Study: Location, Firm Size Key to Billing Rates

Law Firm

The September issue of The American Lawyer Offers a preview of the Real Rate Report, a study produced by CT - TyMetrix Inc., a company that audits Law Firm bills, and The Corporate Executive Board Co., a company that provides best practices research and analysis. They studied the bills sent to 36 large corporate clients between 2007 and 2009 -- more than $4 billion worth of time sheets submitted by 90,000 people at 3,500 firms. They scrubbed the data to protect the identity of the billers and the billed. Then they got to work crunching the numbers.

A lot of interesting statistics jump out. For starters, legal bills increased at rates that exceeded inflation, in-house Lawyers who spent more at a particular law firm were not getting any discounts, and partner status added nearly $100 on average to a lawyer's rate regardless of experience.

But what most struck us about the report was its portrayal of an industry fraught with inconsistency. The vast majority of lawyers -- 85 percent -- charge clients different rates for the same work. The location of the biller and the size of the biller's firm -- not the biller's experience -- are the variables that most influence how much a client will pay. And though in-house counsel talk a good game about keeping rates in check, they approve almost three-fourths of all timekeepers' rate hikes.

Choosing the right litigation Lawyer for your business

Risks and laws are involved with every type of business, whether the business is new or an established one. To solve the legal matters through trial and discussion is the work of the business Litigation lawyer. Any dispute related to your personal, public or civil matters can be resolved with the help of a litigation lawyer.

Litigation is a term used to describe all legal steps involved in settling a controversy between two or more parties. There are instances when you are not able to protect your rights as a business owner and have to sue for damages. In such situations, it has become very important to choose the right person for your legal affairs.

While selecting the right litigation attorney for your business deals, it is important to consider checking the past records of the person you want to handle your legal matters. The complexity in business deals occurring today makes it really significant to have an expert business attorney.

Business Law

Such lawyers are proficient in analyzing the business and its functions, are capable of handling contract negotiations and preparation, are aware of rules and regulations of the federal and state securities, buy and sell agreements between the parties, can manage business disputes and civil law and have a good understanding of Internet laws, copyrights and trademarks of the business organizations.

Hiring a Business lawyer can be a complex and confusing process as selecting the right candidate for your legal issues involves a lot of discussions and matters related to your business concerns. You should talk with many people and friends before making a choice.

A business litigation lawyer must be aware of your Business Legal Issues and should be honest in their work. It is good to get a recommendation from a close friend, relative or a colleague. But remember, every legal situation varies. Hence, the recommended lawyer might not be suitable for your type of business problems.

Source : ArticleBase