Current economic conditions mean firms need to be leaner, more efficient machines. Tim Nightingale gets GCs’ views on how cutbacks affect client service

FTSE 100 companies are telling us they aren’t looking to reduce the number of firms on their panel, but they will be spending less and driving a harder bargain. As work becomes scarce and firms ready their scalpels to slash marketing and business development (BD) budgets, the key is to cut in a way that will help the patient recover more quickly, not threaten recovery.