The Issue:
We were asked to rein in exploding outside counsel spending.

The Aegis Approach:

• Audited historical invoices to identify unacceptable billing practices and shared results and examples with key firms.
• Benchmarked firms performing similar work to identify lowest cost producers.
• Interviewed and surveyed law department employees to gather qualitative law firm data.
• Revised billing guidelines to reflect commonly acceptable practices.
• Requested proposals to standardize pricing for non-law firm services, required direct billing and declined reimbursement for non-preferred vendors.
• Trained professionals to perform aggressive first level bill review to identify and document non-compliance.
• Implemented electronic invoicing and provided in-depth training attorneys, support staff and administrators.
• Audited attorney bill review of subjective data including, but not limited to: number of attendees at meetings and conference calls, time for routine motions and agreements and excessive hours billed.
• Required matter budgeting to improve transparency and accountability.
• Developed financial related metrics for attorneys' performance management scorecard.
• Tracked and reported savings quarterly to General Counsel and executive peers.

The Issue:
We were challenged to integrate the law departments of two multi-billion dollar companies and secure $70+ million in savings.

The Aegis Approach:

• Implemented a project governance structure to increase transparency and accountability.
• Crafted a short term and long term vision with supporting strategies to help define the future combined law department.
• Developed teams focused on litigation, business practice areas and department operations integration.
• Identified existing best practices from each law department to incorporate into the consolidated function.
• Performed detailed financial analysis and modeling in order to identify and support synergy opportunities.
• Vetted opportunities and presented to executive management committee.
• Developed implementation plans, metrics and cost saving tracking mechanisms to ensure follow through.
• Mapped, migrated and tested data to ensure that there was a single system of record for case management, electronic invoicing and reporting.
• Implemented a myriad of cost savings initiatives including: tighter billing guidelines, shifting work to lower cost firms, implementing matter budgeting / alternative fee arrangements, streamlining procedures through templates and automation, outsourcing and training.
• Bridged cultures through extensive communication and development of a website as a reference tool.

Results:
- Identified in excess of $70M in savings and achieved over $90M in three years
- Migrated all new law firms to new retainer and billing guidelines within three months of close
- Implemented a single platform to manage workload and track expenses

The Issue:
We were asked to rein in exploding outside counsel spending.

The Aegis Approach:

• Audited historical invoices to identify unacceptable billing practices and shared results and examples with key firms.
• Benchmarked firms performing similar work to identify lowest cost producers.
• Interviewed and surveyed law department employees to gather qualitative law firm data.
• Revised billing guidelines to reflect commonly acceptable practices.
• Requested proposals to standardize pricing for non-law firm services, required direct billing and declined reimbursement for non-preferred vendors.
• Trained professionals to perform aggressive first level bill review to identify and document non-compliance.
• Implemented electronic invoicing and provided in-depth training attorneys, support staff and administrators.
• Audited attorney bill review of subjective data including, but not limited to: number of attendees at meetings and conference calls, time for routine motions and agreements and excessive hours billed.
• Required matter budgeting to improve transparency and accountability.
• Developed financial related metrics for attorneys' performance management scorecard.
• Tracked and reported savings quarterly to General Counsel and executive peers.