Interesting analysis, @dctoedt. Given what you say about its toxic incentive structure, it's no wonder that the legal profession is held in such frequent contem

Interesting analysis, @dctoedt. Given what you say about its toxic incentive structure, it's no wonder that the legal profession is held in such frequent contempt. I suppose this goes hand-in-hand with the fact that lawyers suffer from alcoholism and depression at rates noticeably higher than the population in general (grim consolation for the rest of us, I assure you). You've also done a great job explaining the phenomena noted in the (excellent) link provided by @dmlorenzetti. Given that lawyers often have more to gain by (slowly) killing deals than making them happen - at least not quickly or easily - I can see why it's good policy to keep them at a safe distance from anything that HAS to go through. As one savvy executive put it "you want them on tap, not top."