In conversation with Alex Holt and Emma O’Day
As we continue into 2026, there is a noticeable shift in how law firms are thinking about resourcing, risk, and resilience. To explore, we sat down with Alex Holt and Emma O’Day to discuss why more firms are actively considering outsourcing, what’s driving the trend, and what it means for the future of legal finance and operations.
Is outsourcing becoming more common in law firms?
Cashroom: We’re hearing more conversations about outsourcing than ever before. Is that something you’re both seeing day to day?
Alex Holt: Absolutely. There was a time when outsourcing was viewed more as a last resort, something firms considered only when they were under real pressure. What I am seeing now on a daily basis is very different. Firms are proactively exploring it as a strategic decision, not a reactive one. They’re no longer asking, ‘What’s gone wrong?’ before they consider outsourcing. Instead, they’re asking, ‘How can we build something more resilient and sustainable?’
Emma O’Day: I agree. There’s been a real shift in mindset over the last year or so. Rather than focusing purely on cost, firms are weighing up outsourcing as a way to strengthen operations. And it’s not just finance. Firms outsource many other areas too, like marketing, IT, and HR. Law firms have such a great selection of outsourced providers to now choose from – so they can really find the best fit for their firms.
What’s driving law firms to consider outsourcing their Cashroom
Cashroom: What’s driving this change? Why now?
Emma O’Day: There are a few factors coming together. Recruitment and retention are big reasons. Experienced legal cashiers and finance professionals are in high demand, and firms are finding it harder to build and maintain in-house teams with the right level of expertise.
Alex Holt: And even when firms do recruit, there’s a real risk in having knowledge concentrated in one or two people. If someone leaves, goes on long-term leave, or reduces their hours, the impact can be significant.
On top of that, regulatory pressure hasn’t eased. I’m speaking with different firms everyday who are all saying the same thing: compliance is more complex, expectations are getting higher, and there’s much less margin for error now. Firms are looking at outsourced providers like us to bring our expertise to regulation and ensure compliance.
From cost-saving to risk management
Cashroom: Historically, outsourcing has been associated with cost-cutting. Is that still the case?
Alex Holt: No, not anymore. It’s about accessing a level of expertise, consistency, and capability that is very difficult to build and sustain in-house. With Cashroom, firms gain a fully trained, highly experienced team – many with decades in legal finance – without the challenges of recruitment, training, or staff turnover.
All new team members complete our Cashroom Academy training programme, and we work closely with the ILFM to ensure our people are fully up to date with the latest regulatory requirements. This means we have a deep understanding of what regulators expect and how to keep your firm compliant.
Emma O’Day: Exactly, while cost efficiency can be a benefit, outsourcing with Cashroom is no longer simply about cutting costs. What really sets Cashroom apart is the combination of people and technology
In addition to our people, we provide access to financial technology through our Cashroom portal- capabilities that are not typically available to in-house teams or other outsourcing providers. It’s the combination of highly experienced people and purpose-built technology that makes Cashroom truly stand out.
Alex Holt: Our team are great at sharing their knowledge too. We work across multiple different systems and everyone’s fantastic at passing down their experience and know-how.
Supporting growth
Cashroom: How does outsourcing support firms that are growing or changing?
Alex Holt: Growth often exposes cracks in existing processes. What worked for a five-partner firm doesn’t always work for a twenty-partner firm.
Emma O’Day: Outsourcing gives firms flexibility. They can scale up without immediately needing to hire, train, and manage additional staff, and they can adapt more easily when their structure or workload changes.
Alex Holt: That’s a really good point. Recruitment takes a huge amount of time and effort, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out. When that happens, you’re back to square one, which is where outsourcing can really help maintain stability and keep things moving.
Looking ahead
Cashroom: Do you think this trend will continue?
Emma O’Day: I do, yes. Firms are being asked to do more with less, but without compromising on quality, and that’s not easy. Outsourcing is one of the ways they can strike that balance.
From what we’re seeing, there are a few key reasons this trend isn’t going anywhere. Law firms are finding it harder to recruit and retain experienced legal finance talent, regulation is only getting more complex, and technology is playing a bigger and bigger role in how finance teams operate. On top of that, firms really value consistency and continuity – something that can be difficult to maintain in-house.
All of those challenges are exactly what we focus on at Cashroom. They shape how we support our clients day to day, and they’re a big driver behind how we continue to evolve and improve our service.
Alex Holt: Definitely. I think we’ll continue to see outsourcing positioned as a long-term strategic choice rather than a temporary fix. Firms are looking for stability and confidence in their finance function, and they want the freedom to focus on the more billable, client-facing aspects of their work – that’s where outsourcing really adds value.
As more firms reassess how they operate, outsourcing is increasingly being recognised not as a compromise, but as a proactive step towards building stronger, more resilient legal practices.
And of course – we’re here to help!
Interested in a confidential chat?
If you are considering outsourcing your legal cashiering, or just want to find out how it works, our team is here to help.
Cashroom provides expert outsourced account services for law firms including legal cashiering, management accounts and payroll services. Our mission is to fee lawyers from the complexities of legal accounting by supporting the industry with accurate management information and allowing lawyers to do what they do best – practice law.
“We have used Cashroom for many years, it’s a great system. Our firm is regularly instructed to support significant transactions – both in terms of the importance of deals, as well as their value. As a result, we need to be absolutely sure that we can rely and trust on our finance management partners to be able to administer fast, secure, and seamless transactions. We’ve never thought to look elsewhere as Cashroom have always been there for us.”
