Refuse to pay travel-related costs if a distant firm wants to compete with good local firms

“When a new firm without local offices wants to do work for me, and I believe that there is a good fit, I ask that they internalize all costs and attorney time associated with travel as a condition of being retained. In other words, I get their agreement to treat them as if they are local counsel with local offices so I get the benefit of the same” (See my post of May 7, 2008: travel policies for outside counsel with 7 references.).

This tough-minded position is among the 75 cost-cutting ideas in the ACC Docket, Vol. 27, March 2009 at 45, and I think it has merit. The policy allows more firms to compete on an equal footing for your business.