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The BTI Practice Outlook 2026

The Opportunity-Rich Market

We’re witnessing a rare phenomenon. Clients face an unprecedented collision of:

  • Business urgency
  • Legal strategies directly impacting and enabling client growth strategies
  • Regulatory upheaval
  • Investor pressure
  • Complex litigation
  • Uncharted M&A

And they’re turning to outside counsel for the speed, foresight and strategic muscle they need to move fast and get it right.

61% of clients are increasing their outside counsel spend to record highs. This isn’t a trend – it’s a signal.

2026 will be the most opportunity-rich and competitive legal market in more than a decade.

BTI Practice Outlook 2026 is your roadmap: where spending will grow, which practices command premium rates and which industries are set to generate the highest-value opportunities.

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BTI's Practice Spotlights

Spotlights for 16 practices share the most up-to-date practice trends and how you can win the work, with:

Practice Drivers

Current trends and developments impacting the type of opportunities available.

Industry Opportunity Zone

For every major practice segment, BTI analyzes which client industries are expected to have increased needs and spending – and which are declining.

Market Size Trends

BTI has tracked the legal market for the past 24 years. Use this data to understand the potential revenue opportunities available in each practice – and how major changes have impacted your firm’s ability to be profitable.

Business needs driving legal need –
creating large scale opportunities for law firms

Corporate counsel are charging into 2026 with record budgets and rising urgency. High-stakes litigation, regulatory whiplash, and board-level risks are multiplying fast. This report zeroes in on the hottest practices, biggest spending surges, and the business development strategies winning the work.

What's Happening in 2026?

Legal issues fuse with business issues impacting client revenue and growth
Clients see new sources of bet-the-company and high-risk issues – and spending big to defend
Board-level risk is widespread; consuming corporate counsel time and spending
Legal issues bring much higher risk when fused with business decisions – as they are now
Clients with increased budgets making very BIG increases
Clients preparing for more regulatory whiplash
Clients have less time and patience as they face matters with bigger consequences
7 practice areas show the most acute needs

The Single Most Popular (and Useful) Chart in the Legal Spending World

The Legal Spending Hot Spots

Our most popular and powerful chart to help target your business development – and one of the most in demand by law firms. We take our analysis one step further and give you:

  • Spending hot spots – that is the premium rate opportunities – for 18 industries and 15 practices – all in one easy to read matrix
  • All practice leaders and partners can see exactly where clients have the most acute need
  • Actively target clients in the industries with higher needs for access to increased spending and premium billing rates
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Deferred Billing Until January 2026

Order now and we can invoice your firm in January with your authorization. Don’t wait until others are in the market — order today!

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Methodology

BTI Practice Outlook 2026: The Opportunity-Rich Market is based solely on in-depth telephone interviews with leading legal decision makers. This comprehensive analysis trends data from more than 30,000 corporate counsel client interviews conducted over the span of 25 years.

This research is independent and unbiased — no law firm or organization other than BTI sponsors this study.

Each year, BTI reaches out to a strategically designed group of top legal decision makers at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue. We target the decision makers in the industries who spend the most on legal affairs as well as thought leaders and innovative Chief Legal Officers. Our survey also includes Chief Legal Operating Officers and business executives who hire and influence the selection and hiring of law firms.

Participants are granted confidentiality at the individual and organizational level.

Executive Summary

BTI Practice Outlook 2026: The Opportunity-Rich Market is your roadmap to where spending will grow, which practices command premium rates and which industries are set to generate the highest-value opportunities.

This report zeroes in on the hottest practices, biggest spending surges, and the business development strategies winning the work.

For a more in-depth look at the BTI Practice Outlook 2026, download a complimentary copy of the executive summary or reach out to BTI Consulting with any questions.

Flexible Billing Options

Pay for the report today with a credit card. No further payment required. You will receive a paid invoice receipt for your records.

Unlimited Telephone Support

Your copy of BTI Practice Outlook 2026 also includes unlimited telephone support. Call us to discuss any aspect of the market and this report — all included with your purchase.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

If the BTI Practice Outlook 2026 doesn’t meet your highest expectations, we will give you a full refund. No questions asked.

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Choose the option best-suited for your firm. Regardless of billing choice, you will receive your report immediately.

Join the more than 200 law firms relying on the BTI Practice Outlook 2026 as their definitive guide to the legal market.

Pay by Credit Card

Pay for the report today with a credit card.
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No further payment required. You will receive a paid invoice receipt for your records.

Invoice my Firm

BTI will invoice your firm for the report.


Your firm will receive an invoice within 1 week of your order. This invoice is due within 30-days.

Deferred Billing

BTI will invoice your firm In January 2026.


Your firm can pay this invoice within 30 days, or you can settle this invoice with a credit card.

Payment Plan

BTI will invoice your firm in equal installments over a 4-month period.

You can begin the installments upon purchase, or in January 2026, at your option.