Two points on Procurement: they stay away if your costs are under control but they can help on ancillary services

Asked about Procurement’s involvement with his legal department, a speaker at an Ark Conference last week recalled very little interaction or pressure for Procurement to step in. “They think we have a good handle on legal spend so they leave us alone.” If your legal team can explain its spend and show command of cost-control measures, the sourcing gurus may leave you alone.

Second, the speaker continued, “Procurement staff helped us competitively bid for the services of six ancillary vendors, not law firms, such as court reporting, e-discovery and duplication.” He spoke well of their ability to prepare RFPs, field calls from proposers and hammer down costs. The mindset and capabilities of purchasing groups fit better with vendors than with law firms.