Results of a fourth quarter 2009 survey of 408 public and private companies found litigation is still on the rise. Some 83% of attorneys responded that their companies were sued in 2009, up from 79% in 2008. In addition, 42% of those surveyed expect to see litigation increasing in 2010. Houston-based Greenwood Associates conducted the survey on behalf of Fulbright and Jaworski LLP.
These results should come as no surprise. The current economic climate exacerbates companies’ struggles with controlling legal costs, as increased regulation, employment issues, bankruptcies and other issues continue to dominate the schedules of GCs.