Outside counsel spend is still rising in selected areas
The same Thomson Reuters report says 36% of GCs expect to increase outside counsel spend over the next year, compared with 20% expecting decreases, with regulatory and M&A work remaining high-spend areas.
BY CLIENT INTELLIGENCE DESK · MAY 5, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The same Thomson Reuters report says 36% of GCs expect to increase outside counsel spend over the next year, compared with 20% expecting decreases, with regulatory and M&A work remaining high-spend areas. The opportunity is real, but it is tied to proof of business alignment rather than legacy relationship strength alone.