A strong battery can mean the difference between winning or losing a baseball game, and not because it keeps the lights on. In baseball, a battery refers to the two players who touch the ball most often and have the most direct impact on the flow of the game: the pitcher and the catcher. While each has his defined role, each also serves as the other’s battery mate. The catcher acts as the field marshal; he surveys the field and calls the game in accordance with what he sees. The pitcher has a unique skill set, but before employing it, he confers with the catcher to determine which pitch to throw.
The relationship between in-house and outside counsel is, in many ways, analogous to the battery in baseball. The in-house counsel acts as the catcher: he brings to the relationship an understanding of the entire business and sees, in a way outside counsel never can, exactly how the legal issue at hand impacts the client’s business strategy. And while outside counsel has a unique skill set, before she throws any “pitches” (e.g., files a motion, notices a deposition), she confers with in-house counsel. So while outside counsel and in-house counsel each serve distinct roles, like the best batteries in baseball, they work best when they work in tandem.
