2026 Global Outside Counsel Rate Trends

How Law Firms Can Understand Where Pricing Power Really Exists
Rates are rising across the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom — and law firms are leading that movement. But the deeper insight isn’t that rates are increasing. It’s how those increases are being anchored, negotiated, and absorbed and what that means for competitive positioning and client relationships.
Download the 2026 Global Outside Counsel Rate Trends Report and see how the market is really behaving.
What You’ll Learn

Where your rate increases are most likely to stick
Even after negotiation, net year-over-year increases remain in the high single to double digits (e.g., 12.6% U.S., 15.9% U.K.).

How initial anchoring shapes negotiation
Initial asks often exceed 20% — reaching 30%+ in the U.K. — resetting the reference point and limiting how much negotiation changes outcomes.

Why standard-rate resets matter more than discounts
Discounts cluster in predictable ranges, yet net inflation persists as standard rates continue to move upward.

Where mid-tier firms are driving movement
Inflation is not limited to the top tier. Segments like AmLaw 11–25 (U.S.) and Global 51–100 (U.K.) show some of the strongest increases.

How senior lawyer dispersion creates exposure
A small subset of senior lawyers drives disproportionate exposure, with widening senior partner rate ceilings making averages less reliable.

In light of more sophisticated AI tools, “traditional rate hikes don’t just look expensive, they look illogical.”
Jim Delkousis
Founder and CEO