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Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50835
DO YOU FEEL THAT AN IMPROVING ECONOMIC CLIMATE HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR LEGAL SPEND? No 74.5% HAVE YOU SECONDED LAWYERS FROM YOUR LAW FIRMS? these days and an after action report is a critical component of that. It's potentially a very powerful tool." When it comes to alternative fee arrangements, Dhawan of Hydro One Networks suggests progress is being made. "I think the hourly rate wall has been knocked down. It may still be standard in some cases but it's clearly fair game to question it — especially now with global companies they can shop for legal advice across borders. We've seen the rise of offshoring of legal services but there's also near shoring and other options we've seen as a result of change in technology. "We're not looking for law firms not to make money but we're looking to make sure they're delivering value for money," says Dhawan. "We want to see a healthy legal industry because that will ensure good competition." That said, it should be of interest to law firms that more than half of corporate counsel who answered the survey said they plan to review their working or financial arrangements with their top law firms in the next six to nine months. That's of particular interest when you consider that more than 70 per cent of those who answered the survey felt that other firms, or their top firm's nearest competitor, could do most of their work "equally well." However, they don't seem that motivated to make change when you consider just 26.6 per cent said they have replaced one of their top outside legal service providers in the last two years. Aſter more than 45 collective years of excellence in family law at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Gerry Sadvari and Stephen Grant are opening their new practice in January, 2012. They will continue as litigation counsel as well as conducting their mediation/ arbitration (ADR) practice. Gerry and Stephen are both Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers and have been ranked "Highly Recommended" by Lexpert Magazine fiſteen times. Stephen is also a recipient of the Law Society Medal and the editor of the Advocates' Journal. Both have taught and written extensively on family law and have acted as counsel in many leading family law cases. The entire team at McCarthy Tétrault wishes to thank Gerry and Stephen for their years of outstanding service and dedication to our clients and firm. Not only has it been a privilege to work with Gerry and Stephen, it has also been a lot of fun. We wish them well in their new home. Untitled-2 1 www.grantsadvari.com 152 Davenport Road, 2nd 416-238-7899 Gerry Sadvari Floor, Toronto, ON M5R 1J2 gsadvari@grantsadvari.com Stephen Grant sgrant@grantsadvari.com www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com N O VEMBER / D ECEMBER 2011 45 11-10-24 11:55 AM Ye 25.5%s 31.1 YES No, we don't need to 22.2% 46.7% No, but would like to