Reed Smith Richards Butler is a major international law firm based in the City of London with 91 partners, 304 fee earners and a total staff of 650. 65% of its work has an international dimension and a third of fee earners are based outside the United Kingdom. Clients include the BBC, Microsoft, MTV and the Rank Group; customers also like to see the resources in the information centre, and sometimes request to use it.

Stock and users ...

The library must contain high quality information resources such as key legal information sources and web-based material to ensure that all lawyers are using the most up-to-date and relevant information at all times. The library team deals with many complicated research and email enquiries and complex research is often required to respond to users’ queries. The library is used by many staff, particularly new trainees and summer students. PCs are also available in the library. Stock includes journals, law reports, practitioner text books and encyclopaedic or multi-volume texts. Many electronic sources are also available to use.

Head of Library, Information & Knowledge Management, Loyita Worley heads up a team with four members of staff, all professional librarians, who are responsible for the provision of information services to all Reed Smith Richards Butler's 11 offices worldwide. They support lawyers in wide ranging practices including areas such as banking, commercial disputes, corporate finance, employment, media, real estate, shipping and tax.

The library moved into a new purpose built Knowledge Centre in 2003.

The challenge ...

When Reed Smith Richards Butler reviewed its space allocation the decision was taken to move the library from its location next to the reception area to a large area in the floor above. Loyita began talking to designers and narrowed the shortlist to two, with SEROTA library furniture successfully winning the tender.

The solution ...

Michael Serota worked closely with the building’s interior designer who was very explicit in the design required for the library. The design was a contemporary one with a pleasing mixture of wood and metal used in curved designs. SEROTA was confident that it could deliver to the exact requirements and translate the designs from plan stage into reality.

Reed Smith Richards Butler

Benefits ...

“Michael Serota followed the project through and was very involved from planning stage to overseeing the shelves being installed at the library. He came back to check snagging and has visited us several times since installation to ensure that we are completely happy with the furniture.”

“We have recommended SEROTA to several other law firms who require very high quality, high specification, good finish furniture like ours. Michael makes sure everything is delivered exactly to specification, and delivered on time.”