“I asked one of my secondees for their opinion on something, expecting a gut feeling, immediate response”, recalls one U.K.-based general counsel. “Instead, they took about three hours, researching their opinion instead”.

This, the general counsel explains, is symptomatic of a wider problem experienced by both in-house leaders and partners. They say corporate law firms are regurgitating clones of uncreative, passive lawyers who are far too risk-averse.