Consulting to a large government agency, I have come to appreciate the Federal Government’s billing arrangement known as the “per diem.” For every major city, the Government sets an amount that it will reimburse each day for meals and incidentals. My life is immensely easier and less full of receipts and records.
General counsel would do well to consider a per diem for their outside lawyers to cover all meals, such as $65, and no need for receipts (See my post of Dec. 1, 2006: disbursements of law firms with 7 references.). In terms of aggravation reduced, petty processes eliminated, paper saved, and accounting eased, the idea has much merit.