Big-six law firm Allens looking for a new CIO

Commercial law firm Allens is looking for a new chief information officer after IT chief Gerard Neiditsch left the firm to pursue a research position in Europe.

Gerard Neiditsch.

Allens is the Australian affiliate of UK-based legal giant Linklaters and one of the local ‘big six’ law firms.

The CIO vacancy opened up after Neiditsch accepted a research associate position at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland in November, having held the CIO role since October 2013.

Prior to taking up the position at Allens, Neiditsch was the regional CIO of Asia at Pacific Norton Rose Fulbright and the CIO at Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

He is also the co-founder and former director of e-discovery software developer Ringtail Solutions, which was acquired by legal software vendor FTI Consulting.

An Allens spokesperson said the law firm wished Neiditsch all the best for the next chapter in his career.

“Gerard Neiditsch's achievements included implementing a technology transformation program across the firm giving the organisation new capabilities, efficiencies and skills. [Neiditsch] has driven change across the system, the structure, the processes and the people,” the spokesperson said.

“[Neiditsch] was instrumental in moving our server and network infrastructure to a premier private cloud environment – this has led to a vastly decreased environmental footprint and more agility for flexible working.”

The incoming CIO will be tasked with hunting down "efficiency improvements" while "ensuring the role of IT continues to grow and meet the demands of a top-tier professional services firm".

"There is work being done around adding more collaborative technologies and enhanced business intelligence,” the spokesperson said.

Deputy chief information officer Luke Morey, who has previously held senior IT-related roles at fellow big-six law firms Minter Ellison and King & Wood Mallesons, is currently acting in the role.