I ran across a terrific post by Sampriti Ganguli of Corporate Executive Board, 9 Efficiency Trends to Watch for in Legal. The author identified the source of the conclusions drawn” As we reflect back on this past year, it’s worth looking back on what CEB has learned in analyzing legal departments’ budgets from over 300 different companies… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Subscribe to Uncategorized RSS FeedDiscounted hourly rates are not alternative fees
Posted in UncategorizedI had to do a bit of catching up on my MCLE, so I watched a program entitled Attorney Alternative Billing Options and Their Ethical Considerations. Apart from the absence of any meaningful discussion of ethical issues, I was stunned by the speaker’s unequivocal statement that “discounted fees are a form of alternative fees.” I… Continue Reading
The Euro issue: a chance to avoid litigation?
Posted in UncategorizedThere has been a great deal of speculation about the collapse of the European common currency, the Euro, should Greece withdraw from the Euro or if Spain’s banking system collapses. It is impossible to know how long or whether the Euro will last. Indeed, given the relative cost to countries like Germany, bailouts are much… Continue Reading
Make v. Buy decisions by clients should worry outside counsel
Posted in UncategorizedThe results of a recent ACC survey are out, and the results should worry outside lawyers. According to a article on the survey from Inside Counsel, the amount of work corporations are referring to outside lawyers is declining, in some cases rather significantly. The results of the survey show: 37% of GCs planned to hire… Continue Reading
Disaggregation pushing demise of BigLaw?
Posted in UncategorizedCorporate Counsel is out with a fascinating article, Bye-Bye Big Firm. The article focuses on disaggregation as a disruptive force in the change cycle. And while this is true, it is only part of the story. The unbundling of services has allowed new entrants into certain markets, particularly in the process and content buckets (see… Continue Reading
Nicole Auerbach now a fellow-elect in the College of Law Practice Management
Posted in UncategorizedMy partner Nicole Auerbach received word last week that she has been elected a fellow in the College of Law Practice Management. Way to go Nicole. A well-deserved honor. Here’s why: The College Law Practice Management was formed in 1994 to honor and recognize distinguished law practice management professionals, to set standards of achievement for… Continue Reading
Can you operate at the speed of an in-house lawyer?
Posted in Client Service, Commentary, UncategorizedMy friend Mark Herrmann of Aon writes for Above The Law, sharing his insights as an inside lawyer. I read his post religiously because I learn a lot. Today, Mark wrote Inside Straight:How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Ignorance about the fact that in his new job, he doesn’t know as much… Continue Reading
Billing when you add no value
Posted in Commentary, Hourly Rates and Alternatives, UncategorizedI just received a bill from my local counsel on a very small case. The bill is less than $200, but I am annoyed. Why? Because I am getting billed (in 3 separate entries) for reviewing an order granting our pro hac vice motion (.1), drafting a letter to me forwarding the order (.2) and… Continue Reading
Valorem grows even more!
Posted in People, Places and Blawgs, UncategorizedOn the heels of announcing that patent litigator Marty Lefevour has joined our numbers, Valorem is happy to announce that Paul McDonald has joined our number, fresh off his stint as Senior Counsel at Kraft (Paul is 6th from the left in this photo). Before his tenure at Kraft, Paul was a senior associate at… Continue Reading
One great client
Posted in Commentary, People, Places and Blawgs, UncategorizedSome clients make you love working for them. They make you want to excel. They bring out the best you have to offer. DSW is one such client, and I just have to share the experience we had yesterday. In December, we won a trial for DSW. It was the company’s first trial–they want to… Continue Reading
New book on customer service
Posted in General, People, Places and Blawgs, UncategorizedComing February 7, Uncommon Service was featured today in the Daily Stat. Here is the write up on the book from the HBR store: Most companies treat service as a low-priority business operation, keeping it out of the spotlight until a customer complains. Then service gets to make a brief appearance – for as long… Continue Reading
Patent Litigator Martin Lefevour joins Valorem Law Group
Posted in General, People, Places and Blawgs, UncategorizedMy partners and I are pleased to announce that patent litigator Marty Lefevour has joined our number (formal bio here). Marty has a wealth of experience, both as an inside lawyer and as a partner at Katten Muchin. The subject matter of the litigation has been quite diverse, including software and internet-based technologies, financial exchange… Continue Reading
Rate increases again–that time of year
Posted in UncategorizedGreat post by Jay Shepherd on “modest” rate increases. You know that any post that begins “If you see lawyers with their arms in slings, it’s probably from too much patting themselves on their backs” is going to be a good post. Jay notes that rates have gone up 10% since 2009 during a massive… Continue Reading
Important words to know for great customer service
Posted in General, UncategorizedIn five words or less, courtesy of Tom Peters. A sample: 4 most important words: “What do you think?” (Dave Wheeler @ tompeters.com: “Most important 4 words in organization”) 4 most important words: “How can I help?” (Boss as CHRO/Chief Hurdle Removal Officer) 2 most important words: “Thank you!” (Appreciation/Recognition) 2 most important words: “All… Continue Reading