Knowledge

10 Top Tips to Manage Outside Counsel

I have set up a top 10 list describing what in-house legal counsel who manage outside counsel well actually do:

1. They involve outside counsel early in projects and transactions;
2. They do not call “urgent” what is not;
3. They give clear objectives, directions, and instructions to outside counsel;
4. They have face-to-face meetings with outside counsel on a regular basis;
5. They respond to emails and phone calls from outside counsel and attend meetings with outside counsel as planned;
6. They make clear arrangements on budgets with outside counsel and monitor costs accordingly;
7. They inform outside counsel about the outcome of the project;
8. They express recognition and gratitude to outside cousnel when the job was properly done.
9. They express their griefs and make explicit requests as soon as outside counsel do not meet their expectations.
10. They maintain a healthy balance between showing trust and loyalty to outside counsel and challenging them to improve performance and remain competitive.

What would be your list?

Antoine Henry de Frahan | 4 September 2006 |