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1 Corporate Counsel Seminar Alternate Billing Practices: Thinking Outside of the.10 Increments November 10, 2010 Miami, Florida
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2 Moderator & Panelists Moderator Richard Montes de Oca, Esq. Associate Vice President and Assistant General Counsel Global Compliance & Ethics Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Panelists Joseph Nuñez, Esq. Senior Group Counsel Target Luis Consuegra, Esq. Contract Attorney Chevron Products Company Mario D. Carballo, Esq. Assistant General Counsel LNR Partners, LLC Stephanie Chin, Esq. Senior Associate General Counsel Section Head Tort Litigation Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Moderator & Panelists CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010
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3 Economic crisis has forced corporate legal departments to cut costs Despite economic conditions, law firms continue to increase rates South Florida law firm rates at $785 p/hour; NY rates at $1,000 p/hour Corporate counsel placing increased focus on value vs. hours Alternate billing is improving efficiency and cost effectiveness Many law firms remain unwilling to “play ball” or put “skin in the game” Alternatives to traditional law firms are becoming increasingly attractive Source: POSTLEWAITE, SUSAN: “Riding A Wave Of Misfortune” at dailybusinessreview.com Introduction CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010
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4 Alternate Billing Practices CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 Alternate Billing Practices “Waterfall” Discounts Hybrid Fees Discounts Based on No. of Matters & Total Spend Flat Fees Discounted Hourly Fees Blended Rates
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5 Discounted Hourly Fees Description Across-the-board reduction in the standard hourly fees Percentage reduction on all bills Usually, 5% to 15% discount Types of Matters International Work (e.g. Chevron) Judicial Foreclosures (e.g. LNR) Personal Injury (e.g. RCL) Discounted Hourly Fees Incentive to employ firm Reward clients with larger billings, number of matters Advance efficiencies of practice Drive business Precedent-setting concerns Administrative concerns Managing expectations Risk to “standard” billing rates CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 PROSCONS
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6 Blended Rates Description Attorneys’ time is billed equally, regardless of seniority Require close management of attorneys to ensure oversight Approx. $350 per hour (e.g. partners $500; associates $275) Types of Matters Tort Litigation (e.g. Wal-Mart) Real Estate Litigation (e.g. LNR) Blended Rates Concerns about quality of work Administrative concerns Risk to “standard” billing rates Encourage more efficient staffing and lower rates Promote simpler record-keeping and billing by outside counsel Simplifies bill review and budgeting CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 PROSCONS
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7 “Waterfall” Discounts Description Stepped discounts – the percentage of discounts increases as the amount of money billed on the matters increases (e.g. 5% discount on first $100k, 10% on next $200k, 15% on anything over $300k) Types of Matters Real Estate Transactions (e.g. Target) Commercial Litigation “Waterfall” Discounts Greater administrative concerns Managing expectations Apportionment by client across different matters Risk to “standard” billing rates Greater incentives to employ firm Reward clients with larger billings, number of matters Great incentive for client to pool legal resources in one firm Drive business CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 PROS CONS
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8 Discount Based on Number of Matters Description Discount of 5% if more than X number of matters Discount Based on Total Spend Description Discount of 5% upon $100K in billings Types of Matters Workouts and Foreclosures (e.g. LNR) Discounts Based on No. of Matters & Total Spend Greater incentives than regular discounts Reward clients with larger volume of matters and billings Drive business Advance efficiencies Administrative concerns Apportionment by client across different matters Risk of inconsequential file openings CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 PROS CONS
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9 Flat Fees Description Specific services for a set price during the course of a specified period Ceiling on what the client pays the law firm for specific services Straight (e.g. $5k for retail lease negotiation) or graduated (e.g. $5k for first 5, $4k thereafter) Types of Matters Labor and employment (e.g. Wal-Mart; RCL) Corporate Secretarial Services (e.g. RCL) Uncontested Non-Judicial Foreclosures (e.g. LNR) Real Estate Closings (e.g. Banks and Financial Services) Real Estate Files Reviews (e.g. Target) Flat Fees Concerns about quality of work Managing expectations within firm Careful analysis on an ongoing basis Drive business Advance efficiencies Advance expertise/SME proposition Easing of administrative concerns Predictability CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 PROSCONS
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10 Hybrid Fees Description Combination of a discounted hourly rate and contingency fee arrangement Types of Matters Commercial Litigation Class Action Litigation Anti-trust Intellectual Property Hybrid Fees Easy to negotiate and administer Client’s control of litigation expenses Incentives to both the firm and the client CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010 Concerns about quality of work Managing expectations within firm Careful analysis on an ongoing basis PROS CONS
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11 DON’T send inaccurate bills or nickel and dime (e.g. bills for.10 hours) DON’T automatically increase bills (e.g. focus on merit, expertise and inflation) DON’T be afraid to be creative (e.g. reverse auctions; travel time, contract attorneys) DO make billing statements, relationships and discussions easy DO promote diversity within the law firm DO consider using technology (e.g. Serengeti) DO’S & DON’TS CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010
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12 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS CABA Corporate Counsel Seminar November 10, 2010
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13 Corporate Counsel Seminar Alternate Billing Practices: Thinking Outside of the.10 Increments November 10, 2010 Miami, Florida
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