Any suggestions on how to cut down on outside counsel spend? Inhouse lawyers handling litigation, what do you keep in house vs farm out to OC? Looking for areas where we can handle more work ourselves rather than calling up a law firm partner for $$$.

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The key here is to really limit what outside counsel does and doesn’t do. I’m very much concerned with that and I demand updates very frequently on any case I send to outside counsel. For example, in an area where we don’t have expertise, they always ask me if x deposition to attend is necessary, etc. I hate, hate micromanaging, but you kind of have to do it when outside counsel is necessary. Obviously, this depends on the matter, but I get weekly reports on what they’re doing and how much it costs. Also, given the issue, I make sure the main partners delegate to competent junior partners and associates. In fact, I prefer dealing with associates as they are very eager and cost less. When I was in big law, a lot of GC’s would call me directly when I was younger. Maybe that’s where I got it from.

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Wrongful death case, damages could be $5+ million but plaintiff’s bar will sniff out an early settlement and file more suits against your client. Strong defenses and other defendants at fault.

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How much do you spent on outside counsel typically

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What flat fee arrangements do you use ?

My company doesn't have any active litigation right now but we engage outside counsels for complicated employment and privacy matters. Being very precise with the description of work, setting clear expectations for the final product really helps us. And please make sure you are not paying your outside counsels for "educating" themselves.

Small-ish private company (600 employees in 3 countries), life science/pharma

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