header-logo header-logo

22 November 2023
Issue: 8050 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence , Profession
printer mail-detail

In-house lawyers turn to smaller firms & AI

One third of in-house legal teams aim to use artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce costs, research has found

Moreover, 39% will shift work from big firms to smaller firms; and 66% will bring work in-house (compared to 59% last year), according to a survey by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) in partnership with litigation and investigation platform Everlaw.

The report, The state of collaboration in corporate legal departments, published last week, also found only 42% of in-house lawyers happy with cost transparency and 38% with cost predictability. One quarter intend to cut the number of law firms they work with next year.

Respondents also highlighted obstacles they face when collaborating with other departments. ‘Legal teams continue to be seen as roadblocks on projects and nearly half reported they are consulted too late in strategic corporate decisions,’ said Blake Garcia, the ACC’s senior director of business intelligence. ‘Technology adoption is likely the most efficient way teams can improve communications with every corner of the organisation.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
back-to-top-scroll