Let’s break the silence about breaking the fast. Hard as it may be to stomach, somehow, despite all my efforts and 5,350 posts, I skipped breakfast. My gratitude, therefore, extends across the Atlantic to the Iberian Lawyer, Jan./Feb. 2010 at 25. It sets before us the commonsense idea that early…
One question on a survey of general counsel asked them to rate 19 factors that might bear on their hiring decision for major matters. Several of the factors struck me as novel, if not bizarre. “Market share of the firm in similar matters.” How would anyone in a legal department…
At a recent conference of the Iberian Lawyer’s In-House Club, “Some in-house lawyers said they meet regularly with their external lawyers to ask if the work is profitable for them, although some other lawyers said this was not appropriate.” I should say not! The idea of checking on whether your…
Having just conducted a conference call for numerous law firms invited to respond to a lengthy Request for Proposal, I ruminated on why there were only a handful of questions. Some possible reasons came to mind, which I have listed somewhat in declining order of their likelihood as explanations. With…
The ubiquitous Tom Sager, general counsel of DuPont, told an Ark conference that he looks for three key attributes in his company’s primary law firms. He looks for “closeness, closure, and collaboration.” Actually, his first term was “loyalty,” but I like the memorability of “Three C’s”. Closeness (loyalty) means to…
At a conference organized by Ark, an experienced Chief Operating Officer of a major legal department offered some ideas on how many law firms a lawyer can manage. One of his lawyers manages seven firms, “which I think is too many,” he said. More commonly in his department, the in-house…
Almost two years ago, a metapost pulled together what I had written on these pages about networks of law firms (See my post of Feb. 21, 2008 #2: law firm networks with 7 references.). Those posts included 18 networks (aka associations): AM LF Association, ASLA: The Association of Great Law…
Almost two years ago, a metapost pulled together what I had written on these pages about networks of law firms (See my post of Feb. 21, 2008 #2: law firm networks with 7 references.). Those posts included 18 networks (aka associations): AM LF Association, ASLA: The Association of Great Law…
As equities analysts have a harder time evaluating the stock of conglomerates, so law departments may have a harder time evaluating law firms that have provided them a range of legal services. This idea was expressed at an Ark conference in these words: “It’s harder to evaluate a firm that…
Yes, hourly billing rates near $1,000 draw the ire of in-house lawyers. But at an Ark conference this week, a general counsel panel made the point that general counsel often wish they could get more time from the very same, expensive partner. It is that lawyer’s judgment and ability to…