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Counsel to Counsel Forum Press
Volume 1
Issue 14

A Message From The DirectorGayle Moran, Esq.

Trading Places: A Fresh Look at Managing Inside/Outside Counsel Relationships

In the end, the legal profession is all about relationships, and the relationship between in-house counsel and their outside law firms fuels the economic engine of our industry. Tensions, however, over billing, fee structures, cost predictability, responsiveness and communication are a constant presence, although they can be resolved or reduced with thoughtful attention. Taking the time to align compensation with business goals and financial interests is one way to address these perennial concerns. Focusing on budgeting for multiple potential outcomes is another. It all comes down to law firms and corporate counsel taking the time to see these challenges from each other’s perspective. The participants at our Denver forum did just that, and many of their perspectives on maintaining effective client relationships can be found in this issue of Counsel to Counsel Forum Press. We hope you’ll continue the conversation online.


Articles From Our Co-Host Law Firms

Alternative Fee Structures Require and Create Better Relationships

Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP

A seemingly inevitable tension is often built into the relationship between in-house counsel and law firms, and much of it traces back to a single issue: cost predictability. Nothing sours corporate clients more consistently than unexpected or unexpectedly large legal bills. “The hourly rate doesn’t necessarily encourage outside counsel to prioritize problems. In fact, it provides a financial incentive to see everything as a problem that needs to be fixed—particularly at very high levels of Read more…


Strong Collaboration Helps Navigate the Obstacles All Deals Present

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

Time is of the essence in most acquisitions, but often overlooked in the rush to close a deal on schedule is the pressure on in-house counsel to maximize value regardless of outcome. Understanding transaction cost of a successful closing is one part of the equation, of course, but counsel also have to make sure they don’t overspend in the event the deal breaks down. “The one guarantee of most transactions is that there are no Read more…


I Want To



What Our Participants Say

Best Practices From Our Corporate Counsel

  • A More Focused Approach to Retaining and Managing Litigation Counsel
    by Tina Davis
    Company: tw telecom inc.

    Situation: Law firms often seem to approach litigation in a routine fashion. They file an answer, start discovery, and go through a prescribed set of steps without constructing an overall case strategy or developing an understanding of how the matter fits into the client’s business objectives. A fast settlement may be the best result in some cases. In others, aggressively pursuing a motion for summary judgment makes the most sense. Merely going through a rote Read more…


  • Changing the Guard: Managing a Complete Outside Counsel Transition
    by Jennifer S. Grafton
    Company: Westmoreland Coal Co.

    Situation: When I became general counsel, I inherited my predecessor’s stable of outside firms. It quickly became apparent that a generational shift had taken place. My predecessor clearly saw his outside counsel not only as longtime partners, but as personal friends—a traditional type of relationship common in small legal departments. I come from a different perspective. If anything, I go out of my way to avoid personal friends in business relationships, because I don’t want Read more…



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