As the year draws to a close, law firms often take extra measures to ensure smooth year-end collections, which can sometimes stir controversy or dissatisfaction among General Counsels (GCs). Elliot Mark, the former General Counsel at crisis-management software firm Everbridge, emphasizes the importance of having a shared understanding between firms and their clients.
“You need to make sure there’s good alignment between what the firm thinks it’s being asked to do and what the in-house counsel is asking them to do,” Mark said.
Achieving this mutual understanding can prevent a variety of potential issues, from disagreements over unforeseen expenses to dissatisfaction with the perceived quality of work. It underpins the management of the ongoing business relationship, reducing the likelihood of contractual disputes and improving work efficiency.
Law firms that successfully navigate these challenges not only foster stronger relationships with their clients, but they also increase their likelihood of securing repeat business, avoiding unnecessary disagreements and bolstering their end-of-year balances. However, failure to align expectations and clarify requirements can lead to pet peeves emerging among GCs, potentially causing long-term rapport damage.
These insights serve as a reminder to law firms to be proactive in setting clear lines of communication with in-house legal teams, thus ensuring smooth year-end collections and ongoing client relations. Click here to further explore the subject.