Fractional General Counsel | Attorney (admitted in Australia and the Cayman Islands) | Knowledge Management Specialist | Legal Knowledge Engineer | ESG Analyst | Founder @ Alter Eco
Today’s candid discussion concerning building high value relationships between in-house general counsel and outside counsel with In-House Connect and esteemed panel David Ackert, Catherine Zinn, Mariana Loose, Kris Ashman, Marty Chao and Pia Thompson resulted in some useful takeaways for both sides, echoing some of my own experiences in navigating these relationships: General Counsel Takeaways: - Select the best outside counsel for your needs by staying in touch with who you work with, networking and referrals and focusing on a fair price for value received. Consider all tiers of firms depending on the budget, nature of work and expertise required. - Clear instructions, reasonable timing requests and expectations are key in developing and maintaining relationships with outside counsel. - Engage in open communication with outside counsel to ensure nuances of business needs are understood - this should enhance the quality of work product you receive and more likely to result in relevant legal solutions rather than generic outlines of law and regulations. - A good law firm is a force multiplier to General Counsels and should be utilized and acknowledged as you would any other team member. Outside Counsel Takeaways: - Prepositioning relationships as a foundation for pitches can lead to more effective results and being invited to the table to respond to RFPs. - Don't just offer a standard list of services, but tailor offerings to address specific concerns and issues of the business. - Focus on understanding the culture, training, and working style of the client to align work product with their needs. - Prioritize responsiveness, especially in acknowledging receipt of queries, and clear communication to meet the client's expectations. - Ask for and respect communication preferences early on to enhance the relationship. - Be proactive in reaching out and maintaining connections with the client outside of transactional work, demonstrating a genuine interest in their success. - Offer alternative fee arrangements and tailor services to the specific needs of the client for a more personalized approach. - Ensure focus on supporting general counsel - do not go around general counsel to other business executives or make extra work (eg: review your bills carefully to prevent duplication of work). - Conduct regular check-ins and informal feedback outside of transactional work to maintain the relationship. #inhouselegal #fractionalgc #legalconsulting
