Peter Limbert, general counsel at Fulham FC confirms that ‘lack of clarity on billing’ is a barrier, while David Delman, executive vice president, Samsung Engineering, refers to ‘overly optimistic or overly pessimistic fee proposals’. Both lawyers are quoted in MD Communications White Paper, ‘Demanding answers’, published last week at the International Bar Association’s annual conference, held in Seoul, South Korea.
Other characteristics likely to lose a tender are private practice ‘arrogance’ and poor commercial sense. Moreover, in-house legal departments are starting to develop their own legal tech solutions, rather than rely on tech vendors and law firms, and often want firms to match and adopt their own systems and processes.
General counsel interviewed for the research also highlight their interest in diversity, equality and mental wellbeing―areas on which they expect firms to have strong track records.
Writing in the foreword, Stephen Denyer, former partner at Allen & Overy, says: ‘Increasingly, in-house are in the driving seat.’
