Corporate Counsel - March 2010 (Sample Issue)

the company spent just $5.1 million on outside counsel, compared to about $10 million in 2007. Total litigation spending, meanwhile, dropped to just $1.9 million, down from $7.8 million in the same period.

Litigation chief Buchman says that a decline in the
number of lawsuits certainly played a major part in those
savings, as Dynegy has now disposed of most of the litiga-
was one of the stars at the annual Texas General Counsel
Forum conference last November, at which Dynegy took
home the award for top in-house department at a large com-
pany, because of the operational efficiencies Blodgett has
achieved.

Last year, dynegy spent just $5.1 miLLion on
outside counseL—haLf of what it spent in 2007.

tion stemming from the early part of the decade.

But the new push for flat fees and discounts has also contributed. As proof, Buchman points to the firm’s average outside counsel rate. In 2007 it was roughly $450 an hour. Last year the average hourly rate was down to $340.

It’s hard to argue with that kind of success. Or with the fact that the legal department makeover Blodgett undertook in 2006 has paid off nicely—and in a remarkably short time frame.

While he isn’t letting success go to his head, Blodgett
Blodgett is quick to share credit with the rest of the
department, especially Young, who he notes has played a
lead role in implementing the changes.

at tract
motivate
reta i n

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