Dwyer, who practised as a lawyer before moving into consultancy, provides law firms and in-house teams with advice on profitability, pricing, strategy and work management. He is also viewed as an expert on China strategies.

“Exigent is transforming how legal services are provided,” said Dwyer. “I look forward to contributing to their continued success in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region.”

This acquisition follows closely behind Exigent’s acquisition of Bangalore-based specialist technology and legal services provider mLegal, which was announced earlier this month.

Exigent is one of the world’s largest providers of LPO services; Australia-based firms it works with include Allens, Ashurst, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Clayton Utz and Norton Rose Fulbright.

Earlier this year the firm recruited a leading UK litigation lawyer, Nigel Kissack, the former head of litigation at Pinsent Masons, as a global strategy consultant.

An in-house LPO survey conducted by Lawyers Weekly and Integreon earlier this year found that LPO is increasingly being looked at as an alternative to law firms by general counsel.