William Cobb is the managing partner of Cobb Consulting (WCCI, Inc.) based in Houston. He has been a consultant in strategic issues affecting law firms and general counsel helping them improve their competitive positions since 1978. His consulting includes the impact of trends on the legal profession; pricing services and alternative billing; practice management; firm governance; partner review, evaluation, and compensation. E-mail: him at Cobbwc@msn.com.