MARK CHANDLER IS A ROCK SUPERSTAR.... WELL ANYWAY HE IS TO ME FOR HIS REJECTION OF THE BILLABLE HOUR

I really do try to keep an open mind. But it feels SOOOOOO good to have one's POV supported. Mark Chandler, the General Counsel of Cisco System Inc. was profiled in the August 29,2007 edition of Law.com's In-House Counsel online publication. "Mark has pronounced the death of the billable hour model" said Gordan Davidson, the chairman of Fenwick & West.

But wait there's more.

Mr. Chandler does not expect law firms to lose money. Rather, "it's about driving efficiency so we both make money". And, since Cisco can't routinely send out letters to its customers explaining yet another price increase, Chandler understandably views such law firm letters with skepticism. And the ever increasing costs associated with law firm salaries? "It is up to firms to find ways to drive greater efficiency and productivity, and we haven't seen escalating salaries as adding to either of those"

But wait there's more.

Chandler recognizes one of the great flaws in the billable hour: it focuses on a one to one relationship with a lawyer who bills by the hour rather than the delivery of information services, negotiation or courtroom skills.

But Chandler's most innovative measure may be his posture as a client. Chandler understands the responsibility he has a client. He regularly asks his outside lawyers what he can do to be a better client. That my friends is leadership.



SIGNS THAT THE END MAY BE COMING SOONER THAN WE THINK


This morning, as I was standing in line at the local OFFICE MAX store, I head a Bob Dylan song playing