#document-drafting

#document-drafting

For the first time in three years, more law firms are planning to expand their office footprint, rather than contract, according to a new report from commercial real estate brokerage CBRE.

More than 80% of purchase transactions require reviewing at least 11 documents, while 21% involve reviewing more than 50 records tied to a property's ownership history.

Legal tech is entering its consolidation era. In recent years, investors have poured billions of dollars into startups trying to win over law firms as customers. Firms are now coming out of those software pressure tests and are beginning to choose long-term vendors. Not all of the tools will survive the transition, and some are looking for buyers with distribution and balance sheets strong enough to carry them.

The technology at issue is a subcutaneous cosmetic penile implant, a silicone sleeve placed between the skin and 'Buck's fascia' to enhance girth and length.

I'm incredibly proud of the firm and what we've accomplished in the last year. We had certainly, the year before, a historic year financially, and this year was also historic in being one of our best financial years in history.

Costa's then-manager told him that ServiceNow would not pay this commission because the Sales Compensation Department had concluded that Costa had 'overachieved to a degree that was outside normal' in relation to his sales quota. In other words, ServiceNow believed Costa had made too much money, notwithstanding that his commission was only a small percentage of the revenue recognized and received by ServiceNow.

Leading legal departments are shifting from reactive negotiation to proactive pricing design, setting guardrails before rates are proposed rather than responding after the fact. This approach enables departments to establish parameters and expectations upfront, fundamentally changing the negotiation dynamic and improving outcomes.

From law firms to in-house legal teams, the rules of value are being rewritten. The question is: Who's ready to lead the change? In the first episode of 2026 for the UpLevel View podcast, Stephanie Corey and Ken Callander sit down with Rita Gunther McGrath, Columbia Business School professor and Wall Street Journal columnist, to talk about how AI is forcing professional services to price outcomes instead of hours.

With so many options out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and confused about where to begin. To help you make sense of it all, "Adventures in Legal Tech" welcomed Jess Birkin, a solo attorney who gets a heck of a lot done in her unique practice niche by leveraging AI and business planning. Goals Versus Themes It's been a decade of upheaval. For lawyers, this reality complicates setting specific goals, because they are likely to be upended by outside events.

The conversation was not about shortcuts or hype. It was about how thoughtful use of technology, strong decision making, and having the right support system can dramatically change what is possible for lawyers who want more control over their careers. Matthew's experience moving from Biglaw environments into solo practice offers a grounded perspective on how AI, education, and community now level the playing field for small firms.