Law firm network TerraLex has signed up a leading academic and consultant for a project to boost collaboration across its network of more than 130 law firms.

Heidi Gardner and her consultancy Gardner & Co will undertake a research and development project to help the network gain a “deeper understanding of enablers and barriers to collaboration”, according to TerraLex, thereby “unlocking new opportunities”.

Gardner is a distinguished fellow at Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession and is particularly well known for her work on collaboration having written two books on it: Smart Collaboration: How Professionals and Their Firms Succeed by Breaking Down Silos and Smarter Collaboration.

The project will include client and prospective client interviews, focus groups in each of TerraLex’s regions and interviews with leaders and influences from within the network.

TerraLex CEO Terri Pepper, who is leading the project with the network’s chair, Derek Humphery-Smith, head of international at Australian firm Lander & Rogers, said the research aimed to enhance cross-border collaboration and increase trust and commitment between members as well as leading to the development of business and legal solutions for clients.

She added: “Member firms and representatives of leading client companies worldwide will actively participate in the research and have already expressed their commitment to ensuring the best possible results.”

Gardner’s concept of ‘smarter collaboration’ has struck a chord within the legal sector and she is in much demand as a consultant and speaker. Recent work for the consultancy includes a workshop undertaken with Clifford Chance Amsterdam involving lawyers and clients.

TerraLex, which is headquartered in Miami, is included in a list of 10 ‘elite’ global legal networks by the legal directory Chambers and Partners.