Welcome to the third expanded version of our Best Legal Departments package. This year’s winners:
- 3M: Keeping Their Cool
Faced with legal challenges, 3M’s lawyers find ways to turn them to the company’s advantage. - AIG: Battling for a Comeback
A law department takes body blows, but refuses to give up. - NetApp: Following the Playbook to a “T”
Change outside firm relationship? Check. Thwart patent trolls? Check. Be a change agent? Definitely. - The Related Group: Hey, Bulldog
Don’t pick a fight with The Related Group unless you’re in it to win it; the company has racked up an amazing litigation record.
In an effort to honor the diversity of corporate (and nonprofit) departments, we opened up the process and the results. Entrants now submit a short form, with basic demographic information, plus an essay giving their pitch. We read every one of these—which are now a multiple of what we used to receive—and choose around a dozen finalists. Of these finalists, we choose four top winners. But make no mistake: All of the finalists show a level of excellence.