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.’
