Corporate legal spend offers one of the most challenging, but also rewarding, categories for corporate supply management departments. But sophisticated supply management professionals are making inroads into legal departments, finding both success and surprises.
Senior supply management executives recognize that the corporate legal department can represent a rich, untapped opportunity to enhance value and obtain savings. Supply management groups have long eyed this category, noting its high degree of spending and lack of transparency. Despite steep annual increases in the costs of outside counsel, in-house legal groups are traditionally given a pass on corporate sourcing initiatives, and are exempted from collaboration with supply management groups.
This situation has received increased attention in recent years.
Source: Inside Supply Management, http://www.ism.ws