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CCCA_V7No3_Dept-LegalMkt-FIN_CCCA_V6No4 13-09-23 2:56 PM Page 13 Legal marketplace little regard or relation to client value, corporate counsel today that would have counsel has never been fuller. What will available advances in technology/efficien- been unheard of even a few years ago. separate great general counsel leaders cies or broader economic realities? These include leaner firms comprised pri- from the rest will be the ability to contin- The link between corporate counsel marily of corporate counsel, on-shore and ue to drive change by seeking to contin- and the groundswell in the legal services off-shore legal process outsourcers (the uously and strategically optimize the mix industry should be clear. The former want market for which has grown by an average of service, solution and technology change, and as time progresses, they need of 32 per cent in the last three years), options available. In the new era of legal change sooner and in more substantive much simplified and often low-cost tech- services, clients, executives and boards are terms in order to succeed and keep their nology and managed service solutions, and relying on nothing less. positions and prestige. The latter, which is document/template production offerings. being aided by forward-looking projects Outside the country, more established Joe Milstone is like the CBA’s Legal Futures Initiative, is firms are appreciating the importance and co-founder of looking to foster and highlight change permanency of these sources of innova- Cognition LLP, an that exists for the taking and has been tion and are partnering up to deliver more innovative alterna- successfully proven out already. holistic and practical offerings. tive law firm that The good news is that there are indeed Legal innovation has arrived, not only provides corporate several innovative service alternatives and abroad, where we tend to focus, but in counsel services to product solutions available to Canadian Canada too. The toolbox for corporate businesses and legal departments. AUTOMNE 2013 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 13