The top 50 law firms are winning more IP litigation work than their smaller counterparts as a result of changing their approach to staffing and billing rates. According to information from CounselLink Enterprise Management, general counsel are reversing the trend towards using smaller law firms for IP litigation, a marketplace estimated to be valued at $3 billion in the US. The report found that the top 50 have increased their IP litigation market share from 36 percent in 2011 to 61 percent by the end of last year. Furthermore, they were winning the business at the expense of firms with smaller headcounts. 

Second-tier firms

Last year, the ELM Trends Report found that corporate legal departments were selecting second-tier firms to carry out high value M&A work, characterised by billings at over $1 million. Source: InsideCounsel.com