What does success look like? Sandra Leung, the general counsel at Bristol-Myers Squibb, says it’s been far easier to broach this often-delicate topic with outside counsel since her law department adopted a preferred-provider program.

Leung adopted Law Partners for Productivity — or "LP2" — in 2009, and by 2012 it had developed "a great rhythm and pace," she says. The legal team has developed closer working relationships with outside lawyers and is winning kudos for management and people skills.