Firm-Client Efficiencies: One GC's Long View

'The No. 1 thing that helps us manage our outside counsel costs is longstanding relationships,' says James H. Miller III, senior vice president and general counsel for Georgia Power, the largest operating unit of Southern Co. 'Our principal law firm, Troutman Sanders, has been our law firm for a long time. They know as much or more about our company as some of our own executives do because they've been there longer. In a sense, they are our institutional memory.'

When Georgia Power calls Troutman Sanders, first-year associate pay [slated to rise to $145,000 in January 2008] is rather beside the point. Some of the partners who work with Georgia Power have been involved in the company's business for 25 or 30 years. 'That brings enormous efficiencies,' says Miller, who was named Georgia Power's first general counsel in 2004.

The energy company's legal depart- ment has only nine lawyers, including Miller. He is quick to point out the company's areas of expertise. 'I take a lot of pride telling people that the best land lawyers, the best easement and right-of-way lawyers in the state are at Georgia Power. That's where we also get great economies.'

Georgia Power has an annual budget for outside counsel of about $15 million.

'Our principal business model is to rely on outside law firms and manage them efficiently,' Miller says. 'But the key to our philosophy is we get lawyers at Troutman Sanders who see their careers and their success in the same terms that Georgia Power Co. sees its success. The philosophy is very much aligned and in tune.'

The energy company uses the services of other law firms for special expertise such as federal regulatory issues. 'For example, to get lawyers intimately familiar with the details of the Atomic Energy Act, you almost have to find them in Washington,' Miller says. 'We volume buy when we can. Naturally, we volume buy with our longtime partners. We keep up with rates, and we do pretty well.'

Here's the life story of a long-term partner, according to Miller. 'They start representing Georgia Power. They wake up 30 years later, and they've raised their children, educated their families and paid their mortgages by representing Georgia Power. Their success is in tune with ours.'

This article was excerpted for A&FP.

Katheryn Hayes Tucker writes for the Atlanta-based Fulton County Daily Report, an affiliate of A&FP.

'The No. 1 thing that helps us manage our outside counsel costs is longstanding relationships,' says James H. Miller III, senior vice president and general counsel for Georgia Power, the largest operating unit of Southern Co. 'Our principal law firm, Troutman Sanders, has been our law firm for a long time. They know as much or more about our company as some of our own executives do because they've been there longer. In a sense, they are our institutional memory.'

When Georgia Power calls Troutman Sanders, first-year associate pay [slated to rise to $145,000 in January 2008] is rather beside the point. Some of the partners who work with Georgia Power have been involved in the company's business for 25 or 30 years. 'That brings enormous efficiencies,' says Miller, who was named Georgia Power's first general counsel in 2004.

The energy company's legal depart- ment has only nine lawyers, including Miller. He is quick to point out the company's areas of expertise. 'I take a lot of pride telling people that the best land lawyers, the best easement and right-of-way lawyers in the state are at Georgia Power. That's where we also get great economies.'

Georgia Power has an annual budget for outside counsel of about $15 million.

'Our principal business model is to rely on outside law firms and manage them efficiently,' Miller says. 'But the key to our philosophy is we get lawyers at Troutman Sanders who see their careers and their success in the same terms that Georgia Power Co. sees its success. The philosophy is very much aligned and in tune.'

The energy company uses the services of other law firms for special expertise such as federal regulatory issues. 'For example, to get lawyers intimately familiar with the details of the Atomic Energy Act, you almost have to find them in Washington,' Miller says. 'We volume buy when we can. Naturally, we volume buy with our longtime partners. We keep up with rates, and we do pretty well.'

Here's the life story of a long-term partner, according to Miller. 'They start representing Georgia Power. They wake up 30 years later, and they've raised their children, educated their families and paid their mortgages by representing Georgia Power. Their success is in tune with ours.'

This article was excerpted for A&FP.

Katheryn Hayes Tucker writes for the Atlanta-based Fulton County Daily Report, an affiliate of A&FP.