If an on-going dispute metamorphoses into full-blown litigation, one of the first things that every general counsel will think of will be the potential costs to the company. Winning the case will naturally be paramount, but if the case is complex and labour-intensive, the opportunity to save on costs will be equally welcome.
The discovery process typically accounts for a large tranche of the final bill from external counsel, given its time and labour-intensive nature. Large teams can be put to work on discovery when a big piece of litigation is looming, to make sure no relevant document is left unseen.
