New relationships build the vision for the future
20/07/2004
The Department of Family and Community Services (the former FaCS) Secretary, Mark Sullivan, today announced an exciting new phase in the former FaCS's relationships with external legal providers.
'For the last 18 months the former FaCS has been the leader in innovative legal arrangements in the Commonwealth,' Mr Sullivan said.
'What I am announcing today in our new Public Private Partnership will ensure the former FaCS can continue to build on its reputation for excellence in legal services and advice. Phillips Fox will become our new managing partner in the provision of legal services.
'It is a very exciting step for the former FaCS to be entering into a partnership with a firm with the breadth and depth of experience of Phillips Fox, which employs over 1500 people across offices in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam.
'The Phillips Fox team will help us build a vision for the future and deliver a high level of service. They came to us as a multi-skilled team incorporating an alliance with Acumen to support the transition stage, people management and business improvement issues – another highly innovative partnership arrangement.
'The former FaCS's Public Private Partnership with Phillips Fox and three other legal firms – Deacons, Clayton Utz and the Australian Government Solicitor – will enable the former FaCS to continue being an innovative leader in this new model of legal services.
'Clayton Utz has agreed to become a Secondary Legal Services Provider for the former FaCS, which means they will be ready to step in should anything happen to the primary provider.
'Clayton Utz, the Australian Government Solicitor, Deacons Projects and Phillips Fox will each become members of the former FaCS's Special Projects with Risk Panel.
'Clayton Utz and Australian Government Solicitor will also become members of the former FaCS's Interim Legal Services Panel.
'All of these firms have made a strong commitment to ensuring the best possible outcomes for the former FaCS and are committed to working together. Our model is built on co-operation and collaboration, not competition. It is great that some of Australia's most prestigious legal firms are prepared to step up to this new way of working.
'This model works most effectively with the commitment of the professional staff in the former FaCS's Legal Services Branch. They have achieved outstanding results with Deacons over the last 18 months and I look forward to that continuing with Phillips Fox.
'The transition process with Phillips Fox will take place over the next few weeks to maintain business continuity.
'I would like to acknowledge the important role Deacons have played in getting us to this point in our Public Private Partnership arrangements. They have worked with us over the last 18 months to develop our understanding of how to work in such a partnership and how to move to the next step.
'I am delighted that Deacons will continue to work with us on a range of projects that are currently underway and new projects as they arise.
'We will undertake a Request for Tender to provide a future Legal Services Panel for the former FaCS, which will include the Child Support Agency, this financial year.
'We are very excited about these strategic partnerships, which will guarantee best practice in both public and private legal services.
'I look forward to working with our new partners and thank them for their willingness and enthusiasm to participate in our new model for legal services,' Mr Sullivan said.