In the beginning of 2012, Microsoft reduced its stable of approximately 25 law firms handling its global portfolio of real estate transactions in 68 countries to one. The change streamlined the company’s legal operations while enhancing its work product and reducing its costs. It also showcased the philosophical alignment of Microsoft’s procurement professionals with its law department leaders.

“The impression that in-house lawyers are chiefly concerned with quality while procurement is concerned about cost and rates is incorrect,” says Ethan Patashnik, the senior procurement manager for business and operations solutions in the office of general counsel at Microsoft. Patashnik’s role is more influential than ever before as the dynamics of purchasing legal and professional services changes in a down market.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]