With many firms looking to reduce costs by outsourcing to countries like India, it’s refreshing to see someone swimming against the current trend. Andrew Rigby of Scottish law firm Brodies is attending the Nasscom business process outsourcing (BPO) summit in India with a delegation from Scottish government and industry. His apparent aim is to convince Indian outsourcers that opening hubs in places such as Scotland could save them money, create new business opportunities and avoid the increase of Western protectionism.

At a time when the legal profession and the UK in general is shedding jobs faster than you can say credit crunch, it is an interesting approach to the whole outsourcing debate. The idea of outsourcing has attracted a growing fan base amongst UK firms as they seek to reduce costs but it has raised the issue of what will be left for the burgeoning supply of home-grown legal talent in the long run. Many argue that the basic grind work of law is essential teeth cutting for a successful career.

Rigby is the chief architect behind the so-called "outsourcing hub initiative", which aims to develop Scotland as a serious outsourcing centre. His approach aims to capitalise on the downturn by persuading Indian BPO firms that a local foothold would prevent them from falling victim to the protectionist sentiment sweeping the West. By that he is referring to President Obama’s comments in May that US companies were taxed less for creating a job in Bangalore than creating one in Buffalo, New York. You probably don’t need reminding of our own great leader’s comments about British jobs for British workers!

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For more on outsourcing:

More Outsourcing: A&O and Simmons & Simmons

India Outsourcing – CC and Eversheds Joined by Others