The new reality of litigation: Higher fees, tighter budgets

June 11, 2026

Philipp Leibfried & Evan Meyerson

Summary

Rising litigation costs are reshaping how corporate legal departments think about disputes. What was once viewed primarily as a question of managing outside counsel spend has instead become a broader strategic consideration of capital allocation, risk management and the economic value of legal claims themselves.

Am Law 100 firms reported a standout year in 2025. According to The American Lawyer’s survey of 2025 data, aggregate gross revenue for Am Law 100 firms rose 13% to $178.95 billion. Revenue per lawyer increased 8.7% to $1.39 million, and profits per equity p…

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The new reality of litigation: Higher fees, tighter budgets

Summary

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