Corporate counsel want to give legal advice that allows the company to flourish without roadblocks. One of the most formidable roadblocks is litigation. Any business dispute that could result in litigation can interrupt or end normal business transactions and relationships, and can divert the allocation of corporate resources to activities that do not move the business forward, which would adversely impact the company's bottom line.

Managing corporate litigation is one of the most important functions that corporate counsel perform. Often corporate counsel's duty is to end disputes, not elongate them. The best way to avoid lengthening a dispute is not to allow it to migrate into litigation.