Class actions continue to grow in size and complexity.

Clients want firms treating class actions as an enterprise risk instead of an isolated litigation.

Please join me in congratulating the law firms clients point to as the Class Action Powerhouses and Leaders:

The new commercial litigation claims directly impact clients’ business operations and revenue – adding tremendous pressure to corporate counsel to respond quickly.

Please congratulate the Commercial Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders:

More than 64% of companies are increasing their litigation budget with most of the increase going to outside counsel.

The old playbooks are officially obsolete – or limit firms to lower-rate work. The outsized litigation premium goes to the fast, flexible, and fearless counsel.

Please congratulate the Complex Commercial Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders:

Thoughts and expectations speak louder than words.

Clients change their expectations of law firms all the time – and don’t tell them. Corporate counsel are too busy with their own sets of challenges. And few law firms ask.

And this time, it’s about Gen AI – not as a tool, but as a test. A test of who can use it to get better outcomes, faster insights, and smarter answers.

Our new survey of corporate counsel reveals a silent but stark shift in thinking. Here’s what we found:

51.6% of corporate counsel now embrace their law firm’s use of Gen AI – up sharply from 31.2% last year.

Here’s why – things are crazy complex, chaotic, and clients want better ideas:

• Clients want a creative edge as they tackle more business issues, especially in:
  • Litigation
  • Regulatory
  • Labor & employment
  • M&A

• Clients believe Gen AI can spark new thinking by:
  • Acting as a brainstorming tool
  • Time shifting outside counsel time to more strategic issues

• Clients expect law firms to have built safe, smart ways to use Gen AI on client matters

• The novelty has worn off; acceptance has replaced curiosity

Corporate counsel thirst for creative approaches tops all else, rivaled only by risk management. They are starting to think law firms who don’t embrace Gen AI are ignoring a key tool. They expect law firms to manage the risk of using it. This shift marks the moment Gen AI moves from experiment to expectation.

The conversation between law firms and clients has fundamentally changed. This is no longer an innovation initiative – it’s a client development and retention imperative. Clients want to see AI in action.

Inaction on Gen AI is becoming a red flag.

Embrace it. Talk about using it. Deliver more insight. Then – enjoy the rewards of being on the leading edge of the curve.

Labor-only firms are offering tools to predict issues and map out jurisdictional issues and requirements. General Practice firms are leading with industry-specific strategies and avoidance.

Both are winning formulas and the firms able to merge the 2 strategies will stand out most.

Please congratulate the Employment Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders:

Clients are facing a 7-way onslaught of issues in labor & employment.

More of these claims are reaching CEO’s offices because of public scrutiny and business implications.

Please congratulate the Complex Employment Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders:

Companies are racing to introduce new technology-enabled products. This speed is resulting in product failures, unintended consequences, and innovative new product, driving new litigation and damages.

Clients want law firms able to assess risk and develop risk appropriate defense strategies.

Please congratulate the Product Liability Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders:

The number of breaches in 2024 came within 2% of a record setting 2023. But – the breaches in 2024 were 2 to 3 times larger – meaning an unprecedented number of records were breached.

This brings proportionately more litigation and risk in addition to regulatory trouble.

Clients are looking for more from law firms than in the past.

Top legal decision makers point to a select group as Cybersecurity/Data Privacy Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders. Please congratulate:

Few things light a fire under Securities Litigation than volatile securities markets.

Firms winning the work provide clear counsel and very early assessments. The winning firms quickly educate clients as to top risks and exposure. They know what to say to who, and when.

Top legal decision makers point to a select group as Securities and Finance Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders. Please congratulate:

IP litigation continues to grow with both new and familiar issues. Clients are adopting AI in every facet of their business – creating new issues and unintended IP consequences.

Skill in dealing with undefined threats has become a key part of client conversations for the foreseeable future.

Please congratulate the IP Litigation Powerhouses and Leaders: