In 2013, 3M wanted to reduce the number of law firms it had on tap. The company's first goal, recalls general counsel Ivan Fong, was to reduce 3M's spending on outside counsel. Indeed, a recent Thomson Reuters survey of more than 200 legal departments found about 89% said holding down outside counsel costs was one of their highest priorities for 2021. Some inside counsel are dedicating more personnel to reviewing outside counsel agreements.

But 3M wanted to go further, and took a different approach. A smaller network of law firms would foster a stronger connection between in-house counsel and the individuals, or relationship partners, who work on 3M matters at the company's select outside law firms. The company began a program it called its preferred counsel network, or PCN.