Microsoft, one of the largest software companies in the world is increasing the quantum of legal work being outsourced. As a result, CPA Global, which has conducted a case study on Microsoft’s legal work in India, will be the biggest beneficiary. 

Marty Shively, Assistant General Counsel of Microsoft, who has shifted base from US to India, has been overseeing outsourcing opportunities in India. Confirming an increased mandate to CPA Global, he told Bar & Bench, “We have been outsourcing legal work in the area of patent and trademark to CPA Global and Wipro. We already have a 5-year relationship with CPA Global and hope to strengthen it in the future.

The LPO sector is booming. Just yesterday, Integreon received funding worth $50 million from Actis, an emerging sector PE investor. “There are a lot of opportunities in India and I cannot answer at the present on whether legal outsourcing is going to increase or not, but the companies here have got capabilities to enable the growth,” feels Shively.

Most of the work Microsoft is outsourcing relate to patent and trademark, docketing and complex portfolio analysis. Microsoft has sometimes outsourced 100 percent of the work and in some cases outsourced portions that can be efficiently performed in India.