The Mad Clientist

Clients’ lists of go-to law firms just got a little longer. This means more law firms will have to fight harder to even be considered for hire for a new matter. As the number of top recommend firms shrinks corporate counsel are considering at least a few new firms to…

More law firms are making changes to improve client service—37 more out of the 650 serving larger clients.   This small but strategic sliver of law firms are changing their business approach and processes to improve client service. Corporate counsel’s smaller law firm rosters are forcing law firms to reconsider…

Those in the vanguard of recommendations have declined, down 12.6%. Client expectations are soaring as corporate counsel push for more change and more business value from their law firms. However, the response from law firms has left corporate counsel reluctant to unequivocally recommend a firm to their peers. The silver…

Streamlining and making corporate counsel's lives easier translates into better value. Unfortunately, clients report a 5% drop in the number of law firms adding value to the client experience. This may be the first sign of legal project management becoming more mainstream. Clients are thinking beyond project tools towards changes…

48 law firms enjoy new nods from corporate counsel for their ability to handle bet-the-company work. Corporate counsel have consolidated their law firm rosters to a select number of firms demonstrating the absolute best understanding of their business and needs. These firms earn the client’s trust and are in position…

The end may not be upon us after all. 90 law firms are earning recognition as best bets to be long-term survivors—an astonishing uptick of 45% from 2014.  In what can only be a sign of confidence and optimism, corporate counsel recognize substantially more law firms as successfully navigating market…

Clients see more tech savvy law firms emerge as corporate counsel identify 9% more law firms using technology as a source of innovation in 2015. Corporate counsel register an increase in the number of firms using technology to the client’s advantage, as law firms are being more aggressive in their…

The premium rate club is declining, with 16% fewer law firms identified as worth the highest of the high rates a client pays. One major factor is the decline of high-rate bet-the-company work. Clients also are using a smaller law firm roster than prior years. This combination of factors results…

More innovation and more innovators. 119 law firms are moving and shaking the legal industry. This translates into roughly 10% more firms (than 2014) earning corporate counsel recognition for engaging in new and different behaviors which other law firms don’t. These new behaviors deliver value and, most importantly, show clients…

Brand drives hiring decisions and access to premium rates. With less than half the market able to identify a single differentiating characteristic of top law firms, it’s no wonder rate pressure and competition are rampant. Your brand can vault you to the short list of legal providers or land you…