An interesting story from IP Law & Business describes an evaluation of outside law firms underway at Microsoft.
Designating certain law firms as “preferred providers” is not news. I think this is:
Firms would have to renegotiate their billing structure, as well as provide detailed data on diversity and staffing, according to new uniform guidelines established by Microsoft. The company also imposed a rate freeze until the program is finalized sometime toward the end of the year. Details of the arrangements are confidential, said Thomas Burt, Microsoft’s head of litigation.
Renegotiate billing structure?
Rate freeze?
When a company sitting on over $30 billion in cash starts to take the axe to legal spending, what is the lesson for the rest of corporate America?