In-House Counsel

All I Want For Christmas Is... A Reduced Bill

Clients know they're paying for Biglaw's opulent holiday parties, so maybe don't post so many pictures on social media as a reminder.

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‘Tis that time of year again. The season of Biglaw holiday parties and client gifts are amongst us.

Long known as a night to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and as an opportunity for the managing partner to articulate a vision for the future, holiday parties also are an opportunity to earn a client’s scorn.

No, I’m not talking about sending an ill-advised drunken text to a client or futile attempts at mixing business and pleasure with a colleague. Those are always inappropriate, unprofessional, and should be avoided.

Rather, I’m talking about the sheer lavishness of some of the parties and the penchant for some within a firm’s employ to post about them on social media.

Lest you think me a Scrooge, I have no problem with law firms taking a night off to enjoy the holiday season. It builds kinship and provides a small ray of light into the otherwise gloomy world of billable hours.

I do, however, take issue with being subject to a barrage of photos on social media depicting ice sculptures of Biglaw logos or a near infinite amount of top shelf liquor all hosted at some marquee location.

And by no means am I a social media troll. During my years in practice, I have come to realize that no form of social media is immune from the holiday party post. I can even recall coming across a photo of a near black tie holiday affair that was posted on LinkedIn of all places.

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Again, I must state I am no Grinch. In no way do I begrudge the law firms for hosting the parties, nor do I judge those attorneys who partake in the festivities. Rather, I would simply ask as someone who has signed off on what I sometimes think to be rather exorbitant bill, please be mindful as you partake in the annual holiday party.

Yes, I know deep down the checks I send each month may have helped contribute to a profitable year, but it is one thing to know it, and another thing to see it in photographs.

In addition to avoiding holiday party gloating, I would humbly suggest one be mindful of client gifts as well.

While it may seem counterintuitive to think that my team and I do not enjoy the three-foot-tall gift basket filled with rare chocolate from Belgium, you would be crazy not to think I didn’t calculate the value of the present in terms of the billed hours I have paid out in the past year.

Sending your client something around the holidays is a nice touch. A card, a thoughtful note of appreciation, even a donation in the client’s honor to charity are all thoughtful and well received. But please resist the urge to splurge. After all, I know who is really paying for that gift to begin with.

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So this holiday season, enjoy yourself. You have worked hard and you deserve a night or two off. And take a moment to acknowledge your loyal clients through some of act, card, or note.

But be forewarned, continue with your displays of opulence, and just as the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come predicts, and you just may end up alone, and without clients.

Stephen R. Williams is in-house counsel with a multi-facility hospital network in the Midwest. His column focuses on a little talked about area of the in-house life, management. You can reach Stephen at stephenwilliamsjd@gmail.com.

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