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Eleven reasons why a law department might transfer a pending matter to a different firm

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Few in-house managers blithely transfer matters underway from one law firm to another, but it happens – or it ought to happen (See my post of Sept. 12, 2008: transfer matters to new counsel with 8 references.). Under various circumstances, including these eleven, switching firms midstream makes sense.

  1. Poor service (See my post of Feb. 19, 2007: fire law firms with 8 references and my article.).
  2. Unacceptable cost (See post of July 17, 2009: once you “learn the firm’s strategy”.).
  3. Loss of a key lawyer, who leaves the first firm
  4. Major change in the matter that requires difference skills or resources, such as appeal or venue that urge a change
  5. Conflict of interest (See my post of April 20, 2008: conflicts of interest with 24 references.).
  6. Convergence project (See my post of Dec. 27, 2008: additional posts on convergence with 11 references.).
  7. Change of management at law department and preference of new management for another partner or firm
  8. Merger of the law firm with another firm (See my post of May 3, 2006: mergers of law firms with 9 references.) and consequent changes in practices
  9. Reluctance of the firm to continue, such as when a firm drops you as a client
  10. Insurance carrier insists on change
  11. Fundamental disagreement over strategy, perhaps if the firm’s performance bonus depended on the earlier strategy (See my post of Feb. 26, 2008: bonuses can unravel if client changes strategy.).