Legal sector specialists and former Clifford Chance and Carillion Advice Services (“CAS”) leaders Lucy Nixon and Richard Tapp have come together once more to launch NuCAS Managed Legal Services Limited (“NuCAS” or “the company”). The new venture, backed by Crasner Ventures, brings their extensive experience to the forefront of a rapidly evolving legal services market.
NuCAS integrates deep legal knowledge, proven operational methodologies, and advanced technologies — including AI — to support law firms and in-house legal teams in streamlining their workloads. The company’s platform is designed to reduce costs, simplify processes, and unlock greater value, enabling clients to focus on higher-priority strategic objectives.
The business has already gained traction, recently securing an engagement with the corporate legal department of Numatic International Ltd., the British manufacturer best known for the “Henry” range of vacuum cleaners and cleaning equipment.
NuCAS offers tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of each client — from enhancing operational efficiency and overcoming resourcing challenges to improving the quality and consistency of service delivery. Unlike traditional outsourcing or technology providers, NuCAS positions itself as an integrated partner, functioning as an extension of its clients’ own teams. The company’s holistic approach allows law firms to strike the right balance between efficiency and quality, increasing profitability, while enabling in-house departments to refocus on strategic goals.
Guided by its “listen, innovate, deliver” philosophy, NuCAS takes a bespoke approach to every client engagement. Rather than relying on pre-packaged solutions, the company designs customised services and deploys the right combination of talent and technology to address each client’s unique challenges.
The launch marks a reunion for Nixon, who becomes Chief Executive, and Tapp, who takes on the role of Chair. The pair previously worked together at CAS, where they pioneered managed legal services and achieved significant growth before the business was acquired by Clifford Chance. Following the acquisition, Nixon continued to expand the offering within the Magic Circle firm before reuniting with Tapp to establish NuCAS.
“Throughout my career, I’ve kept one principle at the heart of everything: the client comes first. From my early days in legal aid to leading teams that solve complex challenges, I’ve always believed in doing things better, faster, and with purpose,” said Lucy Nixon, Founder and Chief Executive at NuCAS. “Our new offering is built to help clients navigate rapid change, harness the power of tech and AI, and stay focused on what truly matters. It’s not just about legal support; it’s about giving our clients a competitive edge.”
The timing of NuCAS’s launch coincides with significant transformation within the legal profession. Research shows that 69% of general counsel face increasing cost pressures from business leaders, while 76% report being overwhelmed by low-value work. Meanwhile, client satisfaction among UK law firms has declined, with only 44% of clients describing themselves as “delighted” in 2023, compared with 50% in 2022. Simultaneously, all of the UK’s top ten law firms are exploring innovative legal service models, and more than a third have already partnered with alternative legal service providers.
Nixon brings over two decades of experience leading legal transformation across private practice and in-house environments. Most recently, she served as Head of the Newcastle Office at Clifford Chance, overseeing client service delivery through the firm’s Northern Innovation Hub.
Tapp contributes extensive expertise from more than 20 years as global general counsel for FTSE-listed corporations. His career includes establishing and managing large-scale legal and professional service functions worldwide, earning recognition such as the FT Innovative Lawyers European In-House Lawyer Award.
Richard Tapp, Founder and Chair at NuCAS, said: “It is an absolute privilege to be working with Lucy again to build upon our joint expertise bringing focused solutions to our clients using the best in advanced technology, business processes and people. We genuinely feel we have developed an offer which reflects our longstanding interest in bringing streamlined, cutting-edge legal solutions to business. I’m confident my experience as a purchaser, consumer and provider of legal services gives me unique insight into the challenges and opportunities each presents.”
NuCAS has secured seed funding from Crasner Ventures, a prominent venture platform focused on investments in legal, technology, and recruitment sectors. Led by Nick Crasner, a respected legal head-hunter and strategic adviser to many leading law firms, Crasner Ventures provides both financial backing and strategic guidance, offering NuCAS access to valuable industry networks and resources.
Nick Crasner, owner and chief investment officer at Crasner Ventures, said: “I’ve always said the best investments unlock talent and I have been so impressed with Lucy and Richard, since the start of our discussions. They have already developed a winning formula in their previous partnership, but I believe that they’re now at the forefront of an evolving industry and have built something that really adds value in ways that many of its peers don’t. I’m excited to see the positive impact of NuCAS in the market, delighted to be part of what will be a market leader in years to come, and I look forward to the journey we are about to embark upon.”