Each year, the Law Journal takes stock of teams of legal professionals in New Jersey handling the most notable matters. Our Litigation Departments of the Year, recognizing the fine work done by law firms tackling the most notable disputes, and Legal Departments of the Year, which honors in-house counsel for the varied work they do in helping their companies function better, are familiar exercises to us.
However, for the first time in 2016, we have combined these two recognitions in one publication. It’s fitting to do so, because—particularly in today’s legal landscape—in-house lawyers and outside counsel are working more closely than ever. Firms are adjusting how they bill and staff matters; corporate counsel are increasingly looking for business partners, rather than an army of lawyers to throw at problems and hope for the best (one general counsel described the relationship as “creative ways to share risk.”)
