Controlling litigation cost is among the most vexing problems general counsel face. A combination of soaring hourly rates, inefficient outside counsel and ineffective case oversight can send a law department's budget out the window.

For decades now, companies have tried to meet the challenge by bringing the litigation function in-house, only to find that the sword cuts both ways. Substantial overhead, reduced flexibility and, in the worst scenario, losing cases can make the cost-saving measure more costly than anticipated.

So what's a general counsel to do when no matter which end of the rainbow you chase, you never get closer to the pot of gold?