If you can’t beat them, join them—or better yet, get them to join you. The alternative legal service provider Factor announced Thursday that Andrew Ballheimer, a former global managing partner at Allen & Overy, would be joining the new law company’s board of directors as it looks to attract more corporate legal business in a crowded marketplace.

Ballheimer—who spent 35-years in private practice—said that he was interested in joining Factor’s board in part because the company presented a complementary offering to traditional law firm services. He’s hoping to act as a bridge between the new law business and a world of potential law firm partners.