2023 already was shaping up to be a pressure-cooker for legal departments. Events in recent days have turned up that pressure a few notches.

For starters, let’s look at studies and surveys, which show CEOs are almost positive the economy will slide into a recession in the next 12 months. I reported on a survey of global CEOs that placed the likelihood at 86%. The Conference Board, meanwhile, placed the likelihood of a U.S. recession in that span at 96%.