NEW YORK CITY – September 12, 2012 – Legal support services consulting firm Mattern & Associates, LLC (matternassoc.com) today announced that it is releasing the results of its 2012 Cost Recovery Survey to the law firms which participated. All participating firms receive detailed, customized web-based reports of peer firm performance sorted by aggregate, firm size and geographic presence in multiple areas of cost recovery.
Conducted over a 90 day period, the 2012 Survey explores traditional, modern, and emerging cost recovery areas. Some of the salient data from the 2012 results reveal that, while law firms are continuing to respond to clients’ requests to control the legal spend, this scrutiny on expenses has impacted soft cost recoveries, including:
- Increased pushback and refusal to pay for certain items by clients
- Downward pressure on rates and net realizations
- Continued preference by clients to reimburse firms for hard costs
Nicholas J. Willmott, Chief Financial Officer of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, one of the 2012 Survey’s participating firms, remarks, “The Mattern & Associates Cost Recovery Survey is the most comprehensive snapshot of cost recovery trends and practices available in the legal field.”
Rob Mattern, President of Mattern & Associates, remarks, “Our firm has been proud to deliver this industry service since its inception in 2004. We’ve continued to refine the process to create the most unbiased, comprehensive, and relevant data source for the participating firms.”
Non-participating firms are invited to receive a copy of the Survey Overview which gives an aggregate view of traditional and modern cost recoveries and realizations. Non-participating firms interested in receiving access to the 2012 Survey Overview should email Deb Thornton at dthornton@matternassoc.com.
About Mattern & Associates
Founded in 1997, Mattern & Associates is a consultancy proven to decrease law firm overhead expenses through developing in-house and outsourcing strategies which streamline support services and increase net billable realization of soft cost recoveries. Mattern & Associates provides clients with unbiased, decision making information on how to reduce costs without sacrificing services and improve all levels of efficiency in areas such as mail, reprographics, fax, office supplies, printers, digital workflow, off-site records storage and cost recovery. Mattern & Associates conducts the bi-annual Cost Recovery Benchmark Survey, the most comprehensive, industry-recognized review of cost recovery in the legal community. The company is based in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.
For more information on Mattern & Associates, visit matternassoc.com, check out their blog – www.matternoffact.com, or follow them on Twitter @MatternOfFact.
