Matter Management
Coordinating a Legal Matter Across Multiple Firms or Jurisdictions
A matter-management framework for scope, lead counsel, local counsel, workstreams, decisions, documents and cost control.
General information only. This guide does not provide legal advice and does not replace advice from appropriately licensed counsel for the applicable jurisdiction and matter.
Define the coordination model
Clarify whether one firm leads the matter, whether the client coordinates directly, or whether a separate platform or coordinator manages workstreams while legal advice remains with the engaged counsel.
Create one matter map
List each jurisdiction, practice area, question, owner, dependency, due date and required deliverable in one common structure.
Control duplication
Define which analysis can be shared and which must be jurisdiction-specific. Without this distinction, several firms may repeat background work at significant cost.
Keep legal advice attributable
Coordination should never obscure which lawyer or firm is responsible for the legal advice, opinion, filing or representation in each jurisdiction.
Need counsel for a real matter?
Start with the objective, practice area, industry and jurisdiction. LEXGATEWAY can structure the matter and determine whether an appropriate independent-counsel pathway is available.