Compensation & Talent Economics
BD budgets are rising because confidence and anxiety are both high
BTI says 87% of law firms are increasing BD budgets after surveying more than 1,000 law firm leaders and legal marketers.
BY ECONOMICS DESK · MAY 7, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
BTI says 87% of law firms are increasing BD budgets after surveying more than 1,000 law firm leaders and legal marketers. The split between “accelerators” and “anxiety-driven” spenders is useful for legal economics because BD investment is becoming either a growth flywheel or a tax on strategic uncertainty.