Survey shows in-house counsel getting bigger piece of the pie

The Association of Corporate Counsel has conducted a survey that charts the growth of in-house-legal departments and the reduction in law firm-litigation spending over the past five years. According to the report, we are seeing “The beginnings of a power shift from large law firms to in-house law departments” and the shift “will become more significant over time” if economic conditions do not change. The Association surveyed in-house lawyers from 4,161 companies, mostly in the US, and compared their responses with those given in a 2006 census. The use of outside counsel for tax issues has declined from 30 per cent of matters in 2006 to 20 per cent last year, while mergers and acquisitions work fell from 35 per cent to 28 per cent.

Survey shows in-house counsel getting bigger piece of the pie blogs.wsj.com Wed, Apr 4, 2012