CSG Law Alert: Outside Counsel Guidelines May Supersede Your Firm's Engagement Letter

Have you brought in a large corporate client such as a bank or a public company? If so, have they sent you outside counsel guidelines?  Many large companies have their own guidelines that govern the attorney-client relationship as well as administrative and billing issues.  These guidelines must be reviewed very carefully; they may require electronic billing; they may indicate that you may not bill for certain tasks.  Also, the guidelines may set forth that for conflict purposes you not only represent a specific corporation but all of its subsidiaries and affiliates; some even state that you may not represent a business competitor.  As this is the contract that governs the attorney-client relationship you should not just sign it, but review it very carefully.