Fulbright & Jaworski Study

AmLaw: In-House Counsel Brace for More Litigation: "In tough economic times, law firms have always counted on countercyclical practices like bankruptcy and litigation to pull them through. We've heard endless talk about an increase in litigation activity this year, but will it be enough to offset what's expected to be a dramatic downturn in corporate work? If you don't work at one of the handful of firms hired by the government and the financial institutions trying to avert disaster, you are likely hoping--nay, praying--for a monster year in litigation.

A study of litigation trends released today by Fulbright & Jaworski gives reason for cautious optimism. Fulbright surveyed 358 lawyers working in-house at corporations; 251 of them in the U.S. The in-house lawyers reported that for the first six months of this year, new case filings dropped--but few believe that decline will last. Only 8 percent of the lawyers at U.S. corporations predicted a drop in legal disputes involving their company into 2009. Among the in-house counsel with companies of more than $1 billion in revenue, only 3 percent foresaw a drop in litigation next year, while 43 percent predicted a jump in activity"

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