Pinsent Masons is piloting a new TMT-focused consultancy practice aimed at improving clients goals and changes with technology.

The consultancy, named Alevra, is designed to provide a clear strategy to clients wishing to start a tech-driven business transformation.

While not yet fully launched, Alevra has already been tested with a number of the firm’s existing clients.

A five-strong team is overseeing Alevra’s operations, led by TMT partner Clare Murray. Murray is supported by two ‘delivery directors’, Chris Green and Mark Hunt, and two ‘associates’, ex-NASA mission planner Doug Fain and Jackie Hewitt.

Murray is the only lawyer involved in the leadership of Alevra.

Speaking to The Lawyer, Murray said: “For decades, we’ve been working with clients who are embarking on high-profile and cutting-edge projects. We’ve seen these programmes fail time and time again.

“Statistics show they run late, deliver less than promise and cost more than predicted. My background is working with clients on those faltering projects to make them work.”

Alevra’s three-step system of planning, assuring and delivery is designed to help clients through each step of the development.

The service is not strictly UK-focused, but has been tested with several UK-headquartered clients who have “a global reach”.

Murray said: “Failure of a transformational technology programme is simply not an option in most organisations – the stakes are simply too high.

“Often our clients have benefited from the legal expertise that Pinsent Masons delivers when a programme encounters difficulties; however the Alevra pilot offers clients the opportunity to work with our team from inception through to implementation to reduce the risk of reaching that point.”

Pinsent Masons has long been an adopter of consultancy and business services practice to supplement its primary revenue streams.

The firm launched its flexible resourcing business Vario in 2013, which has gone to expand in Australia with the target of 50 to 80 lawyers in the country by April 2018.

Vario and Alevra will be working closely in order to fulfil client demand.

It launched cloud-based compliance venture Cerico in the same year with Glasgow-based technology company Campbell Nash in the same year, but acquired the majority stake of the company two years later.

Earlier this year, the firm acquired a 20 per cent stake in ‘New Law’ start-up Yuzu and acquired Brook Graham to “turbocharge” its diversity push.