The firm has established the hotline in response to increasing demand for advice regarding cyber security, which often takes the form of smaller enquiries and requests for guidance that don’t justify setting up an individual retainer. While the firm has many hotlines in different practices, the demand for cyber security advice prompted it to establish a dedicated hotline that is available in all of its offices.

Whenever, wherever
 
‘Through the hotline, we wanted to give clients a forum through which they could easily access our global cyber security team to raise their day-to-day questions whenever and wherever they have the need,’ HSF partner Anna Sutherland told Australasian Lawyer. Day-to-day questions can be about anything from cyber security policies and procedures, through to employment law, insurance and health and safety.

Direct access
 
Clients who sign up to the initiative are provided with five hours of cyber advice per month and direct access to the hotline, which can be accessed in any time-zone across the firm's global network. They can either telephone one of the cyber security team directly of email the hotline with their query, which is then answered by one of the team’s 26 partners operating in the UK, US, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia.

Good for business

The firm said that the new initiative will significantly improve business for its cybersecurity practice, especially as it is seen to lead to greater rapport between the firm and its clients.