The Benchmarks You Need for Better Outside Counsel Rate Negotiations

Hourly rates are climbing again, which raises a familiar question: what’s a reasonable expectation for this year’s rate requests? Join Peter Boyajian (Legal Operations Manager at Nutanix), Letitia Haynes-Frasier (Director of Legal Operations at Cox Media Group), and Anna Richards (Head of Community at Brightflag) to see what the data says and how to put it to work in your rate conversations.

We’ll cover:

• The latest timekeeper rate trends among the top 100 US law firms, plus Am Law 100 UK rate data
• How to use benchmarks in negotiations
• Practical tips for approaching rate conversations and keeping increases from straining your legal budget

You’ll leave with a clearer view of where the market is heading and practical ways to combine benchmarks with your own data, plus ideas from peers to bring to your next conversation with your firms.

Want to read more? Check out Brightflag’s 2026 Law Firm Billing Rates Report.