If your law firm serves you globally, consider multiple regional relationship counsel

Kraft Foods has appointed DLA Piper as its preferred outside counsel. According to Corp. Counsel, Feb. 2010 at 57, the “nonexclusive appointment took effect on January 1, and applies to all international business units.”

Interestingly, DLA Piper set up a total of five relationship partners to cover four regions (the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe; and European Union and Canada). The article does not say that the huge firm designated a first among equals, so the global relationship rests on a five-person group (See my post of July 26, 2008: relationship partners with 8 references.). One can imagine difficulties in such an arrangement, but it also has its plusses.