LawBank hosted the General Counsel Roundtable in January
As part of LawBank’s commitment to its members, it welcomed two esteemed in-house attorneys to speak at the first General Counsel Roundtable of the year held on January 22, 2020. A variety of LawBank members attended this event at the CoBo location during the lunchtime hour to learn more about working with in-house legal teams as outside counsel.
The first panelist, Pat Meyers, is a former general counsel attorney at Quizno’s and an owner of Smashburger. He also served as the senior advisor for the Hickenlooper 2020 campaign. The other panelist, Robert Simmons, is a former MolsonCoors in-house attorney and now works as the general counsel at Caliper Foods.
Major takeaways from the roundtable included dispelling the myth that only large law firms can obtain outside counsel positions, a major discussion about how relationship-building is key for securing one of these coveted outside counsel arrangements, and specifics on how to network and “pitch” effectively to in-house counsel.
The Myth of the BigLaw as Outside Counsel
The LawBank panelists answered questions about how they work with outside legal teams. They dispelled the myth that only large law firms are able to secure outside counsel roles, explaining that any law firm with the necessary experience and resources can be considered for a project. Issues for which in-house legal teams may require outside assistance include human resources concerns, litigation, intellectual property, operations, and contract review.
Relationship-building as the Key to Effectively Pitching an In-House Legal Team
Panelists dug deep into how they select outside counsel and what attorneys can do to stand out when pitching to an in-house legal team. Panelists explained that building a relationship is a key component. Rather than focusing solely on the general counsel, outside counsel applicants should get to know the entire legal department. They are looking for a great working relationship with their outside attorneys and his lays the groundwork for a long-term partnership with their corporation.
Another important aspect of relationship-building is the individual attorney’s personality and communication style, invaluable elements when in-house counsel is deciding whether an attorney is a good fit for an outside counsel role. Not only must outside counsel be able to address the specific legal needs of the team, they must mesh well with the department’s work culture. Being upfront and transparent is an especially valuable trait, especially when it comes to billing practices. Still, while budget is a factor in many teams’ decisions, experience is equally important.
Building Rapport within the General Counsel Community
Building on the actionable information given during the previous section, panelists provided attendees with advice on how to meet general counsel and how to build their reputation within their tight-knit community. Attorneys interested in working with general counsel should prioritize networking by attending or presenting at relevant events, reaching out directly to in-house legal teams, and engaging in organic relationship building strategies. Attendees learned that the general counsel community is very close, and building a trustworthy reputation with an inside member can lead to referrals. Attorneys interested in getting into this area of law can respond to RFPs (requests for proposals) and find prospects through the Attorney General’s office as they also outsource legal work.
Creative Strategies for Attracting Outside Counsel Work
The panelists closed out the event by delving into strategies for securing outside counsel work. Diversity is important to many in-house legal teams, and they want outside attorneys to accurately reflect their community. Outside counsel applicants with creative, progressive ideas are likely to garner positive attention in the pitch process. To avoid appearing as a threat to in-house legal teams, law firms can use the term “overflow” to indicate their interest in helping the legal team.
LawBank thanks U.S. Legal Support for providing webcasting services, Thomson Reuters Westlaw for sponsoring lunch, and the panelists for sharing their valuable insights with LawBank members.
You can visit the LawBank website to learn more about available Colorado attorney office space and coworking opportunities for small firms and solo attorneys.
Check out the full roundtable here:
