The two mid-tier law firms have come up with a lateral solution to handling cross-border insolvency work. Differing laws and administration requirements between jurisdictions currently require clients to deal with two sets of lawyers, or seek out the more costly services of a national firm.

"At this point we think it's an exercise that will be useful for our clients, mainly insolvency accountants, which we hope then to move to other jurisdictions," explained Tindall Gask Bentley partner Rod Foster Jones.

"We identified that it would be useful if there was a systematic way in which [instersate matters] could be dealt with between lawyers rather than locating someone on an ad-hoc basis interstate,"

Under the arrangement between TGB and Swaab, the firms have implemented a consistent approach to cases and fee structure. Jones said the response of clients has been positive, and the firm is already considering rolling out the service across Victoria and Western Australia.

-Laura MacIntyre