The Bristol-based founders of premier new model law firm Temple Bright have teamed up with a former PwC and KPMG partner to launch Source, an innovative new business in the rapidly growing flexible legal resourcing market.
Its launch comes as corporates of all sizes increasingly turn to flexible models for legal expertise. 
As a result, the use of temporary ‘contracting’ is on the rise. Organisations are choosing to involve lawyers on placements, varying in duration from a few weeks to many months, in a growing range of situations – not only to cover absences, but ever more proactively and strategically to bring extra capacity or specialist skills.
Joining Temple Bright co-founders Tim Summers and Justyn McIlhinney on the board of Source by Temple Bright is corporate lawyer Peter Workman.
Source will provide lawyers for in-house placements, working in collaboration with Temple Bright.
Temple Bright is the latest law firm to add a dedicated flexible legal resourcing function, joining a growing group that includes Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Pinsent Masons and most recently Mishcon de Reya (through its acquisition of Flex Legal).
However, it differs from these in having a non-traditional model for its core private practice business.
This factor, combined with the three founders’ mix of skills and experience, makes Source a compelling new entrant to the flexible resourcing market. 
Justyn and Tim, pictured with Peter, centre, trained in the City of London and in 2010 launched Temple Bright, a ‘new model’ law firm involving exclusively senior lawyers from a leading firm background, working flexibly.
Having started in Bristol, in 2013 Temple Bright opened a second base in London. The firm now has around 70 lawyers across its two offices.
Peter has worked for more than two decades as a corporate lawyer in leading international law firms, and most recently as a partner in the legal division of each of PwC and KPMG.
At both these he launched and ran a flexible legal resourcing business, and as the CEO of Source will lead this business too.
Tim said: “A business providing lawyers for in-house placements greatly benefits from being linked with a law firm operating a flexible partner-only model.
“We can provide clients with very wide-ranging support through a combination of Source lawyers placed with them and Temple Bright partners.
“It means we can offer a cost-effective service from senior lawyers for an hour or a year, or anything between.
“For the lawyers working with Source, there is the attraction of being part of a wider team of high-calibre colleagues and having the support of Temple Bright. There is also hands-on personal support from Peter.
“We want Source to be a solid base and a natural home for the very best among the growing number of lawyers choosing a flexible career.”
Peter added: “Corporates of all sizes and across all sectors are finding this an increasingly attractive option to help control legal spend without compromising on quality.
“There is high demand for a selective, high-quality flexible legal support provider offering a truly broad and agile approach. That is what we have set up Source to be.”
He said on top of the benefits of the Temple Bright tie-up, there was his personal involvement in arranging and overseeing assignments.
“Having advised in-house legal teams for more than two decades, I am comfortable proactively working with our clients and lawyers to achieve the best possible results,” he added.
“For our clients, this means a solution tailored for their situation. I will consider every available route to the best and most cost-effective approach.
“For instance, do all aspects need to be covered by a single person, or could we achieve better value and a better fit through our placement of an individual supported by niche specialists at Temple Bright.
“For our lawyers, this ability of Source to make creative proposals means we can offer them a wider range of opportunities, better suited to their skills and goals.
“We want to be the most trusted source of legal support for clients and flexible careers for lawyers. Through the advantages arising from this collaboration, we think we are well positioned to achieve that.”
