converted across to a permanent employee of the client.

Cost comparison 

Cost comparison 

7-month placement
Dovetail: $20k
Traditional law firm secondee: $30k

Balance on conversion to permanent
Dovetail: $25k
Traditional law firm secondee: $30k

Total cost to client for the placement
Dovetail: With this cost only accruing on a pro-rata month to month basis as the lawyer works with the client, so guarantee period aligns for entire duration
Traditional law firm secondee: Plus the cost of additional time filling the role and risk of a reduced 3 to 6-month guarantee period

Client saving
Dovetail: 25% saving
Traditional law firm secondee: —

Client requirement
A national operator within the healthcare sector required an in-house lawyer to join their legal team on a permanent basis.  They had tried to source candidates directly and also using traditional legal recruiters but had not been able to fill the role.

Dovetail solution
We reached out through our network and quickly confirmed availability and interest of relevant Dovetail lawyers for our client to consider.

Outcome
Within 2 weeks of receiving instructions from our client, we had a shortlist of recommended lawyers available for our client.  We arranged all of the interviews and reference checks and the role was filled within a month.

The placement was a success for both client and lawyer as our Dovetail lawyer has since been promoted within the organisation.

Cost comparison

Cost comparison

Monthly fee for the placement
Dovetail: $2k
Traditional law firm secondee: Not offered monthly fee, full lump sum $30K payable upfront

Total cost to client for the placement
Dovetail: $24K – With this cost only accruing on a pro-rata month to month basis as the lawyer continued working with the client, so guarantee period aligns for full 12 months
Traditional law firm secondee: $30K plus cost of additional time filling the role and risk of a reduced 3 to 6-month guarantee period

Client saving
Dovetail: 20% saving
Traditional law firm secondee: —

Client requirement
Our client was looking to sell one of their businesses to a major customer. Our client didn’t have any in-house legal team of their own, so we built them a temporary team to come in and do all the heavy lifting internally for the transaction, including:

• finalising material contracts
• collating due diligence material
• assisting with restructuring of the business for the transaction
• preparation and negotiation of transaction documents
• corporate advisory work
• finalisation and completion

Dovetail Solution
Dovetail provided a team of lawyers for the transaction, including a senior corporate lawyer to initially lead the legal elements of the transaction and then a second senior in-house commercial lawyer was brought in to support the later stage of the project and closing.

Outcome
Our client’s traditional external law firm originally quoted for the entire job, but their quote was so high that the CFO reached out to Dovetail. In cost terms, our client was able to successfully complete the entire $20m+ transaction from start to finish with the Dovetail Lawyers for about a third of the cost originally quoted by their external law firm.

Cost comparison to traditional providers

Cost comparison to traditional providers

Range of daily rates for lawyers
Dovetail: $1,375 to $1,600
Traditional law firm secondee: $3k+

Hourly rates
Dovetail: $375
Traditional law firm secondee: $450 to $800+

Total cost for the project
Dovetail: Delivered for $150K with the added advantage of having the lawyers sitting inside the client’s operations for the entire process to improve overall efficiency for the Client.
Traditional law firm secondee: Quoted at $450K+

Client saving
Dovetail: 66% saving
Traditional law firm secondee: —