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In-house lawyers call the shots

02 October 2019
Issue: 7858 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Profession
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Poor, inflexible billing practices are losing law firms business, in-house lawyers say.

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.’

Issue: 7858 / Categories: Legal News , Legal services , Profession
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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