Regardless of the inherent differences in the nature of their respective industries, revenue models, geographic locations, market share or myriad of other characteristics, most businesses will face at least one common legal challenge—the consideration of whether, when and how to hire outside legal counsel. Smaller companies may not have the resources or desire to retain their own in-house counsel. A large conglomerate could be faced with more specialized legal needs than its in-house staff can handle effectively. But, no matter the circumstances, there are some universal best practices that all companies can and should take into consideration when it comes to engaging outside counsel.

Hire the right counsel for the job.

Just like an individual should not seek medical treatment from his or her accountant, companies should understand that not all lawyers can handle all matters, and even lawyers who broadly market themselves as “litigators” or “corporate” lawyers often have specific and specialized niche areas of practice. Determining what your potential outside lawyer does best, and then leveraging it your advantage, is the key to starting off on the right foot in any outside counsel relationship.